A Multi-Scale Virtual Terrain for Hierarchically Structured Non-Location Data

Metaphor are commonly used rhetorical devices in linguistics. Among the various types, spatial metaphors are relatively common because of their intuitive and sensible nature. There are also many studies that use spatial metaphors to express non-location data in the field of visualization. For instance, some virtual terrains can be built based on computer technologies and visualization methods. In virtual terrains, the original abstract data can obtain specific positions, shapes, colors, etc. and people’s visual and image thinking can play a role. In addition, the theories and methods used in the space field could be applied to help people observe and analyze abstract data. However, current research has limited the use of these space theories and methods. For instance, many existing map theories and methods are not well combined. In addition, it is difficult to fully display data in virtual terrains, such as showing the structure and relationship at the same time. Facing the above problems, this study takes hierarchical data as the research object and expresses both the data structure and relationship from a spatial perspective. First, the conversion from high-dimensional non-location data to two-dimensional discrete points is achieved by a dimensionality reduction algorithm to reflect the data relationship. Based on this, kernel density estimation interpolation and fractal noise algorithms are used to construct terrain features in the virtual terrains. Under the control of the kernel density search radius and noise proportion, a multi-scale terrain model is built with the help of level of detail (LOD) technology to express the hierarchical structure and support the multi-scale analysis of data. Finally, experiments with actual data are carried out to verify the proposed method.

Prime gradient noise

Procedural noise functions are fundamental tools in computer graphics used for synthesizing virtual geometry and texture patterns. Ideally, a procedural noise function should be compact, aperiodic, parameterized, and randomly accessible. Traditional lattice noise functions such as Perlin noise, however, exhibit periodicity due to the axial correlation induced while hashing the lattice vertices to the gradients. In this paper, we introduce a parameterized lattice noise called prime gradient noise (PGN) that minimizes discernible periodicity in the noise while enhancing the algorithmic efficiency. PGN utilizes prime gradients, a set of random unit vectors constructed from subsets of prime numbers plotted in polar coordinate system. To map axial indices of lattice vertices to prime gradients, PGN employs Szudzik pairing, a bijection F: ℕ2 → ℕ. Compositions of Szudzik pairing functions are used in higher dimensions. At the core of PGN is the ability to parameterize noise generation though prime sequence offsetting which facilitates the creation of fractal noise with varying levels of heterogeneity ranging from homogeneous to hybrid multifractals. A comparative spectral analysis of the proposed noise with other noises including lattice noises show that PGN significantly reduces axial correlation and hence, periodicity in the noise texture. We demonstrate the utility of the proposed noise function with several examples in procedural modeling, parameterized pattern synthesis, and solid texturing.

Do happy faces really modulate liking for Jackson Pollock art and statistical fractal noise images?

Flexas et al. (2013) demonstrated that happy faces increase preference for abstract art if seen in short succession. We could not replicate their findings. In our first experiment, we tested whether valence, saliency or arousal of facial primes can modulate liking of Jackson Pollock art crops. In the second experiment, the emphasis was on testing another type of abstract visual stimuli which possess similar low-level image features: statistical fractal noise images. Pollock crops were rated significantly higher when primed with happy faces in contrast to neutral faces, but not differently to the no-prime condition. Findings of our study suggest that affective priming with happy faces may be stimulus-specific and may have inadvertent effects on other abstract visual material.

The Impact Mechanism of Fractal Noise on PN Code Detection System

Taking the pseudo-random phase modulated CW radar for example, this paper studies the impact mechanism of a class of non-stationary fractal noise on PN code detection system, especially signal mixing and matching filter. The cross correlation function, power spectrum function and average power of pseudo-random signal and fractal noise are deduced, compared with the impact of white noise on the pseudo code detection system. We analyze the impact mechanism of three kinds of sea clutter model, namely fractal Brownian model (FBM), the multifractal (MF) model and the non-stationary random fractal model (e.g., infinitely divisible cascades, IDC), on the pseudo-random code detection system, and demonstrate the reason why the multi-scale filtering method in wavelet domain and the MF methods fail to eliminate the effect of sea clutter. Based on the natural sea clutter data, we simulate and analyze the influence of white noise and fractal noise comparatively on detection system, which indicates that the effect of fractal noise cannot be inhibited effectively by the traditional correlation detection and MF analysis, and finally we put forward possible solutions.

Anti-Jamming Performance Simulation of PN-LFM Combined Ranging System

The pseudo-random binary-phase code phase modulation and linear frequency modulation (PN-LFM) combined ranging system is a new detection system, which has proven to be powerful capacity in range resolution, velocity resolution and maximum range measurable without ambiguity. In this paper, we study the anti-jamming performance of the new ranging system, especially in the fractal stochastic noise environments. We analyze the impact mechanism of fractal noise on the PN-LFM detection system, and simulate the output of correlating detection. The cross correlation function, power spectrum function and average power of pseudo random signal and fractal noise are deduced, compared with the impact of white noise on the pseudo code detection system. Simulation shows that PN-LFM combined ranging system possess powerful anti-jamming capacity, and performs better in the fractal noise environment than Pseudo random code phase modulation system.