Simulating Reality: From Cricket to Crickets

Computer simulation has long been used in traditional engineering applications, particularly in the aerospace and automotive industries, as part of the design process. However use of simulation has been contingent on having a computer representation of the geometry of the object to be analysed. There has been increasing interest more recently in using simulation tools where no suitable 'drawing' or model is readily available (human body, soil, plants ...). The talk will present tools developed at Exeter to convert 3D images, as obtained from medical MRI and CT scanners, into computer models suitable for carrying out physics-based simulations. These techniques have been used in a wide range of applications including modelling the response of human head to impact, exploring plant pollination mechanisms, simulating the extraction of oil through porous rock and even modelling the comfort/fit of baby nappies.

There will also be an introductory talk by Prof. Nick Talbot to open the series.