Visualization of Spatial Data Structures and Algorithms

Summary

Staff

Publications

Spatial data structures and algorithms are used to store, manipulate, and analyze data located in a - typically two- or three-dimensional - space. Spatial data is used in numerous different fields, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), robotics, computer graphics, virtual reality, as well as in other disciplines like finite element analysis, solid modeling, computer-aided design and manufacturing, biology, statistics, and VLSI design. In this project, the focus is the spatial data used in geoinformatics.

Spatial data algorithms (SDA) are an integral part of geoinformatics, a branch of science where information technology is applied to cartography and geosciences. Geoinformatics is closely related to cartography, and therefore illustrations such as maps and other diagrams are often used. For people in this field of study, graphics are a familiar and natural way of illustrating the work.

Visualization is widely used in geoiformatics for illustrating data accurately and understandably. Such visualizations often contain different types of maps and diagrams that make it easier to analyze the data at hand. When visualizing spatial data, a map gives an accurate and understandable overview of the data stored in the spatial structure.

The VISTA project aims to apply software visualization (SV) techniques to spatial data structures and algorithms. Using SV it is possible to give the user information about the data stuctures used to store the data or the algorithms used to manipulate it. This information is not present in maps or other visualizations that are primarily aimed at showing the data in an accurate and understandable manner. Also, through visualizations, the user can interact with the data structures at hand in a meaningful way. In educational context it has been proved that merely seeing visualizations does not benefit students, but they must interact with the structures in order to actually learn. In Vista SV is used in two main application areas: education and software development.

The educational research in VISTA is concentrated on developing a set of exercises for the TRAKLA2 visualization and automatic assessment system. These exercises will be used in a virtual learning environment for the teaching of SDA. The development of the exercises was started at spring 2006

The VISTA project also aims to improve the development of geoinformatics software by applying software visualization techniques. This research is still on planning stages.

VISTA is a joint project between the Software Visualization Group at Laboratory of Software Technology and the Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics at the Helsinki University of Technology.