Geovisualization for knowledge construction and decision support (original) (raw)
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Geographic visualizations always played an important role in human history, especially in the earth sciences, long before computer visualizations became popular. The earliest examples of geographic visualization even date back to the stone age with map-like wall paintings depicting the surroundings of our ancestors. Since then cartography, the art and science of map-making, has evolved continuously until today. This is why computer-based geographic visualization can build upon a large base of established cartographic knowledge. Well-known examples of static visualizations beyond geographic maps are thematic maps that display the spatial pattern of a theme such as climate characteristics or population density. Moreover, the use of modern visualization technology offers many new possibilities for geographical visualization tasks. These visualizations may help to explore, understand, and communicate spatial phenomena. Many readers will have a vague idea of what geographic visualization is about. Nonetheless, to avoid misconceptions, the most common definitions of the term geovisualization (short for geographic visualization) will be given. The following notion according to the 2001 research agenda of the International Cartographic Association (ICA) Commission on Visualization and Virtual Environments is most widely accepted today: " Geovisualization integrates approaches from visu-alization in scientific computing (ViSC), cartography, image analysis, information visualization, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and geographic information systems (GISystems) to provide theory, methods and tools for visual exploration, analysis, synthesis, and presentation of geospatial data " [530]. Others take a more human-centered view and describe geovisualization as " the creation and use of visual representations to facilitate thinking, understanding, and knowledge construction about geospatial data " [515] or as " the use of visual geospatial displays to explore data and through that exploration to generate hypotheses, develop problem solutions and construct knowledge " [474]. There are a few immediate observations from these definitions. It is clear that geovisualization research is a multidisciplinary task. Since it is the human who uses visualizations to explore data and construct knowledge, effective geovisualization techniques must above all take the user needs into account. The chapter is structured as follows. First, the range of possible goals of geovisualization and its driving forces are described in Section 6.1 and 6.2, respectively. Then, Section 6.3 looks at some perceptual issues and theoretical results in geovisualization. The main part of the survey, Section 6.4, covers a va
Computational and Visual Support for Exploratory Geovisualization and Knowledge Construction
2005
In this research, we explore the integration of computational and visual approaches, to contribute to the analysis of complex geospatial data. Computational analysis based on the SOM is used in a framework for data mining, knowledge discovery and spatial analysis, for uncovering the structure, patterns, relationships and trends in the data. The framework is informed by current understanding of the effective application of visual variables for cartographic and information design, by developing theories on interface metaphors for geospatial information displays, and by previous empirical studies of map and information visualization effectiveness. It is used to facilitate the knowledge construction process by supporting user's exploratory tasks in a number of ways, including a scenario for better use of the representational spaces. The ultimate goal is to support visual data mining and exploration, and gain insights into underlying distributions, patterns and trends, and thus contr...
The challenge of analyzing geovisualization tool use: Taking a visual approach
20th International Cartographic …, 2001
Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic change in map forms and map-based analysis. In the past, maps have been designed by cartographers to be studied and interpreted by users. Today there are widely available mapping environments that allow users to generate their own maps and dynamically manipulate parameters of those maps. Although research advances in dynamic mapping are being rapidly incorporated in commercial mapping and GIS products, little is understood about the use of interactive maps or how that use influences tasks such as knowledge construction or decision-making. One of the most serious impediments to developing this understanding is that we lack methods and tools to study dynamic map use. This paper presents a framework for the development of a software environment that will facilitate cognitive and usability studies directed to understanding use and improving usefulness of interactive geovisualization environments.
Geodesy and Cartography, 2017
In the following paper, geovisualisation will be applied to one spatial phenomenon and understood as a process of creating complementary visualisations: static two-dimensional, surface three-dimensional, and interactive. The central challenge that the researchers faced was to find a method of presenting the phenomenon in a multi-faceted way. The main objective of the four-stage study was to show the capacity of the contemporary software for presenting geographical space from various perspectives while maintaining the standards of cartographic presentation and making sure that the form remains attractive for the user. The correctness, effectiveness, and usefulness of the proposed approach was analysed on the basis of a geovisualisation of natural aggregate extraction in the Gniezno district in the years 2005–2015. For each of the three visualisations, the researchers planned a different range of information, different forms of graphic and cartographic presentation, different use and ...
A usability framework for the design and evaluation of an exploratory geovisualization environment
Proceedings. Eighth International Conference on Information Visualisation, 2004. IV 2004.
The exploration of large geospatial data for finding patterns and understanding underlying processes is one of the challenges in geovisualization research. New methods are needed for effective extraction of patterns and appropriate visualization tools are necessary to support knowledge construction throughout the exploration process. Based on an approach to combine visual and computational methods, a visualization environment has been developed to support visual data mining and knowledge discovery tasks. This environment integrates non-geographic information spaces with maps and other graphics that allow users to explore patterns and attribute relationships. The development of the tool intends to facilitate knowledge construction using a number of steps that underline data mining and knowledge discovery methodology. In order to investigate the effectiveness of the design concept, an empirical usability testing is planed to assess the tool's ability to meet user performance and satisfaction. In this test, different options of map-based and interactive visualizations of the output of a Self-Organizing Map (SOM) are used to explore a socio-demographic dataset. The study emphasizes the knowledge discovery process based on exploratory tasks and visualization operations. This paper describes the usability framework used to guide the design, and examines key aspects of the evaluation of such visual-computational environment.
