AutoConViz: automating the conversion and visualization of spatio-temporal query results in GIS

Abstract

In recent years, large multifaceted spatial, temporal, and spatio-temporal databases have attained significant popularity and importance in the database community. In order to perform preliminary investigation, exploratory visual analysis of such data-sets is highly desirable. To facilitate the convenient and efficient visualization, scientists and practitioners often need to convert the spatial component of the data-set into a more usable format. Though among the various formats available today in spatial data science community, Geographical Markup Language (GML) adheres to its central position and is of our interest in this work. The development of a tool to satisfy the spatial format conversion needs tailored to every user’s needs from scratch is difficult, time-consuming, and requires skills not easy to possess. We developed AutoConViz, to solve the issue stated above. It accepts the spatial component in GML format, converts that into shapefile format, and facilitates informative and automated interaction with the data-sets. It supports basic query and geospatial analysis and visualization tasks and offers functionalities such as zooming, panning, and feature selection. Furthermore, our software leverages navigation to classical ArcGIS software interface for users interested in more intensive analysis. AutoConViz serves both the database and geographical information system communities to explore insights of spatio-temporal databases and will help to further geospatial research and development.