The Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB) is a non-university research institute of the State of Berlin. It operates in the field of information technology. Its research and development concentrate on application-oriented algorithmic mathematics, in close interdisciplinary cooperation with universities and scientific institutes.
The Scientific Visualization Department of ZIB develops new visualization techniques utilizing powerful algorithms from image processing, computer graphics, computational geometry, and numerical mathematics. Special emphasis is on analysis and visualization of 3D image data, especially those from medicine and biology. All algorithms are implemented in Amira, a software system devloped at ZIB for 3D visualization, image analysis and geometry reconstruction. The ZIB spin-off Indeed - Visual Concepts transformed Amira into a product that meets professional quality standards. ZIB and Indeed - Visual Concepts continue jointly to develop Amira, where ZIB focuses on the methodological questions and the development of innovative methods for use in scientific research.
Specific applications are supported by the development of integrated software environments, so-called virtual laboratories and (in medical therapy) therapy planning systems. Currently under development at ZIB are virtual laboratories for numerical astrophysics, biomolecular analysis, and neuro-anatomy as well as therapy planning systems for regional hyperthermia treatment and cranio-maxillofacial surgery. These application specific developments are done on top of Amira, using the developer version AmiraDev.
Current research projects in medicine and biology are:
Model Generation, Simulation and Visualization in Treatment Planning (DFG-funded), a project within the Collaborative Research Center Sfb 273 "Hyperthermia: Methodology and Clinical Evaluation" at Medizinische Fakultät Charité of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. ZIB's task is to develop new algorithms for simulating and planning regional hyperthermia. These include methods for segmentation of CT and MRI data, generation of tetrahedral patient models, numerical solution of Maxwell's equations and heat transport equations, as well as novel 3D visualization and interaction methods. All methods are being integrated into a single, flexible, easy-to-use software system, called HyperPlan.
Computer Aided Facial Surgery Planning (mixed funding), a joint project with the Klinik und Poliklinik für Mund-Kiefer-Gesichtschirurgie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU München. ZIB's task is to develop algorithms for the generation of faithful anatomical models and the numerical solution of the non-linear elastomechanical behavior of soft tissues and to integrate these in a practically useful software system.
Virtual Brain, a joint project (BMBF-funded) with six research partners in neuro-biology and neuro-informatics. The general aim is to get an understanding of the neural and cellular basis of sensory perception, learning, and memory in small animals. ZIB's task is the development of specific algorithms for image analysis and visualization, for analyzing 3D image data from confocal microscopy. Furthermore, geometry generation techniques are developed that help to build anatomical atlases, as well as methods for matching, aligning, and comparing anatomical objects.
The task of ZIB in this research project is the development of a virtual laboratory comprising image processing and visualization tools that support the quantification of changes in the bone structure caused by microgravity condition.