Explore Multivariable Spatio-Temporal Data with the Time Wave: Case Study on Meteorological Data

Abstract

Traditionally the GIScience community is well able to deal with the locational and attribute component of spatio-temporal data. However, the methods and techniques to deal with the datas temporal component are less developed. This paper introduces a conceptual framework that combines user tasks, available temporal data and visualization theories to discuss temporal visualization. Two limitations of existing method are improved by introducing the time wave environment which is a close combination of temporal graphic representation and temporal interactive tools, and operates in so-called time space. Time space is a concept which represents time and answers the temporal questions. This term is based on the data components and user task framework: location (where), attribute (what) and time (when). From a visualization perspective this translates in: location space (maps), attribute space (diagrams) and time space. In this research, the time wave which is a main element in the time space is a good example of how an alternative view on the data might reveal patterns not always obvious from traditional graphic representations. A case study based on meteorological data illustrates this approach.