Evaluating Climate
Visualization: An Information
Visualization Approach
-By Mridul Sen
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Contents
• Introduction
• Background
• Climate visualization
• Tools
• Future directions
• Conclusion
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Introduction
• Use of information visualization for climate visualization for better
understanding of visualization tools and techniques and also how the
previous methods in information visualization can be applied to
climate visualization
• In-depth understanding of climate visualization
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• Detailed analysis and communication of climate change issues and
research results
The three interlinked research areas of climate
visualization.
Credit: http://webstaff.itn.liu.se/~jimjo94/papers/IV10_Johansson.pdf
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Background
• Key challenges:
 Complexity of societal and environmental systems
 Vast amount of heterogeneous data on spatial and temporal scales
• Rapid development of computational power and graphics to boost
the representation of large datasets
• Information visualization approach was made but tools were not
enough to give scientific evaluations details
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CLIMATE VISUALIZATION
• After identification of challenges within climate communication ,
scientists have taken approach based on the selection of data , their
visual representation and the creation of narratives
• Large datasets and complex modelling
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Tools
• ICEDome
This is a software environment for large scale visualization and
functions as a framework for development of new visualization
techniques. The focus is on using massive multi-dimensional and
time variant data as well as on integrating mixed media in highly
interactive and immersive environments.
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ICEDome
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Credit:https://vimeo.com/album/2918709/video/8094521
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• ICEWeb
• This tool lets researchers exchange and edit climate data
through an easy-to-use web application.
• Multiple data layer support
• Time control and advanced coloring
• Spherical and flat map projection
• Visualizing climate tweets
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ICEWeb
Credit:https://vimeo.com/album/2918709/video/8094521
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ICEWeb
Credit:https://vimeo.com/album/2918709/video/8094521
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Iceweb
Credit:https://vimeo.com/album/2918709/video/8094521
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The Worldview project
• In 2008, Researchers of Linkoping University, the Norrkoping
Visualization Centre and the Swedish Meteorological and
Hydrological Institute started the world view project
• provide details based on scientifically validated data to
communicate the complexity of climate change and interaction
with audience
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The Worldview project
• In 2009,several presentations of 30 minutes were held in immersive
dome environment.
Credit: http://webstaff.itn.liu.se/~jimjo94/papers/IV10_Johansson.pdf
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Previously performed evaluations
• Priority given on data, representation, narrative, narrator and
presentation environments
• Conducted with heterogeneous groups
• Questions based on novelty, aesthetics and understanding of the
visual representations
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Future Directions
• Depth of knowledge on the effectiveness and efficiency of climate
visualization
• Controlled experiments comparing elements
• (Qualitative) usability evaluation of a tool
• Controlled experiments comparing two or more tools
• Case studies of tools in realistic settings
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CONCLUSION
• Beneficial for the researchers as the new interactive tools help in
communication , analysis , planning and decision making
• Improving existing tools for efficiency and effects of visual
representations of climate change related issues
• Visualization for large variety of audiences
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