Higher Dimensional Vector Field Visualization: A Survey

Abstract

Vector field visualization research has evolved very rapidly over the last two decades. There is growing consensus amongst the research community that the challenge of two-dimensional vector field visualization is virtually solved as a result of the tremendous amount of effort put into this problem. Two-dimensional flow, both steady and unsteady can be visualized in real-time, with complete coverage of the flow without much difficulty. However, the same cannot be said of flow in higher-spatial dimensions, e.g. surfaces in 3D (2.5D) or volumetric flow (3D). We present a survey of higher-spatial dimensional flow visualization techniques based on the presumption that little work remains for the case of two-dimensional flow whereas many challenges still remain for the cases of 2.5D and 3D domains. This survey provides the most up-to-date review of the state-of-the-art of flow visualization in higher dimensions. The reader is provided with a high-level overview of research in the field highlighting both solved and unsolved problems in this rapidly evolving direction of research.