Alexei Sourin

Last time updated 03 November, 2009 .

Dr. Alexei Sourin was born in Moscow and received his M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in computer graphics from the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, Russia (MEPhI) in 1983 and 1988, respectively. From 1983 to 1993 he was a researcher at MEPhI where he worked on different scientific visualization and computer animation projects. Since 1993 he held faculty positions at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, except a period from 1999 to 2000 when he was Associate Professor at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT). Currently he is a tenured Associate Professor with the School of Computer Engineering at NTU. His research interests are in function-based shape modeling, shared virtual environments, haptic interaction, web visualization and visualization on the Grid, virtual surgery, scientific visualization, and cyber-learning. He is a co-founder of the function representation (FRep) concept which he further developed and applied in several shape modeling, interactive free-form shape modeling, medical visualization and virtual surgery training projects. He has also proposed and developed, together with his students, a function-based web-visualization technique where analytical formulas are used for defining geometry, appearance and physical properties of the objects in shared virtual scenes. Dr. Sourin published over 100 referred research papers and was invited to give talks to many scientific events. Dr. Sourin is also one of the pioneers of electronic education in Singapore. His book "Computer graphics. From a Small Formula to Cyberworlds" is adopted for teaching by several universities in South-East Asia.  He is a recipient of many research awards. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and a member of ACM SIGGRAPH. He is on the Editorial Boards as well as a Guest Editor of several international journals. He was on the program committees of over 50 international conferences. He is a coordinator of the International Conferences on Cyberworlds for which he was a Program Chair in 2003-2005 and a General Co-Chair in 2006 and 2007. 

More details follow:

• Personal

• Education

• Experience

• Teaching Philosophy

• Research Interests

• Research Awards

• Membership

• Conference Organization

• Guest Editor

• Associate Editor

• Selected Publications

• Invited Talks

• Research Students

Teaching philosophy:

For all my courses the main idea is to show how ‘small formulae’ like geometric DNAs can be used for constituting complex shapes and motions, and how even a common PC can be used for solving advanced computer graphics problems. The courses assume case studies of the commonly available graphics software (OpenGL, POV-Ray, VRML, X3D), which let the students apply theoretical principles into practice without requesting expensive hardware and software solutions. On the other hand, the courses overview the most recent achievements in the respective areas and assume extensive use of video and multi-media presentations. Refer to the web page of my book.
     Current educational pedagogy advocates that student learning should reflect an active learning method and teaching strategies which support different student learning styles. I am implementing it through cyber-education in shared virtual spaces. It expands current pedagogical frontiers and creates learning opportunities not readily available in the real world. Given my own advance experience of creating and using educational cyber-campuses, I advocate that the biggest advantage of cyber-learning in shared virtual environments is the ability to create unlimited, enhanced active learning collaboration so that the pupils from different physical locations can meet and work on problems in environments specially tailored and best suited for the application problem. My ultimate goal is to implement a personal mentoring through intelligent cyber-instructors placed in educational cyberworlds.

Research interests:

Shape modeling, shared virtual environments, haptic interaction, web visualization and visualization on the Grid, virtual surgery, scientific visualization, and cyber-learning.

Membership:

Senior Member of IEEE

Member of ACM SIGGRAPH

Conference Organization:

Editor:

Selected Recent Publications

Books (out of 7)

1. Alexei Sourin, Computer Graphics: From a Small Formula to Cyberworlds. 2nd edition. Prentice Hall, Singapore, ISBN 9810677030, 385 pages, 2006.

Journal Papers (out of 35)

1. Sourin A, Wei L. Visual Immersive Haptic Mathematics, Virtual Reality, Springer, DOI 10.1007/s10055-009-0133-2, 2009.

2. Sourin A, Sourina O, Wei L, Gagnon P. Visual Immersive Haptic Mathematics in Shared Virtual Spaces. Transactions on Computational Science III, LNCS5300, Springer, LNCS Volume 5300/2009, pp 1-19, 2009

3. Wei L, Sourin A, Sourina O. Function-based Visualization and Haptic Rendering in Shared Virtual Spaces, The Visual Computer, Springer, 24(10):871-880, 2008.

4. Sourina O, Sourin A, Howe TS. Orthopedic Surgery Simulation. Journal of Mechanics in Medicine & Biology, World Scientific, 7(1):37-53, 2007.

