| Scientific visualization (SciVis) software generates graphical representations of data as a means of gaining understanding and insight into the data. Most in-house SciVis applications exist in scientific organizations, but these useful legacy applications are not widely distributed, making it difficult for multiple users in different locations to access them. The dramatic increase in the use of the Internet gives these SciVis software owners an opportunity to give a wider range of users remote access to their SciVis tools.;We propose a simple and quick standard re-engineering method to provide remote access to such legacy applications, following a systematic study of the issues involved in extending scientific visualization applications in this way.;In approaching this re-engineering problem, we have built upon two existing models: DiBiase's sequence model for scientific visualization (5) and the visualization pipeline architecture (39, 11).;DiBiase's SciVis sequence model, which has a great influence on the design and development of SciVis systems, has been extended to account for the issues relating to remote access. A model is proposed to extend SciVis into the global realm and to provide a basis for SciVis tools to be used for Web publication and public service.;The visualization pipeline, a high-level design architecture for SciVis, is also extended in our work, forming the re-engineering foundation. According to our extended visualization pipeline architecture, a general client/server approach for re-engineering an in-house SciVis application into one suitable for public use is illustrated with the Web as a low-cost deployment medium.;Our approach is demonstrated by re-engineering existing display software for geographic data developed at the Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic), to provide a visualization client for the Web. |
