Interactive Data Visualization. Dr. Robert S. Laramee, Associate Professor in
Data Visualization. Computer Science Department ... found on Bob's web pages.
Interactive Data Visualization Dr. Robert S. Laramee, Associate Professor in Data Visualization Computer Science Department College of Science Swansea University Swansea SA2 8PP email: r.s.laramee ”at” swansea.ac.uk Business Telephone: (+44) 01792 602 609 www: http://cs.swan.ac.uk/~csbob/ Research Interests Robert S. Laramee's interests are focused on the use of computers and their graphic capabilities to generate images, either automatically or interactively, from data, in order to gain insight into that data. The exciting and vibrant field of visualization is an increasingly important research area due to its wide range of applications in many disciplines. In general, our ability to collect, store, and archive data vastly exceeds our ability derive useful knowledge and insight from it. This is a ubiquitous problem. Data visualization is key in gaining an understanding large, complex data sets by exploiting the human visual system. Data visualization leverages computer graphics in order to provide a visual overview, explore, analyze, and present phenomena which is often difficult to understand. Visualization (including Visual Analytics) is a very application-oriented field of computer science. Thus, any project undertaken with Bob will allow you to finally apply those theoretical skills learned in lectures, improve your programming ability, and supply you with other necessary skills that are applicable both in the real world and in research. Visualization is also very rewarding because you can actually see the results of your work and easily show them to others. The following projects are only a sample of suggested topics. If you would like to discuss other possibilities, please contact Bob directly. Note also that an effort will be made to tailor the projects in order to suit the student's interests. Links related to some of these projects can be found on Bob's web pages. Project: Visualization of Animal Sensor Data A new area of biological research is identifying and grouping patterns of behaviour in wild animals by analysing data obtained through the attachment of tri-axial accelerometers. As these recording devices become smaller and less expensive their use has increased. The goal of this project is to develop alternate visualisations of this data so as to analyse, explore and present new patterns of animal behaviour. Some possibilities include interactive spherical scatterplots, spherical histograms, clustering methods, feature-based state diagrams, as well as the use of multiple, coordinated linked views of the data. This project studies the application of visualisation methods to accelerometry data from marine animal movement. This project involves collaboration with the Biology department. Project: Special Topics in Information Visualization: Interactive Parallel Coordinates Information visualization is concerned with the depiction of abstract data, that is, data with no inherent geometry, e.g., a list of names and addresses. Parallel coordinates (google "parallel coordinates") is a classic information visualization technique. This project is the implement the standard parallel coordinates visualization including associated interactive features that allow the users to tune the result. The standard algorithm will then be enhanced in various ways, for example, by adding some advanced features. Of course other special topics in information visualization are possible. Project: Special Topics in Flow Visualization: Visualizing Flow Past a Marine Turbine Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is the discipline of predicting the behavior of flow as it moves through some space, in a quantitative fashion. For example, CFD is used to study the behavior of a liquid as it travels down a winding pipe. The goal of this project is to visualize given CFD simulation data that describes the behavior of flow past a marine turbine. This project involves a collaboration with the Marine Turbine Group in the Department of Engineering. Other special topics in flow visualization are possible.
