At the First Core Imaging Library (CIL) User Meeting organized by CCPi (The Collaborative Computational Project in Tomographic Imaging), Iwan Mitchell from Bangor University was awarded with the 2023 Computational Science Centre for Research Communities (CoSeC) Impact Award for his groundbreaking work in scientific computing.
CIL is an open-source Python framework for tomographic imaging with particular emphasis on reconstruction of challenging datasets. The award ceremony, led by CoSeC Director Dr. Barbara Montanari, was part of a day dedicated to sharing insights and advancements in computational imaging. Later, on the same day, Iwan had the opportunity to present his work “Creating Functional Digital Shadows of X-ray Systems” to the audience. In the talk he explained the complexities of X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT).
Iwan Mitchell is studying for his PhD at Bangor University, and is funded by the Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Advanced Computing (AIMLAC) UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) centre for doctoral research. Mitchell's research focuses on developing innovative algorithms and computing systems in X-ray computed tomography (XCT) and has been investigating shadowing techniques for XCT, aiming to recreate X-ray scanners virtually, including their behaviours and defects. His work is integral to overcoming the challenges posed by traditional computerized X-ray simulation methods, which are time-consuming and often require expensive proprietary software. His creation, WebCT, a user-friendly browser-based X-ray simulation and reconstruction software, provides a more accessible interface for researchers, minimizing the barriers to entry into the X-ray non-destructive testing (NDT) field.
The impact of Mitchell's research extends beyond training and feasibility questions. By producing Digital Twins of industrial XCT scanners, he has opened the gateway for Machine Learning applications in optimizing manufacturing design. Digital Twins, coupled with the gVirtualXRay (gVXR) software library and CCPi's Core Imaging Library (CIL), enable the creation of tomographic datasets in seconds, facilitating the training of Machine Learning models for defect detection and manufacturing optimization.
Dr Franck Vidal (previous Reader at Bangor University, and Scientist at the Science and Technology Facilities Council), acknowledging Mitchell's achievement, said
Iwan’s dedication and achievements exemplify the spirit of the CoSeC Impact Award. His work not only pushes the boundaries of scientific computing but also holds immense promise for the future of X-ray imaging. We congratulate Iwan. on this well-deserved honour and look forward to witnessing the continued impact of his contributions in the scientific community.
