foss4g-2014-spatio-temporal-visualization.html

<h2>Spatio-temporal data visualization in GRASS GIS: desktop and web solutions</h2>

<p>
This is a supporting page for a paper
<em>Spatio-temporal data visualization in GRASS GIS: desktop and web solutions</em>
submitted to FOSS4G 2014 conference.
The article is in review.
</p>

<h3>Abstract</h3>
<p>
GRASS GIS, a free and open source geographic information system, provides
the functionality to manage, analyze and visualize geospatial data. Recently, a
temporal dimension has been integrated into GRASS GIS as a response to an in-
creasing accessibility and importance of spatio-temporal data. However, to fully
benefit from such data new capabilities for exploratory visualizations are needed.
We present a set of tools for spatio-temporal data visualization which reflects data
complexity and also supports online sharing. The GRASS GIS Animation Tool is
a desktop application working directly with different types of spatio-temporal data
stored in GRASS GIS. We can display synchronized animations of raster, vector
and 3D raster data in two- and three-dimensional views. To share spatio-temporal
visualizations online, we have developed web map applications which enable users
to explore the data as animations or derive supporting information such as his-
tograms. Our solution does not require any server-site application and enables a
file-based offline sharing and an easy online publication without any special re-
quirements on users’ software or servers. We demonstrate the desktop and online
tools on several use cases, namely solar radiation and fire spread modeling, soil
moisture analysis, and cumulative cost surface visualization.
</p>

<p>
Keywords: animation, 3D, HTML5, Leaflet, D3.js, comet-like visualization
</p>


<h3>Use cases</h3>

<h4>Solar radiation</h4>

<figure style="max-width: 70%; display: block">
<iframe class="video" allowfullscreen
    src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qlOZ5Glu1w0?rel=0&loop=1&playlist=qlOZ5Glu1w0">
</iframe>
</figure>

<figure style="max-width: 70%; display: block">
<iframe class="video" allowfullscreen
    src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eK6dWivro1g?rel=0&loop=1&playlist=eK6dWivro1g">
</iframe>
</figure>

<!--link used tools-->

<h4>Soil moisture changes</h4>

<figure style="max-width: 70%; display: block">
<img src="./foss4g-2014-spatio/pictures/soils.gif"
    style="width: 100%;"
    alt="Animation of soil moisture changes"
    title="Animation of soil moisture changes"/>
</figure>


<h4>Wildfire spread</h4>

<figure style="max-width: 80%; display: block">
<iframe src="foss4g-2014-spatio/spread/index.html"
    width="100%" height="400px" seamless
    style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
</iframe>
</figure>


<h4>Comet-like visualization of cumulative cost surface</h4>

<!-- set accoring to max (runtime) sizes of all elements of embedded page -->
<figure style="max-width: 80%; display: block">
<iframe src="foss4g-2014-spatio/comet/index.html"
    width="542px" height="450px" seamless
    style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
</iframe>
</figure>


<h3>Software download and source code</h3>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://grass.osgeo.org/">GRASS GIS</a></li>
<li><a href="https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/browser/grass/trunk/gui/wxpython/animation">GRASS GIS Animation Tool source code online browser</a></li>
<li><a href="https://github.com/ncsu-geoforall-lab/grass-web-publishing">GRASS GIS modules for export for interactive web mapping applications</a></li>
<li><a href="https://github.com/ncsu-geoforall-lab/GRASS-Leaflet-Publishing">Web mapping applications based on Leaflet</a></li>
<li><a href="https://github.com/ncsu-geoforall-lab/comet-like-visualization">Tools for comet-like visualization</a></li>
</ul>

<h3>Presentation at FOSS4G 2014</h3>

<ul>
    <li><a href="http://vimeo.com/106233095">Video on Vimeo</a>
</ul>