Tomographic Imaging: UK Collaborative Computational Projects

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Computed Tomography (CT) is a powerful non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique for producing 2-D cross-sections and 3-D images of an object from a series of 2D projections. Critical to the CT process is a pipeline of computer algorithms carrying out an interdependent sequence of tasks to extract the desired information from the raw data: i) correction and calibration starting from initial image capture, ii) reconstruction of a 3D image from these 2D projections,iii) analysis and quantification of features in the 3D image, andiv) 2D and 3D visualization and animation of the 3D image and extracted features.While the techniques are rapidly growing in popularity, most users have fairly limited options when trying to recover the 3D image. They can either use black-box software tools provided by X-ray CT instrument manufacturers, or at best, write only fairly primitive computer programs to extract key features from the images. Large, mid-range and small CT facilities across the UK represent multi million pound investments of which the full return is not realised due to unmet method and software needs. Furthermore, best practices for data analysis and application of novel computational methods are yet not routinely shared across the community adding further barrier to reaching the full potential. There is a clear need improved software tools for extracting information from CT data, as well as for strengthening collaboration across and upskilling the CT community as a whole in terms of computational methods and software.The CCPi aims to address both of these issues. Firstly, the CCPi seeks to provide fully open-source software covering the full tomographic imaging pipeline including pre-processing and calibration, a variety of reconstruction algorithms for different forms of challenging data, artefact reduction codes, and image analysis procedures. The collection of tools released under the name Core Imaging Library (CIL) caters for inexperienced users by easy-to-use standard algorithms, as well as giving expert users full flexibility to construct bespoke data processing pipelines. Secondly, the CCPi seeks to strengthen and grow the UK CT community through networking activities, staff exchanges, training and seminars. The activities will continue to connect a highly multi-disciplinary community of mathematicians, physicists, engineers, instrument scientists, researchers in the applied sciences (users) as well as industry and cultural heritage groups.