City Research Online

Abstract

3D desktop-based virtual environments provide a means for displaying quantitative data in context. Data that is inherently spatial in three-dimensions may benefit from visual exploration and analysis in relation to the environment in which they were collected and to which they relate. We empirically evaluate how effectively and efficiently such data can be visually analyzed in relation to location and landform in 3D versus 2D visualizations. In two experiments, participants performed visual analysis tasks in 2D and 3D visualizations and reported insights and their confidence in them. The results showed only small differences between the 2D and 3D visualizations in the performance measures that we evaluated: task completion time, confidence, complexity, and insight plausibility. However, we found differences for different data sets and settings suggesting that 3D visualizations, or 2D representations respectively, may be more or less useful for particular data sets and contexts.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Cartography and Geographic Information Science on 13 Nov 2015, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/15230406.2016.1095006
Publisher Keywords:	3D, geovisualization, quantitative data graphics, visual data analysis, empirical evaluation
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GA Mathematical geography. Cartography Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science
Departments:	School of Science & Technology > Computer Science > giCentre
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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