Advances in Spatial Data Handling, 2002
Although many different types of data mining tools have been developed for geographic analysis, the broader perspective of geographic knowledge discovery¾the stages required and their computational support¾have been largely overlooked. This paper describes the process of knowledge construction as a number of inter-related activities and the support of these activities in an integrated visual and computational environment, GeoVISTA Studio. Results are presented showing examples of each stage in the knowledge construction process and a summary of the inter-relationships between visualisation, computation, representation and reasoning is provided.
Cognitive and Usability Issues in Geovisualization
Cartography and Geographic Information Science, 2001
We provide a research agenda for the International Cartographic Association's Commission on Visualization and Virtual Environment working group on Cognitive and Usability Issues in Geovisualization. Developments in hardware and software have led to (and will continue to stimulate) novel methods for visualizing geospatial data. It is our belief that these novel methods will be of little use if they are not developed within a theoretical cognitive framework and iteratively tested using usability engineering principles. We argue that cognitive and usability issues should be considered in the context of six major research themes: 1) geospatial virtual environments (GeoVEs), 2) dynamic representations (including animated and interactive maps), 3) metaphors and schemata in user interface design, 4) individual and group differences, 5) collaborative geovisualization, and 6) evaluating the effectiveness of geovisualization methods. A key point underlying our use of theoretical cognitive principles is that traditional cognitive theory for static 2D maps may not be applicable to interactive 3D immersive GeoVEs and dynamic representations -thus new cognitive theory may need to be developed. Usability engineering extends beyond the traditional cartographic practice of "user testing" by evaluating software effectiveness throughout a lifecycle (including design, development, and deployment). Applying usability engineering to geovisualization, however, may be problematic because of the novelty of geovisualization and the associated difficulty of defining the nature of users and their tasks. Tackling the research themes is likely to require an interdisciplinary effort involving geographic information scientists, cognitive scientists, usability engineers, computer scientists, and others.
2014
Riassunto CHAPTER I-Introduction 1.1 Motivation and co-supervision of the dissertation 1.2 Context of the research CHAPTER III:-State of the Art Part II 3.1 Research literature review 3.2 Theoretical foundations of information visualization and geovisualization 3.3 Graphic semiology 3.3.1 Old and new visual variables 3.3.2 The use of visual variables 3.3.3 Visual variables for guiding visual attention 3.4 Psycho-cognitive framework of visual variables 3.5 Conclusions and future developments in information visualization CHAPTER IV: An Experimental Proposal for the Evaluation of Visual Variables-Part I-4.1 The evaluation of data visualization 4.2 Utility of psycho-cognitive tests 4.3 The experimental proposal: objectives of the prototype tests 4.4 Presentation of the tests 4.5 Structure of the tests 4.6 Description of the test #1 in 2D: "passenger flow in a subway system" 4.7 Instructions of the online test #1 4.8 Results of the test #1 4.9 Conclusions and remarks for the test #1 CHAPTER V: An Experimental Proposal for the Evaluation of Visual Variables-Part II-5.1 Description of the test #2 in 2.5-D "urban noise on building facades" 5.2 Instructions of the online test #2 5.3 Results of the test #2 5.4 Conclusions and remarks for the test #2 CHAPTER VI: Conclusions and future perspectives 6.1 Initial purposes and objectives of the dissertation 6.2 Achievement of the objectives and synthesis of the results 6.3 Research future perspectives Bibliography Webliography List of figures List of publications Appendix A: Joint PhD agreement
Geovisualisation for planning support systems
2003
Abstract: Planning support systems can be defined as spatial decision support systems, and they consist of three important components, namely: data, models, and geovisualisation (Klosterman 1999). In this chapter, we focus on geovisualisation in planning decision making, in which it has two roles to serve: collaboration and exploration, in particular when it is integrated with the other two components.
Evaluating the usability of visualization methods in an exploratory geovisualization environment
2006
The use of new representation forms and interactive means to visualize geospatial data requires an understanding of the impact of the visual tools used for data exploration and knowledge construction. Use and usability assessment of implemented methods and tools is an important part of our efforts to build this understanding. Based on an approach to combine visual and computational methods for knowledge discovery in large geospatial data, an integrated visualization-geocomputation environment has been developed based on the Self-Organizing Map (SOM), the map and the parallel coordinate plot. This environment allows patterns and attribute relationships to be explored. A use and usability assessment is conducted to evaluate the ability of each of these visual representations to meet user performance and satisfaction goals. In the test, different representations are compared while exploring a socio-demographic dataset.