Tomographic Imaging: UK Collaborative Computational Projects

计算机断层扫描（CT）是一种强大的非破坏性评估（NDE）技术，用于从一系列2D投影中生成物体的2D横截面和3D图像。CT过程的关键是计算机算法的流水线，该流水线执行相互依赖的任务序列，以从原始数据中提取所需信息：i）从初始图像捕获开始的校正和校准，ii）从这些2D投影重建3D图像，iii）分析和量化3D图像中的特征，andiv）3D图像和提取特征的2D和3D可视化和动画。虽然这些技术正在迅速普及，但大多数用户在尝试恢复3D图像时选择相当有限。他们可以使用X射线CT仪器制造商提供的黑盒软件工具，或者充其量只编写相当原始的计算机程序来从图像中提取关键特征。英国各地的大型、中型和小型CT设施代表了数百万磅投资，由于未满足的方法和软件需求，这些投资的全部回报尚未实现。此外，数据分析的最佳做法和新计算方法的应用尚未在整个社区中定期共享，这进一步阻碍了充分发挥潜力。显然需要改进软件工具，以便从CT数据中提取信息，并加强整个CT社区在计算方法和软件方面的合作和提高技能。CCPi旨在解决这两个问题。首先，CCPi致力于提供完全开源的软件，涵盖整个断层成像流程，包括预处理和校准、针对不同形式的挑战性数据的各种重建算法、伪影减少代码和图像分析程序。以Core Imaging Library（CIL）的名义发布的工具集通过易于使用的标准算法迎合了缺乏经验的用户，并为专家用户提供了构建定制数据处理管道的充分灵活性。其次，CCPi通过网络活动、人员交流、培训和研讨会，加强和发展英国CT社区。这些活动将继续连接数学家，物理学家，工程师，仪器科学家，应用科学研究人员（用户）以及工业和文化遗产团体的高度多学科社区。

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.