Predictive Simulation and Rendering of Material Appearance Changes Induced by Invisible Light

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Computer graphics remains one of the most pervasive areas of computer science, with applications spanning from the production of movies for educational and entertainment purposes to the visualization of scientific and medical data. The pursuit of realism has been a driving force for innovative research developments in this area. In order to generate images with a high degree of realism, it is necessary to accurately simulate light and matter interactions that affect material appearance attributes such as colour, glossiness and translucency.******Realistic rendering applications are largely centered at the visible domain, with the resulting images usually depicting materials in their typical original state. However, real materials are subject to prominent changes in their visible appearance attributes, notably due to exposure to invisible light. For example, natural processes affecting the visible appearance of human skin, such as tanning and freckling, can be induced by ultraviolet light, which can also trigger the emission of visible light (fluorescence and phosphorescence phenomena) by man-made and naturally occurring materials such as minerals and chlorophyll.******The main goal of this research program is to advance the state of the art in the modeling of material appearance through the predictive simulation of natural processes triggered by exposure to ultraviolet and infrared light. Although it will be grounded in the computer graphics field, the proposed work will have a substantial interdisciplinary component associated with the evaluation and dissemination of its outcomes. In order to be predictive and reliable, simulations of light and matter interactions need to provide physically correct results. Accordingly, we will evaluate our simulation results through comparisons with actual measured data. We will also make our simulation algorithms and supporting biophysical data available online to enable the reproduction and expansion of our findings.******Due to the scientific importance of material appearance changes caused by exposure to invisible light, this research program will lead to relevant contributions not only to computer graphics, but also to a wide range of disciplines, from applied optics to remote sensing. By having predictability and reliability as its main guidelines, it will provide reproducible outcomes that one can build on efficiently in order to tackle open questions in these disciplines and practical problems affecting the quality of life worldwide. Examples of such applications include, but are not limited to, the design of new technologies for the automatic screening of severe medical conditions, the development of effective procedures for the early detection of food quality problems, and the formulation of accurate methods for the remote assessment of soil contamination and crop yield. Hence, it will benefit both researchers and the public at large.**