Edmond C. Prakash

Dr. Yu Zhang
(jointly supervised
with Prof Eric Sung)

A New Physical Model with Multilayer Architecture for Facial Expression Animation Using Dynamic Adaptive Mesh
by Dr. Yu Zhang

Selected Publication:
Y.Zhang, E.C.Prakash, E.Sung, New Approach for 3D Facial Modeling and Expression Animation,
IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Graphics, 10(3): 339-352, 2004. Electronic Edition (link)

Mr. Liu Qiang
PhD Student

Efficient modeling for interactive deformation of
non-rigid 3D objects.
by Liu Qiang

Haptics on 3D deformable models is a challenge because of the inevitable and expensive 3D deformation computation. In this paper we propose a new technique that extends the conventional rigid Geometry Images approach. Our approach not only flattens the geometry, but also helps to accomplish deformation in an effective and effcient manner. Our approach is suitable for haptics computing, as it performs the deformation on the geometry map itself thereby avoiding the expensive 3D deformation computation. We demonstrate construction of the Deformable Geometry Map representation and its application utilizing practical methods for interactive surgery simulation and interactive textile simulation.

Selected Publication:
Liu Qiang, Edmond C. Prakash and Mandayam A. Srinivasan, Interactive Deformable Geometry Maps, The Visual Computer, 2006

Mr. Chen Chen
PhD Student

Novel Physically-based Facial Expression
Synthesizer with Parametric Muscle Structure
by Chen Chen

A physically-based facial expression synthesizer with a novel algorithm for designing parametric muscle model is presented. The facial expression synthesizer is partitioned into four general activities: construction of volumetric soft tissue layer, design of underlying volumetric facial musculature, ensemble of muscles to synthesize the facial expression and an efficient and stable numerical integration for dynamic skin deformation. Techniques that support these activities are presented and seamlessly integrated to validate the facial expression synthesizer.
Keywords: physical simulation, facial animation, parametric muscle

Selected Publication:
Chen Chen and Edmond C. Prakash, Facial Expression
Synthesizer with Parametric Muscle Structure, Computer Animation and Social Agents 2006 (CASA 2006), Switzerland, July 2006.

Mr. Evgeny Markin
PhD Student

Tracking Facial Features with Occlusions for Next Generation Interactive and Digital Media
by Evgeny Markin

Facial expression recognition is the problem of determining what kind of emotional content is presented in a human face. The problem presents a complex area for exploration, since it encompasses face acquisition, and facial feature tracking, facial expression classification. Facial feature tracking is of the most interest. Active Appearance Model (AAM) enables tracking of facial features in real-time and with good accuracy, but it lacks of occlusions and self-occlusions. In this paper we propose a solution to improve the accuracy of fitting technique. The idea is to include
occluded images into AAM training data. We demonstrate the results by running experiments using gradient descent algorithm for fitting the AAM. Our experiments show that using fitting algorithm with occluded training data improves the fitting quality of the algorithm.

Selected Publication:
Evgeny Markin and Edmond C. Prakash, Tracking Facial Features with Occlusions, International Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE (JZUS), China, 2006.

Mr. Huang Jing
MEng Thesis

Natural Human Arm Movement - Sinus Cone
 

Human Arm Animation - Digitized Sinus Cone for Multiple Human
by Huang Jing

Avatars: The shoulder is the complex combination of interactive sinus cones. Comparison between two animation systems with and without sinus cone joint violation detection when the right arm moves behind the torso.
 

Selected Publication:
 J. Huang and E. C. Prakash. Sinus cone - a theta-phi algorithm for human arm animation. Proceedings for 2000 IEEE Conference on Information Visualization,  pages 318–322, 2000.

Ms. Cui Jing
MEng Thesis

The mechanics of gait animation for human normal walking and abnormal Programming and biomedical motion constraints. The kinematic determinants help to achieve e±cient control of gait synthesis wheaeas Genetic Programming help in the generation of specific controller programs of correct postures. The goal of our research is:

1. to provide human animators with multiple levels of controlling tools for generating controller programs for articulated human motion sequence. 

2. to construct an interactive evolution system to automatically generate motion according to user-defined goal of the motion. 

Selected Publications:
[1] Cui Jing, Prakash Edmond Cyril, "An Interactive Motion Evolution System", HC-2000, Proc. of Third International Conference on Human and Computer, Aizu, Japan , Sep 2000.
[2] Cui Jing*,E.C.Prakash,''Synthesis of Normal and Abnormal Human Walk Animation,'' WSCG 2002, 2002, pp. 545-549

The  research focuses on the use of visualization techniques to help people understand and analyze financial data. However, to build the visualization framework to tackle this cognition problem, we face two challenges. The first is Financial Complexity, which arises from the vast amount of data and complex financial models that handle it. The second is Visual Complexity, which arises from the lack of physical or geometric correspondence from data to spatial coordinates, and the poor choice of visual presentations. We have successfully designed and developed a new four-tier system architecture, which acts as a basis for our financial visualization system.

