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Publications

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Published
November 3, 2013
Author
Randall Hand
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Here is a list of various pieces of myself I've left around the internet over my life.  If you have any questions, find any more, or would like copies of any of the below, contact me.
 

Articles:

 
EnVision - 2007-2008
A short-lived bi-annual publication from the Department of Defense (DoD) High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) Data Analysis & Assessment Center (DAAC) that provided information on DAAC resources, tutorials for users of large-scale visualization, and stories about user work around the program.  Several articles contributed and editing during the two years.
 
ERDC Resource - 2005-2008
A publication from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)'s Engineer Research Development Center (ERDC) HPC program, part of the DOD HPCMP, showcasing work done on the computers, information on resources, and guidelines for optimizing workflow and analysis.  Several articles contributed, including:
  • Spring 2007: ezViz Batch 1.3 Released
  • Fall 2006: What is ezViz?
  • Fall 2005: Three-Dimensional Target Visualization from Wide-Angle IFSAR data 
  • Fall 2005: ezViz - an Open-Source, Cross-Platform visualization tool
  • Unattributed credit in various other articles...
 
HPC Insights - 2008-2012
A Publication from the Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program (DOD HPCMP) that replaced the individual center magazines after the program consolidation.  It contained interviews with staff and users on work at the centers, examples of work, and information on new services and capabilities.
  • Spring 2012 - Data Visualization. page 2
  • Spring 2011 - Secure Remote Visualization Services, page 11
  • Fall 2010 - DAAC Wins Department of Energy OASCR Award, p48
  • Spring 2010 - ParaView Client-Server on Crays at the ERDC DSRC, p17
  • Unattributed credit in various other articles
Vizworld.com - 2008-2013
A news website cataloging scientific visualization, computer graphics, visual effects, and hardware vendors in related fields.  Contained a combination of cross-links to other media, as well as independent feature content such as PodCasts, interviews, "behind the scenes", conference roundups, and investigative reporting.  Some example stories:

Papers:

Published 2002
Level of detail algorithms have widely been implemented in architectural VR walkthroughs and video games, but have not had widespread use in VR terrain visualization systems. This thesis explains a set of optimizations to allow most current level of detail algorithms run in the types of multiple display systems used in VR. It improves both the visual quality of the system through use of graphics hardware acceleration, and improves the framerate and running time through modifications to the computations that drive the algorithms. Using ROAM as a testbed, results show improvements between 10% and 100% on varying machines.
 
Published 2006
Prediction of the performance and non-acoustical signature of surface ships which feature such effects as breaking waves, spray and air entrainment is still beyond the capabilities of standard numerical solution methods. The near-field flow about a surface ship is characterized by complex physical processes such as: (i) spray sheet and jet formation; (ii) strong free-surface turbulence interactions with (large-amplitude) breaking waves; (iii) air entrainment and bubble generation; and (iv) post-breaking turbulence and dissipation. These physical phenomenon still require resolutions that are not feasible in practical engineering flows, despite continuing advances in computational resources. A two-pronged approach is proposed to develop methods to accurately predict these complex physical systems. First, physics-based closure models for steep breaking waves in the presence of turbulence are developed with results from high-resolution direct numerical simulations of the Navier-Stokes equations. Second, cutting-edge parallel computing capabilities and newly developed solution techniques are utilized to simulate the free-surface flow around naval combatants moving at high speed.
 
presented 2008 at HPC User's Forum in Tucson, AZ
 
published 2011 in UGC2011 Proceedings, page 121-125
Vortex detection and visualization is an important technique for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelers and analysts. Since vortices are often not just local phenomena, algorithms for detecting the vortex core can be expanded by the use of streamline placement and termination methodologies to appropriately visualize the vortex. We are enhancing an existing VCDetect software tool for vortex detection to include new algorithms applicable to small-scale micro air vehicles (MAVs), improve the interface, and integrate it with Department of Defense (DoD) Visualization Toolkit (VTK)-based production tools. The code is being updated to include the latest parallelization features for efficient usage. The current VCDetect VTK-based code was developed with an XML file-based interface, and was partially parallelized with multi- threading. The code was tested with a few common examples and some turbo-machinery data test cases. In this work we are integrating newly developed visualization and vortex detection algorithms. An improved interface is added to allow the tool to be used both interactively and to easily set up multiple batch runs. Since this interface is expected to run on the user’s local desktop, we are securing the communications using a previously developed direct through ssh methodology. We are also further parallelizing the code using the Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA), and we are applying it to a new problem domain in the area of micro air vehicle (MAV) design. Finally this code will be made available to more DoD users by coordinating with the High Performance Computing Modernization Program’s (HPCMP) Data Analysis and Assessment Centers (DAACs) to include it in the Computational Science Environment (CSE) suite of production  tools and libraries. We describe the extent of our work to date, and provide information on our path forward to completion of this project by 31 August 2011.
 
published 2011 in UGC2011 Proceedings, page 557-561
In this paper, we present a new service available on the Enhanced User Environment (EUE) Utility Server (US) called PKIVNC, short for Private Key Infrastructure Virtual Network Computing. This new service will allow users to connect remotely to the Utility Server for remote display access at higher frame rates than previously available, enabling access to visualization applications previously difficult or impossible to use. In addition, the service will enable remote access to high-speed graphics accelerators suitable for high-quality rendering, GPGPU development, and simulation acceleration. We will cover the design and security considerations of this new service, as well as the user experience and capabilities.
 
Published 2010
The flow field generated by a transom-stern hullform is a complex, broad-banded, three-dimensional phenomenon marked by a large breaking wave. This unsteady multiphase turbulent flow feature is difficult to study experimentally and simulate numerically. The results of a set of numerical simulations, which use the Numerical Flow Analysis (NFA) code, of the flow around the Model 5673 transom stern at speeds covering both wet- and dry-transom operating conditions are shown in the accompanying fluid dynamics video. The numerical predictions for wet-transom and dry-transom conditions are presented to demonstrate the current state of the art in the simulation of ship generated breaking waves. The interested reader is referred to Drazen et al. (2010) for a detailed and comprehensive comparison with experiments conducted at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD).
 
Published 2011
The fuid dynamics video No.V058 is introduced, with brief descriptions of the numerical method used to generate the animation data, explanation of what is shown in the movies, and the main scientic findings obtained from this study.