On visual quality of optimal 3D sampling and reconstruction

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a user study of the visual quality of an imaging pipeline employing the optimal body-centered cubic (BCC) sampling lattice. We provide perceptual evidence supporting the theoretical expectation that sampling and reconstruction on the BCC lattice offer superior imaging quality over the traditionally popular Cartesian cubic (CC) sampling lattice. We asked 12 participants to choose the better of two images: one image rendered from data sampled on the CC lattice and one image that is rendered from data sampled on the BCC lattice. We used both synthetic and CT volumetric data, and confirm that the theoretical advantages of BCC sampling carry over to the perceived quality of rendered images. Using 25% to 35% fewer samples, BCC sampled data result in images that exhibit comparable visual quality to their CC counterparts.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  G. Mathematics of Computing
  G.1 NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
      G.1.2 Approximation
          Subjects: Spline and piecewise polynomial approximation

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.m Miscellaneous

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.4 IMAGE PROCESSING AND COMPUTER VISION
        I.4.10 Image Representation
            Subjects: Volumetric
      I.4.5 Reconstruction

Keywords:
body-centered cubic (BCC) lattice, cartesian lattice, optimal sampling and reconstruction, perceptual image quality