WE-D-201-01: Plastimatch and SlicerRT

This session is intended for researchers who need customized software tools to analyze their datasets. Publicly available software tools are designed to facilitate research by implementing many standard algorithms, but choosing one that fits a researcher's background and project needs is a critical decision for timely and cost-effective research. Indeed while some libraries are easy to use, needing minimal investment to learn their usage, other open-source libraries are very flexible allowing development of customized algorithms but the user has to be proficient in a programing language to use its functionalities. The session will familiarize new researchers with the pros and cons of open source software libraries and applications (CERR, ITK, VTK, RTK, Plastimatch, and 3DSlicer) frequently used in talks presented at AAPM. Each speaker will give an overview of one or more of the libraries, covering its capabilities and learning curve so that listeners can choose a tool that best fits their needs. A panel discussion will be held to answer questions. Learning Objectives: 1. Familiarize the audience with the available software libraries 2. Present the pros and cons of each library in a side-by-side comparison