Workshop on New Directions in Geographic Visualization of Scientific Data

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Workshop on New Directions in Geographic Visualization of Scientific Data

By Fran Lightsom
Jan. / Feb. 2007

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Above: Relative coastal vulnerability to sea-level rise at Fire Island National Seashore, displayed in Google Earth (modified for publication at reduced size). Innermost color bar is relative coastal-vulnerability index (CVI); other color bars are geologic variables (2-4) and physical-process variables (5-7). Large-scale (10-15 km) coastal vulnerability is controlled by differences in geologic framework east and west of Watch Hill (star). Smaller-scale (2-5 km) variations in vulnerability reflect rates of historical shoreline change. For more information about CVI assessment for Fire Island National Seashore, see USGS Open-File Report 03-439. [larger version]

On November 8 and 9, 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)'s Woods Hole Science Center in Woods Hole, Mass., cosponsored a workshop for the Woods Hole scientific community called "New Directions in Geographic Visualization of Scientific Data." The workshop attracted scientists and information technologists from five Woods Hole scientific institutions, who discovered common interests and resolved to continue to sponsor joint seminars and workshops on visualization techniques. The workshop was organized by Chris Polloni and Fran Lightsom of the USGS' Woods Hole Science Center and Roger Goldsmith and Art Gaylord of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).

The workshop's keynote speech was presented by Brian Davis of the USGS Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) in Sioux Falls, S.D. In presenting the development of the Geo-Wall 3D visualization system, Davis emphasized features that make a visualization technology widely useful in scientific research.

Although the workshop was organized as an overview of the geographic visualization techniques that are currently in use within the Woods Hole scientific community, the most exciting presentations were of scientific use of the visualization techniques: Elizabeth Pendleton (USGS) showed how she uses Google Earth to provide coastal-vulnerability information; Maurice Tivey (WHOI) showed how he used Fledermaus visualizations to explore a submarine ridge; Andy Maffei (WHOI) showed how he created customized real-time displays for coordinating the work of multiple oceanographic ships in a cooperative oceanographic experiment. Other speakers brought in the perspectives of educators and scientific illustrators.

Corporate sponsors ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute) and IVS 3D (Interactive Visualization Systems) sent representatives to present new features and learn more about how scientists use their products. The sponsors provided refreshments for workshop breaks and for an evening reception with exhibits and demonstrations.

For more information, visit URL http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/~gv/bin/view/.

New Directions in Geographic Visualization of Scientific Data
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

GeoWall
Geowall Consortium

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Jan. / Feb. 2007

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in this issue:

cover story:
Effects of CO₂ Levels on Marine Life and Global Climate

Underwater Photographic Tripod for Coral-Reef Studies

"Disasterville" Exhibit at Florida Museum

New Web site: Topics in Coastal and Marine Sciences

Exploring the Deep Biosphere

New Directions in Geographic Visualization of Scientific Data

Western Region Biologists Receive 2006 DOI Honor Awards

USGS Ridge-to-Reef Team Honored for Work in Hawaiian Islands

Video Footage of Pacific Ocean Bottom Transferred to DVD

Jan. / Feb. Publications List