Interactive Occlusion-Free System for Volume Exploration (Master's Thesis Project)
Abstract The structural occlusion inherent to 2D volume rendering screens poses a primary challenge in data exploration, often keeping potentially critical internal structures obscured. While classical approaches like manual transfer function (TF) tuning or isosurface extraction effectively isolate distinct tissue envelopes, they impose a steep learning curve for non-expert operators who lack an in-depth understanding of opacity parameters. To address this limitation, we introduce an intuitive "progressive digging" interaction metaphor that mimics natural tactile behavior. Additionally, the platform integrates a nested structural map navigation view, enabling non-expert users to launch and operate the volume analysis system with minimal domain training. Finally, we establish the overall usability, workflow efficiency, and clinical/scientific potential of our proposed framework through real-world case evaluations and broad domain feedback.