SUPER COMPUTING CHALLENGE


Super Computer Challenge Award Paper from John Jenkins.

While Andrew's presentation is not part of the "Jurored Papers" I am submitting his original abstract of his project for the 95-96 Challenge for your information and use as you deem appropriate.

I would point out that not only did Andrew win First Place, but he also won the Multi-Media Award presented by KRQE-TV, Channel 13. His abstract follows:

"Team 043
BOWKER HOME SCHOOL

3-Dimensional Lunar Images

In 1994 the Clementine satellite took 1.8 million images of the moon. These images are the most accurate ones we have of the moon. Attempts to transfer lunar images into 3-dimensional have been successful but not accurate.

I propose to write software that will turn 2-dimensional images into 3-dimensional and retain the accuracy of the actual object. Then use this software to create 3-dimensional images of the moon from the Clementine satellite. This will be useful for lunar study and for locating a site for a lunar space station. A supercomputer will be necessary to process the 1.8 million pictures of the moon that were taken from the Clementine satellite.

An article in the January 1995 issue of 'Computer Vision and Image Understanding' by Robert Bergevin, Denis Laurendeau and Denis Poussart states that the current technique that transfers a 2-dimensional image into 3-dimensional is not very good and has a large error because there is a lot of guess work. It is not good enough for precise science study. This error is due to guessing which edges match up when they add triangles to create the third dimension. Using new techniques in edge detection and depth perception I think I can improve the accuracy of the 3-dimensional image.

Stephen Robertson from the Naval Research Laboratories has offered to help me get the images I will need.

Team Members: Andrew Bowker

Sponsoring Teachers: Jeff Brody

Anne Bowker"