Visual Analytics using Google Earth NOAA Scientific Cruise Data

The research reported in this presentation addresses techniques for displaying NOAA data in a way readily understood by a user. The data in question is recorded by NOAA scientific cruises, where researchers on board a ship record such values as relative wind speed, air temperature, and relative wind direction every 30 minutes for the duration of the cruise. Originally, the data for a cruise was available only in table from in text files, one file for each day. The project that represents the point of departure for this research program produced a web site that, when rendered with Google Earth, shows the path of the cruise as an overlay on top of the image of the Earth's surface. The path segments for different days are rendered in different colors. Various locations on the path correspond to various data-collection times. When the mouse cursor is over the path, clicking produces a balloon with the data for the nearest collection point. The MATLAB Google Earth Toolbox was use to produce the KML file for each cruise. This is the file that Google Earth renders to produce the overlay and the balloons. The display of data in a balloon is produced by a Perl file requested when that balloon is activated. The Perl code reads the corresponding data file and produces the well-formatted text content of the balloon. Future work will enhance the functionality along the lines of visual analytics. The user will have options for manipulating data at given collection points or over given intervals. Data presentation techniques will be investigated to find ways to present information perspicuously. And the user will be able to progress through a sequence of analysis and presentation steps and drill down to data revealed to be critical by such an investigation.

ADDRESS, E-MAIL AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:

Tammy Morrison

North Carolina A & T State University

Department of Computer Science

1601 East Market Street

Greensboro, NC 27411

910-261-9124

tmorrison08@gmail.com

PRESENTATION TYPE: Oral

TECHNICAL AREA: Remote Sensing and Satellites

AFFILIATION: STUDENT (Graduate)

CENTER AFFILIATION: NOAA-ISET

ARE YOU APPLYING FOR A STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD: YES