Alpha and Texturing questions

[Manny]

I am from rowan university and I am trying to create two tools for multi-layer data viewing. I want to create a "Magic wand" that when moved across a surface makes the surface transparrent and a tool that will make a large segment transparrent for easier viewing.
The methods i was looking at for this were Using Vertex information, and Using textures with alpha maps. So my first question to you is, is there any way to get vertex and or face information for imported objects and apply alpha values. My second question is is there any easy way to move a texture across an imported surface.