A Pattern Approach to Examine the Design Space of Spatiotemporal Visualization

Pattern language has been widely used in the development of visualization systems. This dissertation applies a pattern language approach to explore the design space of spatiotemporal visualization. The study provides a framework for both designers and novices to communicate, develop, evaluate, and share spatiotemporal visualization design on an abstract level. The touchstone of the work is a pattern language consisting of fifteen design patterns and four categories. In order to validate the design patterns, the researcher created two visualization systems with this framework in mind. The first system displayed the daily routine of human beings via a polygon-based visualization. The second system showed the spatiotemporal patterns of co-occurring hashtags with a spiral map, sunburst diagram, and small multiples. The evaluation results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed design patterns to guide design thinking and create novel visualization practices

Landslide Geoanalytics Using LiDAR-derived Digital Elevation Models

Landslides are natural hazards that contribute to tremendous economic loss and result in fatalities if there is no well-prepared mitigation and planning. Assessing landslide hazard and optimizing quality to improve susceptibility maps with various contributing factors remain a challenge when working with various geospatial datasets. Also, the system of updating landslide inventories which identify geometry, deformation, and type of landslide with semi-automated computing processes in the Geographic Information System (GIS) can be flawed. This study explores landslide geoanalytics approaches combined with empirical approach and powerful analytics in the Zagros and Alborz Mountains of Iran. Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR)-derived Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images, and Google Earth images are combined with the existing inventory dataset. GIS thematic data in conjunction with field observations are utilized along with geoanalytics approaches to accomplish the results. The purpose of this study is to explore the challenges and techniques of landslide investigations. The study is carried out by studying stream length-gradient (SL) index analysis in order to identify tectonic signatures. A correlation between the stream length-gradient index and the graded Dez River profile with slopes and landslides is investigated. By building on the previous study a quantitative approach for evaluating both spatial and temporal factors contributing to landslides for susceptibility mapping utilizing LiDAR-derived DEMs and the Probability Frequency Ratio (PFR) model is expanded. Furthermore, the purpose of this study is to create an algorithm and a software package in MATLAB for semi-automated geometric analysis to measure and determine the length, width, area, and volume of material displacement and flow direction, as well as the type of landslide. A classification method and taxonomy of landslides are explored in this study. LiDAR-derived DEMs and UAV images help to characterize landslide hazards, revise and update the inventory dataset, and validate the susceptibility model, geometric analysis, and landslide deformation. This study makes the following accomplishments and contributions: 1) Operational use of LiDAR-derived DEMs for landslide hazard assessment is estimated, which is a realistic ambition if we can continue to build on recent achievements; 2) While a steeper gradient could potentially be a signature for landslide identification, this study identifies the geospatial locations of high-gradient indices with potential to landslides; 3) An updated inventory dataset is achieved, this study indicates an improved landslide susceptibility map by implementing the PFR model compared to the existing data and previous studies in the same region. This study shows that the most effective factor is the lithology with 13.7% positive influence; and 4) This study builds a software package in MATLAB that can a) determine the type of landslide, b) calculate the area of a landslide polygon, c) determine and measure the length and width of a landslide, d) calculate the volume of material displacement and determine mass movement (i.e. deformation), and e) identify the flow direction of a landslide material movement. In addition to the contributions listed above, a class taxonomy of landslides is introduced in this study. The relative operating characteristic (ROC) curve method in conjunction with field observations and the inventory dataset are used to validate the accuracy of the PFR model. The validation of the result for susceptibility mapping accuracy is 92.59%. Further, the relative error method is applied to validate the performance of relative percentage of error of the selected landslides computing in the proposed software package. The relative percentage of error of the area, length, width, and volume is 0.16%, 1.67%, 0.30%, and 5.50% respectively, compared to ArcGIS. Marzan Abad and Chalus from Mazandaran Province of Iran and Madaling from Guizhou Province of China are used for validating the proposed algorithm

Enkoping Esker Pilot Study : workflow for data integration and publishing of 3D geological outputs

This report describes the workflows for preparing the data for constructing and publishing a geological model of the Enköping Esker, Sweden. This pilot study was a collaborative effort between the British Geological Survey (BGS) and Swedish Geological Survey (SGU). The main role of the BGS was to help prepare the data for the geological model, provide advice about the construction of the model, technical check the model and create the publication methods for the dissemination of the model. The main role of SGU was to construct the geological model using the SubsurfaceViewer software (INSIGHT). The following publication methods were deployed: Synthetic Geological Model Web Viewer Minecraft 2D and 3D shapefiles ASCII grids (Top, Base, Thickness and Rockhead (base of superficial deposits)) Groundhog Desktop compatible project files and set up GeoVisionary v3 compatible project files and set up Subsurface Viewer files GOCAD-SKUA surfaces (.ts) – top, base and shells A number of suggestions were made by the BGS to improve the workflow methodology. These included: Using Groundhog in the initial stages of model development to minimise snapping and model checks in cross-section Bathymetry would have improved the modelling of the distribution of superficial deposits at the lake bed surface Using the Unlithified Coding Schema (Cooper et al 2006) for the coding of boreholes Ensuring that the borehole index information is correct (start heights) which can reduce the error in the elevations when correlating stratigraphy Looking at stochastic methods for modelling lithofacies in eskers Developing simple visualisations of uncertainty in 2D based on quantitative informatio

