CAREER: Development of a Heterogeneous Display Environment to Support Complex Data Visualization

从行星科学到医学，许多应用都需要从业者通过一系列维度、尺度、分辨率和时间动力学来关联和理解复杂的数据集。这种复杂的特性被称为数据异构性。显然，如何组织、可视化和关联这些异质数据集将影响信息解释和决策的有效性，并最终反映任务的成功与否。有效处理涉及大规模异质数据的复杂可视化任务面临许多技术挑战。为了解决一些挑战，PI的目标是开发一个集成了多功能数据可视化和用户交互功能的异类显示环境。可视化系统的设计以一种理论为指导，在该理论中，对3D可视化和用户交互的复杂控制的各个方面被视为多维连续空间。拟议的系统可能会促进可视化和关联大规模异质数据的过程。特别是，PI将使用与NASA火星探索计划研究人员正在进行的科学活动直接相关的场景来评估拟议技术的有效性。该系统还将提供一个平台，以完善连续统理论和研究方法，以提高复杂数据可视化和用户交互的有效性。PI还概述了一项全面计划，以发展跨学科教育机会，与为广泛的学习群体提出的研究议程紧密结合。例如，为不同的学习群体提供研究活动中的培训机会，制定课程以满足学生在跨学科研究领域的教育需求；为暑期学校和社区外联活动开发短期课程和实践项目。该委员会还将探讨3D可视化技术在科学和工程教育中的价值。这些计划的成功将为该委员会实现建立一流跨学科研究和教育计划的终身目标奠定坚实的基础。

PROJECT ABSTRACTHong HuaProposal No. 0644446Many applications, from planetary sciences to medicine, require practitioners to correlate and understand complex datasets through a range of dimensions, scales, resolutions, and temporal dynamics. Such complex nature is referred to as data heterogeneity. Clearly, how we organize, visualize, and correlate these heterogeneous datasets will influence the effectiveness of information interpretation and decision-making, and ultimately reflect on the success of a task.Many technical challenges persist in effectively dealing with complex visualization tasks involving large-scale heterogeneous data. To address some of the challenges, the PI aims to develop a heterogeneous display environment integrated with versatile data visualization and user interaction capabilities. The design of the visualization system is guided by a theory where the various aspects of complex controls on 3D visualization and user interaction are viewed as a multidimensional continuum space. The proposed system can potentially facilitate the process of visualizing and correlating large-scale heterogeneous data. Particularly, the PI will evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed technology using scenarios directly related to scientific activities underway by researchers in NASA's Mars Exploration Program. The system will also offer a platform to refine the continuum theory and investigate methods that could improve the effectiveness of complex data visualization and user interaction. The PI further outlines a comprehensive plan for developing interdisciplinary education opportunities tightly integrated with the proposed research agenda for a wide range of learner groups. Examples include training opportunities embedded in research activities for diversified learner groups, curriculum development to address the educational needs for students in interdisciplinary areas of research; and the development of short courses and hands-on projects for summer schools and community outreach events. The PI will also explore the value of 3D visualization techniques in science and engineering education.The success of these plans will set up a solid foundation for the PI to achieve her life-long goals of establishing first-class interdisciplinary research and educational programs.