5. Levinski K, Sourin A. Interactive Function-Based Shape Modelling, Computers & Graphics, Elsevier, 31(1):66-76, 2007.

6. Liu Q, Sourin A. Function-defined Shape Metamorphoses in Visual Cyberworlds. The Visual Computer, Springer, 22(12):977-990, 2006.

7. Prasolova-Førland E, Sourin A, Sourina O. Cybercampuses: Design Issues and Future Directions. The Visual Computer, Springer, 22(12):1015-1028, 2006.

8. Liu Q, Sourin A. Function-based Shape Modelling Extension of the Virtual Reality Modelling Language. Computers & Graphics, Elsevier, 30(4):629-645, 2006.

9. Sourin A, Sourina O, Prasolova-Førland E. Cyber-learning in Cyberworlds. Journal of Cases on Information Technology, IDEA Group, 8(4):55-70, 2006.

10. Kulish V, Sourin A, Sourina O. Analysis and Visualization of Human Electroencephalograms Seen as Fractal Time Series, Journal of Mechanics in Medicine & Biology, World Scientific, 6(2):175-188, 2006.

11. Kulish V, Sourin A, Sourina O. Human Electroencephalograms Seen as Fractal Time Series: Mathematical Analysis and Visualization. Computers in Biology and Medicine, Elsevier-Pergamon, 36(3):291-302, 2005. 

12. Sourin A. Nanyang Technological University Virtual Campus. IEEE Computer Graphics & Applications, 24(6):6-8, 2004.

13. Sourin A. Functionally based virtual embossing. The Visual Computer, Springer, 17(4):258-271, 2001.

14. Pasko A, Savchenko V, Sourin A. Synthetic Carving with Implicit Surface Primitives. Computer Aided Design, Elsevier, 33(5):379-388, 2001.

15. Sourina O, Sourin A, Howe TS. Orthopedic Surgery Training on Personal Computer. International Journal of Information Technology, 6(1):16-29, 2000.

16. Sourin A, Sourina O, Howe TS. Virtual Orthopedic Surgery Training. IEEE Computer Graphics & Applications, 20(3):6-9, 2000.

17. Sourin A, Pasko A. Function Representation for Sweeping by a Moving Solid, IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 2(1):11-18, 1996.

18. Sourin A, Pasko A, Savchenko V. Using Real Functions with Application to Hair Modelling. Computers & Graphics, Elsevier, 20(1):11-19, 1996.

19. Pasko A, Adzhiev V, Sourin A, Savchenko V. Function Representation in Geometric Modeling: Concepts, Implementations and Applications. The Visual Computer, Springer, 11(8):429-446, 1995.

Conference Papers (out of 63)

1. Weil L, Sourin A, Stocker H. Collaboration in 3D Shared Spaces using X3D and VRML. In Proc. 2009 Int. Conf. on Cyberworlds, Bradford, 7-11 Sept, 2009. pp. 36-42, 2009.

2. Ugail H, Castro GG, Sourin A, Sourina O. Towards a Definition of Virtual Objects with Partial Differential Equations. In Proc. 2009 Int. Conf. on Cyberworlds, Bradford, 7-11 Sept, 2009. pp. 138-145 ,2009.

3. Wei L, Sourin A, Stocker H. Function-based haptic collaboration in X3D. Web3D 2009, 16-17 June, Darmstadt, Germany, 2009. pp. 15-23

4. Sourin A, Weil L. Visual Immersive Haptic Rendering on the Web. 7th ACM SIGGRAPH International Conference on Virtual-Reality Continuum and its Applications in Industry, VRCAI 2008, 8-9 December 2008

5. Ugail H, Sourin A. Partial Differential Equations for Function based Geometry Modelling within Visual Cyberworlds. Proc. 2008 Int Conf on Cyberworlds, IEEE CS, pp. 224-231, 2008

6. Wei L, Sourin A, Sourina O. Function-based Haptic Interaction in Cyberworlds. Proc. 2007 International Conference on Cyberworlds,  24-27 October, Hannover, IEEE CS, pp.225-232, 2007.

7. Kulish VV, Sourin A, Sourina O. Fractal Spectra and Visualization of the Brain Activity Evoked by Olfactory Stimuli. The 9th Asian Symposium on Visualization Hong Kong, 4-9 June, 2007. pp.37-1 - 37-8.