Understanding how and why practitioners evaluate SDI performance

Practitioners around the world are building frameworks for spatial data interoperability and cross-agency coordination, referred to as spatial data infrastructure (SDI). In this study, we attempt to understand how and why SDI practitioners ‘on the ground’ are evaluating their ‘own’ efforts in developing such frameworks. For this purpose, we mobilize concepts from ‘control’ evaluation, as well as from public sector evaluation research, because ‘control’ evaluation appears to be the approach most favored by SDI practitioners, and SDI evaluation is unfolding within public sector settings. ‘Control’ evaluation emphasizes operations, supports rationalistic investment decisions and efficiency analysis, and typically is based on measures such as ratios, percentages, and indexes; evaluators act as auditors, controlling, ranking or assessing success. We examine and classify several recent examples of SDI ‘control’ evaluation by using the concepts of ‘timing’, ‘perspective’, ‘formal demand’, ‘use’, and ‘input specificity’. Our study reveals that the most comprehensive practices have resulted when ‘control’ evaluations have been in compliance with a demand from an executive agency, such as a central budget agency, and when there has been specificity of inputs. We anticipate that these dimensions are key to the institutionalization of SDI evaluation and point to the need for further research to understand how such evaluation practices emerge

Earth Observation Open Science and Innovation

geospatial analytics; social observatory; big earth data; open data; citizen science; open innovation; earth system science; crowdsourced geospatial data; citizen science; science in society; data scienc

On Metrics for Location-Aware Games

Metrics are important and well-known tools to measure users’ behavior in games, and gameplay in general. Particularities of location-aware games—a class of games where the player’s location plays a central role-demand specific support in metrics to adequately address the spatio-temporal features such games exhibit. In this article, we analyse and discuss how existing game analytics platforms address the spatio-temporal features of location-aware games. Our analysis reveals that little support is available. Next, based on the analysis, we propose a classification of spatial metrics, embedded in existing literature, and discuss three types of spatial metrics-point-, trajectory- and area-based metrics-, and elaborate examples and difficulties. Finally, we discuss how spatial metrics may be deployed to improve gameplay in location-aware games

Development of a geovisual analytics environment using parallel coordinates with applications to tropical cyclone trend analysis

A global transformation is being fueled by unprecedented growth in the quality, quantity, and number of different parameters in environmental data through the convergence of several technological advances in data collection and modeling. Although these data hold great potential for helping us understand many complex and, in some cases, life-threatening environmental processes, our ability to generate such data is far outpacing our ability to analyze it. In particular, conventional environmental data analysis tools are inadequate for coping with the size and complexity of these data. As a result, users are forced to reduce the problem in order to adapt to the capabilities of the tools. To overcome these limitations, we must complement the power of computational methods with human knowledge, flexible thinking, imagination, and our capacity for insight by developing visual analysis tools that distill information into the actionable criteria needed for enhanced decision support. In light of said challenges, we have integrated automated statistical analysis capabilities with a highly interactive, multivariate visualization interface to produce a promising approach for visual environmental data analysis. By combining advanced interaction techniques such as dynamic axis scaling, conjunctive parallel coordinates, statistical indicators, and aerial perspective shading, we provide an enhanced variant of the classical parallel coordinates plot. Furthermore, the system facilitates statistical processes such as stepwise linear regression and correlation analysis to assist in the identification and quantification of the most significant predictors for a particular dependent variable. These capabilities are combined into a unique geovisual analytics system that is demonstrated via a pedagogical case study and three North Atlantic tropical cyclone climate studies using a systematic workflow. In addition to revealing several significant associations between environmental observations and tropical cyclone activity, this research corroborates the notion that enhanced parallel coordinates coupled with statistical analysis can be used for more effective knowledge discovery and confirmation in complex, real-world data sets

Development of a geovisual analytics environment using parallel coordinates with applications to tropical cyclone trend analysis

A global transformation is being fueled by unprecedented growth in the quality, quantity, and number of different parameters in environmental data through the convergence of several technological advances in data collection and modeling. Although these data hold great potential for helping us understand many complex and, in some cases, life-threatening environmental processes, our ability to generate such data is far outpacing our ability to analyze it. In particular, conventional environmental data analysis tools are inadequate for coping with the size and complexity of these data. As a result, users are forced to reduce the problem in order to adapt to the capabilities of the tools. To overcome these limitations, we must complement the power of computational methods with human knowledge, flexible thinking, imagination, and our capacity for insight by developing visual analysis tools that distill information into the actionable criteria needed for enhanced decision support. In light of said challenges, we have integrated automated statistical analysis capabilities with a highly interactive, multivariate visualization interface to produce a promising approach for visual environmental data analysis. By combining advanced interaction techniques such as dynamic axis scaling, conjunctive parallel coordinates, statistical indicators, and aerial perspective shading, we provide an enhanced variant of the classical parallel coordinates plot. Furthermore, the system facilitates statistical processes such as stepwise linear regression and correlation analysis to assist in the identification and quantification of the most significant predictors for a particular dependent variable. These capabilities are combined into a unique geovisual analytics system that is demonstrated via a pedagogical case study and three North Atlantic tropical cyclone climate studies using a systematic workflow. In addition to revealing several significant associations between environmental observations and tropical cyclone activity, this research corroborates the notion that enhanced parallel coordinates coupled with statistical analysis can be used for more effective knowledge discovery and confirmation in complex, real-world data sets