Episode 6: Processing and Visualization of Volume EM Data

Intricate 3D ultrastructural information can be delivered by SEM technologies and methods, known collectively as Volume EM (vEM). vEM drives new discoveries in neurobiology, cancer research, developmental biology, plant science, and more. This six-part webinar series will explore the technological foundations of vEM imaging and highlight the growing number of application areas.

The aim of this webinar is showing the benefits of 3-dimensional representation of images originally acquired as 2D stacks. Not only the electron microscopy sample preparation and imaging techniques like array tomography, SBF-SEM and FIB-SEM have made huge steps over the past decade. 3D reconstruction methods, big data visualization capabilities and semi to fully automated analysis tools using artificial intelligence have continuously raised the level of speed and sample complexity that can be analyzed.

Key Learnings:

• How advanced computing power paired with AI enabled software platforms build up a modern ecosystem for vEM image processing and analysis
• How to follow all the way from the precious sample to image acquisition, segmentation of the objects of interest, to the final visual representation of the results
• How the highest level of automation for image processing, segmentation, and analysis helps to tackle petabytes of voxels
• How algorithm-based analysis pipelines can prevent human bias
• How proper data integrity and statistical relevance help to answer scientific questions