Investigating variations and combinations of geospatial visualizations based on spatial dimensionality of attribute space and reference space
Date
2024
Authors
Jangida, Ayush
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Abstract
The effectiveness of information presentation in different forms plays a vital role in our ability to address challenges and make informed decisions. In this thesis, a focus is placed on the visualization of geospatial data. The study begins with the establishment of a systematic framework that categorizes the presentation space consisting of attribute (data) and reference (terrain) space based on their dimensionality. We also introduce MultiDim, an innovative information visualization system capable of rendering a photo-realistic environment in 2D, 2.5D, and 3D reference spaces. To assess its efficacy, we conducted a comprehensive comparative evaluation of user performance (accuracy and completion time) in different dimensions of attribute and reference space. We also conducted a qualitative analysis where we analyzed with the help of an eye-tracker the different strategies that participants adopted while solving tasks. The eye-tracker enabled us to monitor participants' gaze and discern the preferred views for task-solving. Our findings indicate that the dimensionality of the attribute space (data) has negligible effects on accuracy and task completion time. Conversely, the dimensionality of the reference space (terrain) and the presence of distractors within the environment significantly impact both accuracy and task completion time. Notably, our qualitative analysis reveals a preference for views incorporating 3D terrain. These results offer valuable insights for the future design of geospatial visualizations, guiding decisions on the optimal view selection for enhanced task-solving capabilities.
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Keywords
geospatial visualization, visualization, 3D visualization, 2D visualization, eye-tracker, multiple coordinated views, spatial dimensionality