Visual Steering to Support Decision Making in Visdom

Jürgen Waser
Visual Steering to Support Decision Making in Visdom
Supervisor: M. Eduard Gröller
Duration: Oct 2008 to June 2011
[ Thesis]
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Abstract

Computer simulation has become an ubiquitous tool to investigate the nature of systems. When steering a simulation, users modify parameters to study their impact on the simulation outcome. The ability to test alternative options provides the basis for interactive decision making. Increasingly complex simulations are characterized by an intricate interplay of many heterogeneous input and output parameters. A steering concept that combines simulation and visualization within a single, comprehensive system is largely missing. This thesis targets the basic components of a novel integrated steering system called Visdom to support the user in the decision making process. The proposed techniques enable users to examine alternative scenarios without the need for special simulation expertise. To accomplish this, we propose World Lines as a management strategy for multiple, related simulation runs. In a dedicated view, users create and navigate through many simulation runs. New decisions are included through the concept of branching. To account for uncertain knowledge about the input parameters, we provide the ability to cover full parameter distributions. Via multiple cursors, users navigate a system of multiple linked views through time and alternative scenarios. In this way, the system supports comparative visual analysis of many simulation runs. Since the steering process generates a huge amount of information, we employ the machine to support the user in the search for explanations inside the computed data. Visdom is built on top of a data-flow network to provide a high level of modularity. A decoupled meta-flow is in charge of transmitting parameter changes from World Lines to the affected dataflow nodes. To direct the user attention to the most relevant parts, we provide dynamic visualization inside the flow diagram. The usefulness of the presented approach is substantiated through case studies in the field of flood management. The Visdom application enables the design of a breach closure by dropping sandbags in a virtual environment.

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@phdthesis{waser_2011_VSD,
  title =      "Visual Steering to Support Decision Making in Visdom",
  author =     "J{\"u}rgen  Waser",
  year =       "2011",
  abstract =   "Computer simulation has become an ubiquitous tool to
               investigate the nature of systems. When steering a
               simulation, users modify parameters to study their impact on
               the simulation outcome. The ability to test alternative
               options provides the basis for interactive decision making.
               Increasingly complex simulations are characterized by an
               intricate interplay of many heterogeneous input and output
               parameters. A steering concept that combines simulation and
               visualization within a single, comprehensive system is
               largely missing. This thesis targets the basic components of
               a novel integrated steering system called Visdom to support
               the user in the decision making process. The proposed
               techniques enable users to examine alternative scenarios
               without the need for special simulation expertise. To
               accomplish this, we propose World Lines as a management
               strategy for multiple, related simulation runs. In a
               dedicated view, users create and navigate through many
               simulation runs. New decisions are included through the
               concept of branching. To account for uncertain knowledge
               about the input parameters, we provide the ability to cover
               full parameter distributions. Via multiple cursors, users
               navigate a system of multiple linked views through time and
               alternative scenarios. In this way, the system supports
               comparative visual analysis of many simulation runs. Since
               the steering process generates a huge amount of information,
               we employ the machine to support the user in the search for
               explanations inside the computed data. Visdom is built on
               top of a data-flow network to provide a high level of
               modularity. A decoupled meta-flow is in charge of
               transmitting parameter changes from World Lines to the
               affected dataflow nodes. To direct the user attention to the
               most relevant parts, we provide dynamic visualization inside
               the flow diagram. The usefulness of the presented approach
               is substantiated through case studies in the field of flood
               management. The Visdom application enables the design of a
               breach closure by dropping sandbags in a virtual
               environment.",
  address =    "Favoritenstrasse 9-11/186, A-1040 Vienna, Austria",
  school =     "Institute of Computer Graphics and Algorithms, Vienna
               University of Technology",
  month =      may,
  keywords =   "CFD, Data-Flow, Simulation Steering, Comparative Visual
               Analysis, Multiple Simulation Runs, Problem Solving
               Environment, Hypothesis Generation, Uncertainty, Flood
               Management",
  URL =        "http://www.cg.tuwien.ac.at/research/publications/2011/waser_2011_VSD/",
}