24-04-2012, 03:17 PM
Multivariate Geovisualization of archaeological events using the Space-Time Cube
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Introduction
What is Geovisualization?
• Geovisualization, short for Geographic Visualization, refers to a set of tools and techniques supporting geospatial data analysis through the use of interactive visualization.
• Like the related fields of Scientific Visualization and Information Visualization geovisualization emphasizes knowledge construction over knowledge storage or information transmission.To do this, geovisualization communicates geospatial information in ways that, when combined with human understanding, allow for data exploration and decision-making processes.
What is Archeology?
Archaeology is a discipline that could benefit from dynamic geovisualization techniques, since it is concerned with the study of material remains (architecture, artifacts, etc), locations of discoveries (where artifacts were found and when) and environmental data (landscapes) to help understand and
Reconstruct past societies. In archaeology, the main objective is to locate archaeological sites in the landscape in combination with temporal information. Apart from the most common attributes i.e.
geographic locations and time period, it is also important to collect attribute data about the cultural characteristics and the surrounding geographical environment.
What is Space-Time-Cube?
The Space-Time Cube (STC) has demonstrated the power to manipulate complex relations of particular events across time. The concept was introduced by Hagerstrand (1970). Hagerstrand
developed a graphic view on time as an additional spatial dimension. He suggested a three-dimensional diagram, the so called space-time cube, to show the life history of peoples and how people interact in space and time. Features like the Space Time Prism, Space Time Path, Potential Path Space and Potential Path Area are concepts used to investigate and understand the movements of events through space and time.
Research Hypothesis
• Combining the Space-Time Cube and extended graphical representation techniques can result in a more meaningful visualization environment for the interpretation of archaeological data.
• An interactive manipulation of the Temporal dimension can provide clues for better understanding of archaeological sites (e.g. by grouping, filtering and selection).
Advantages:
• Easy for portability, navigation and contemplation (G. Langran 1992).
• Easy to understand the changes if proper graphic variables are used.
• Additional information can be include I order to clarify the visual changes.
Disadvantages:
• Occlusion depicting changes in time and space can occur.
• No means of manipulation.
Conclusion
• A discussion of a focus group was held in order to evaluate the developed prototype. This research proposed and designed a new geovisualization solution environment with the main objective of explore and retrieve meaningful information for multivariate spatio-temporal phenomena concentrating on the richness of the inquired data. Based on the actual technology and available platforms (uDig.), the SMTC was build. During the research time, new ideas, problems and solutions arise that in some extent affect the study research.