@thesis{PB-VRVis-2022-007,
author = {Vasileva, Elitza},
title = {Immersive Visual Analysis of Time-Dependent Multivariate Data Using Virtual Reality},
year = {2022},
type = {Master´s Thesis},
institution = {TU Wien, Faculty of Informatics, Institute of Visual Computing & Human-Centered Technology Research, Unit of Computer Graphics},
subtitle = {Master's Thesis (TU Wien)},
url = {https://www.vrvis.at/publications/PB-VRVis-2022-007},
abstract = {The prevention of Earth disasters like asteroid collisions is a high priority for many
organizations and scientists. Studying possible asteroid deflection options and under-
standing the influencing factors should help domain experts create defense strategies
and response plans. For exploration purposes, scientists typically use simulations that
represent a real-world process over time and are thus an effective way for demonstrating
an asteroid impact collision and its after-effects. In this work we use an interactive Virtual
Reality (VR) visualization tool to make simulation results comprehensible. Immersive
systems like VR are used in different application domains and for multiple purposes,
such as entertainment, medical or military training, rehabilitation and mental therapy,
visualization, and visual analytics. With the help of VR software and the necessary
hardware of immersive systems, realistic images and 3D scenes from the real world can
be rendered to create the feeling of full immersion and presence.
Based on these considerations, in this work, we develop an interactive visualization tool in
VR to support domain experts in studying the properties and features of asteroid impact
events for defense purposes. We use time-dependent multivariate Impact simulation
data. The implementation requirements are formulated together with domain experts
in the form of tasks and represent the main features that the system should include.
As a result, the system incorporates a 3D point cloud visualization to illustrate the
impact and the data structure and various exploration tools to analyze and examine
the point cloud properties. The central tool in the system is called a probe, allowing
to measure the characteristics of different regions, compare them, and observe state
changes during simulation time. While effective exploration is the primary goal of our
system, interactivity is another important factor contributing to achieving a smooth and
natural experience. Therefore, we provide various grasping and navigation techniques to
support an intuitive and effortless system interaction. As the selection of exploration
tools is essential for the domain experts and for solving their tasks, we first evaluate our
system with them to answer whether the system is providing the necessary features and is
fulfilling their requirements. Another important aspect is the interactivity and usability
of our system, which we evaluate through a user study. As we show in our evaluation
experiments, our VR system eases the exploration process for scientists. It supports them
in finding new and previously undiscovered properties, patterns, and trends in the data.},
}