Event Viewer – A platform for the exploration and visualization of events

The need for exploratory spatial and temporal data analysis tools has increased with the growth of sensor systems that produce large data sets combining spatial, temporal, and thematic attributes. While geographic information system (GIS) software supports exploration of spatial data, and time series analysis tools, such as MATLAB, support exploration of temporal data, these tools do not intuitively present the spatial and temporal relationships between events. The developed prototype implements a framework for visualizing and exploring spatial, temporal and thematic sensor-based data. The prototype system is an initial realization of a conceptual model, the Event Viewer, designed by Kate Beard, Heather Deese, and Neal R. Pettigrew [A framework for visualization and exploration of events. Information Visualization 7, 2 (April 2008), 133-151]. In particular, the visual interface is designed to allow users to explore spatial and temporal patterns, event-event relationships based on thematic attributes, and event patterns at different temporal and spatial scales. The prototype, populated with events extracted from data collected by the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System, is generally applicable to domains with spatial, temporal, and thematic attributes.

Faculty Mentor: Mike Scott

Co-authors: Laurie Qualey, Jennifer Holesha, Kelsey Barnes, Mariah Picard