NOVA: Collaborative tools and repositories for volumetric CT data

by Raghav Arora

Monday Jun 18, 2018, 11:00 AM → 12:00 PM Europe/Berlin

R114 (B242)

Synchrotron X-ray microtomography offers unique opportunities for the morphological analysis of animals. Internal structures become observable even in opaque organisms in a non-invasive, three-dimensional way, and with a sub-micron resolution. The method thus allows for the investigation of objects from a wide field of biological research. Biomechanics, for example, is dealing with the complex dynamics of muscle-skeleton interactions, neurobiology with the topology of sensory centres in the brain, and developmental biology with differential comparisons of developmental stages. So far, the enormous potential of collaborative work on the same specimens is mostly untapped.

By using a new collaborative approach, this project aims to create new possibilities, that allow for a more efficient use of the valuable beam time at tomographic synchrotron beamlines through the coordination of research on different organ systems and a regulation of the data usage by a common data policy.

The core platform for the collaborative functions is the NOVA data portal. A first prototype of the portal has been realized. From the very beginning it supports visual exploration of 3D objects. Preview images are generated automatically. Visualization services prepare the large 3D datasets for interactive web display.


Raghav Arora studied Computer Science and Engineering at CGC College of Engineering, Landran, Mohali; affiliated to Punjab Technical Univeristy, Jalandhar. He will report on the results obtained during his internship at IPE for the NOVA project.