8. Chong A, Sourin A, Levinski K, Levinski K. Grid-based computer animation rendering. Proc. ACM Graphite'06, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 39-47, 2006.

9. Chong A, Levinski K, Sourin A. Interactive Grid-based Free-Form Shape Modeling. Proc. IEEE CCGrid, 253-256, 2006

10. Liu Q, Sourin A. Function-based Shape Modeling and Visualization in X3D. Proc. ACM Web3D 2006, pp. 131-141, 2006.

11. Liu Q, Sourin A. Function-defined Shape Metamorphoses in VRML. Proc. ACM Graphite'05, Dunedin, New Zealand, ACM, 339-346, 2005.

12. Liu Q, Sourin A. Function-based Time-dependent Shape Modeling on the Web. Proc. 2005 International Conference on Cyberworlds,  23-25 November, Singapore, IEEE CS, pp.35-42, 2005.

13. Prasolova-Forland E, Sourin A, Sourina O. Place Metaphors in Educational Cyberworlds: a Virtual Campus Case Study. Proc. 2005 Int Conf on Cyberworlds, CW2005. pp. 221-228, 2005.

14. Liu Q, Sourin A. Function-based Representation of Complex Geometry and Appearance. Proc. ACM Web3d 2005, pp. 123-134, 2005.

15. Sourin A. From a Small Formula to Cyberworlds. Proc. Int Conf on Computational Science and Applications ICCSA 2005, Singapore, May 9-12, 2005, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, LNCS, Springer-Verlag Heidelberg, ISSN 0302-9743, Volume 3482/2005, 983-992, 2005.

16. Levinski K, Sourin A.Interactive Function-Based Shape Modeling for Cyberworlds. Proc. 2004 International Conference on Cyberworlds, Tokyo, 18-20 November, 2004, pp.54-61, 2004.

17. Liu Q, Sourin A. Analytically-defined Collaborative Shape Modeling in VRML. Proc. 2004 International Conference on Cyberworlds, Tokyo, 18-20 November, 2004, IEEE CS, 70-77, 2004.

18. Sourin A, Lai FM, Levinski K, Web Visualization of Function-Defined Shapes. Proc. Int Conf on Computational Science and Applications ICCSA 2003. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, LNCS, Springer-Verlag Heidelberg, ISSN: 0302-9743, Volume 2669/2003, pp. 428-437, 2003.

19. Lai FM, Sourin A, Levinski K. Function-based 3D Web Visualization. Proc. 2002 International Symposium Cyber Worlds: Theory and Practice 2002, Tokyo, Japan 6-8 November, 2002, IEEE CS, pp.428-435.

20. Levinski K, Sourin A. Interactive Function-based Artistic Shape Modeling. Proc. 2002 International Symposium Cyber Worlds: Theory and Practice 2002, Tokyo, Japan 6-8 November, 2002, IEEE CS, pp.521-528.

21. Levinski K, Sourin A. Interactive Polygonisation for Function-based Shape Modelling. Proc. Eurographics 2002, Short Presentations, ISSN 1017-4565, pp.71-79, 2002.

22. Lai FM, Sourin A. Function-defined Shape Node for VRML. Proc. Eurographics 2002, Short Presentations, ISSN 1017-4565, pp.207-215, 2002.

23. Sourin A. Functionally Based Virtual Computer art.  Proc. 2001 ACM Symposium on Interactive Computer Graphics. I3D2001, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, 19-21, March, 2001, ACM ISBN: 1-58113-292-1, pp.77-84.

24. Savchenko VV, Pasko AA, Sourin AI, Kunii TL. Volume Modelling: Representations and Advanced Operations. Proc. of CGI’98, June 22-26, 1998, Hannover, Germany, pp.4-13.

25. Sourin A, Pasko A. Function Representation for Sweeping by a Moving Solid. Proc. Int. Symposium Solid Modeling'95, 17-19 May, Utah, USA, 1995, ACM, pp. 383-391.

Book Chapters (out of 5)

1. Human Respiration: Anatomy and Physiology, Mathematical Modeling, Numerical Simulation and Applications. /ed. Kulish V, WITpress, ISBN 1-85312-944-5, 2005, 256 pages.

