Visualization of 3D Scanned Data to Support Sandplay Therapy

Abstract

Sandplay therapy is a well-known traditional psychotherapeutic method. In this paper, we introduce our recent attempts to support sandplay therapy using a 3D scanned point cloud of the client's miniature garden. First, we introduce our VR system, which allows users to see the entire miniature garden from a bird's-eye view or to see important details from a first-person view with an immersive experience. Our VR system provides an environment in which both therapists and clients can get new awareness. Next, we explain our two advantageous visualization methods to investigate the undulations of the sand, which reflect the client's psychological state. One is a novel shading method applicable to point cloud data that does not contain point normal vectors. The other is a robust technique to draw contour lines on a point-based sand surface. These methods significantly improve the visibility of the undulations of the sand to support the therapists.