Selected Publication:
F.Xiong, K.W.Ho, E.C.Prakash, ''E-R Modeling and Visualization of Large Mutual Fund Data,'' Journal of Visualization, 2002, vol 5, no. 2, pp. 197-204

.

Visual Image Processing is extensively used in the field of medicine and biomedical engineering. It has become almost indispensable in many bio-medical applications. Visual image processing has two major divisions: Analysis and Synthesis. (i) Analysis refers to the extraction and quantification of data from available images. (ii) Synthesis refers to the construction of images from available
information. This dissertation mentions some of the latest techniques
available in the above field and proposes two design techniques that exceed the performance of their peers in both technical aspects and applications. The first proposal: Visyllable based facial animation can synthesize a talking face for any textual input and facial image. Phonemes are extracted from text input using Text To Speech Synthesis (TTS) module. The second design proposal: Text based talking face animation with subtle eye expressions is done using phonemes as the basic unit for the generation of audio and video.

Selected Publication:
Ramya Sridharan and Prakash, E.C., Facial expression quantification and analysis, Proceedings of the Fourth IEEE International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology, 2004, Page(s):  46- 51

Modeling the shape of anatomical parts is essential for a variety of biomedical applications. Human bones generally have complex and unstructured shapes, and it is extremely difficult to capture the surface with the current surface scanning technologies. Rapid and accurate shape modeling and representation is still a challenge. With current limiting technology, we need to find a best way to acquire the 3D caricature. In this dissertation, the following work has been done.
A literature survey of existing techniques was conducted. We proposed a workflow for rapid shape modeling. Several experiments have been conducted to scan the 3D caricature of a number of anatomical parts. We explored a number of techniques and algorithms to help in registration and merging of scanned image. We highlight future applications where our approach in digitization of anatomical parts can contribute to the implants design software.
In summary, in this dissertation, we have presented efficient solution for 3D digitization of anatomical objects and we have also identified potential area for future work.
 

Selected Publication:
Teh Kheng Chiong Eric, Digitization of Anatomical 3D Caricature for the Design of Biomedical Implants & Prosthetic Devices (3DD-07),International Journal of Information Technology (IJIT), Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 46-54, 2002.

Mr. Chua Kheng Swee
MSc Thesis

Automatic object shape representation (OSR) of natural objects and automatic object shape analysis (OSA) have been the dreams of many researchers in the field of imaging technology. Two factors that may complicate such work are the poor quality of the object image which makes shape representation inaccurate, and the poor choice of representation method which makes shape analysis difficult.

In this research, OSR and OSA have been applied to derive certain geometrical features of snakes from digital images. Our research goal is to design an efficient procedure with miminal human intervention that will help in the shape analysis and measurement of snakes. Software has been developed that can detect the edges of a snake and perform a series of calculations to obtain the snake’s skeleton length, using a method known as Blum’s Medial Axis Transformation. Lastly, a non-dimensional index which can express the snake’s physical trait ( its length and body area ) is suggested for classification of snakes.
 

Mr. Harish Kumar
MSc Thesis

Selected Publication:
Harish K. Maheshwari, C. R. Jegathese and Edmond C. Prakash, Application of Volume Visualization for Myocardial Perfusion, International Workshop on Volume Graphics, June, 2005, Stony Brook, NY, USA.

EFFICIENT VISUALIZATION OF FUNCTIONS AND DERIVATIVES IN FINANCIAL ENGINEERING
by Tan Toh Fei

Option pricing based on Black-Scholes and Merton has been chosen as the prime financial model due to its wide spread use in Financial Engineering. We have developed a prototype system for surface and volume visualization of option portfolios. This system is flexible, and can be used to visualize various kinds of trading strategies in the financial market cost effectively.

Volume visualization of derivatives helps us discover risks, which hitherto have been elusive with traditional surface plots. In this research, the volatility visualization issue has been addressed, which is one of the critical components in option pricing, by incorporating volume visualization for better risk management. By enabling the visualization of volatility changes in risk profiling, combining with another two option's value determinants (i.e. the underlying asset spot price and days to maturity), a much better understanding about the risk involved in a portfolio can be achieved, particularly when the fluctuation of the asset is highly uncertain.

Selected Publications:
T.F.Tan and E.C.Prakash, ''Volume Visualization of Payoff Regions for Derivatives Risk Management'' Jl of Visualization, 2001, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 383-390. 
Tan Toh Fei and Edmond Cyril Prakash: Volume Visualization of Payoff Regions for Derivatives Risk Management. Volume Graphics 2001.