2. Encyclopedia of Virtual Communities and Technologies/ed. Dasgupta S, Idea Group, ISBN 1-59140-563-7, 2006, 650 pages.

Edited books

1. Cyberworlds 2003 /ed. Kunii TL, Seah HS, Sourin A. IEEE CS, ISBN 0769519229, 514 pages, 2003

2. Cyberworlds 2004 /ed. Nakajima M, Hatori Y, Sourin A, IEEE CS, ISBN 0769521401, 468 pages, 2004

3. Cyberworlds 2005 /ed. Kunii TL, Seah HS, Sourin A. IEEE CS, ISBN 0769523781, 570 pages, 2005

4. Cyberworlds 2006 /ed. Thalmann D, Sourin A. IEEE CS, ISBN 0769526713, 234 pages, 2006.

5. Cyberworlds 2007/ed. Wolter K-F, Sourin A. IEEE CS, ISBN 978-0-7695-3005-5477 pages, 2007

Patents

1. Chong A, Sourin A, Lee F, Levinski K. A Method and System for Compressing and Decompressing Data. Filed in Singapore 19 Oct 2006, pending ref. 200607321-7.

Invited Talks

• "Cyberworlds and games" at
      - 8^th National Conference on Virtual Reality and Visualization, CCVRV'2008, Fuzhou, China, 19 September 2008
      - 2^nd National Conference on Education Games and Virtual Reality, EGVR'2008, Hangzhou, China, 21 September 2008

• "Function-based web visualization and haptic rendering" at the 2nd Workshop on Digital Media and its Application in Museum & Heritage,Chongqing, China, 11 Dec 2007

• "Cyberworlds: reality and trends" at the 5th conference of Digital Library and cultural/natural legacy digitization”, Suzhou, China, 9 Dec 2007

• "Cyberworlds: reality and trends. Function-based web visualization and haptic rendering" at the State Key Lab of CAD&CG. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, 7 Dec 2007

• "Cyberworlds: reality and trends. Function-based web visualization and haptic rendering" at the School of Software Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, 6 Dec 2007

• "Function-based shape modeling and web visualization" 
  at 2006 International conference on Cyberworlds, Lausanne, 28-29 November, 2006.

• “Function-based shape modeling, web visualization and media grid applications” at
      - University of Manchester, Visualization Centre, 22 September 2006
      - University of Leeds, School of Computing, 25 September 2006
      - University of Wales, Bangor, School of Computer Science, 26 September 2006
      - University of Wales, Swansea, Dept of Computer Science, 28 September 2006.

• "From a small formula to cyberworlds"
  at TSCG'2005 workshop of ICCSA'2005, 9-12 May, 2005.

• "From a small formula to cyberworlds" 
  at the first ICT Regional Workshop on VR, Korea, Seoul, 17-20 January, 2005.

• “Virtual Orthopedic Surgery”
  at Singapore General Hospital , November, 1998.

• “Function Based Virtual Computer Art”
  at 7th PRIS Seminar in NUS on 01 Aug 2001.

• ” Function Representation of Time-Dependent Set-Theoretic Operations” 
  at Int. Workshop "Shape Modeling: Parallelism, Interactivity and Applications", Fukushima, Japan, 12-16 Sept., 1994.

Research Students

current projects:

• Anthony Chong "Grid-based Shape Modeling and Visualization", 2004-currently, MEng project

• Wei Lei "Function-based Collaborative Shape Modeling and Visualization", 2006-currently, PhD project

• Teo Cheng Chuan "Cyber-learning with Cyber-instructors", 2007-currently, MEng project

• Ho Chiau Wai "Intelligent Cyber-instructors", 2009-currently, MEng project

• Lai Danbo "Cyber-learning in Cyberworlds", 2009-currently, PhD project

graduated:

• Lai Feng Min "Function-based 3D Web Visualization", 2000-2002, MEng

• Vasily Volkov "Modelling and animation of cloth objects", 2001-2002 (with Dr. Li Ling), MEng

• Konstantin Levinski "Interactive Function-based Shape Modeling", 2001-2007, MEng, PhD

• Liu Qi "Function-based Web Visualization", 2004-2007, PhD

• Nguyen Hoang Anh, David "Improving Visual Quality of Synthetic Terrain using Weathering Simulation", 2006-2008, MEng project