The Visualization Representation of Space-Time-Path in The Space-Time-Cube

Abstract

Map is a traditional visualization tool to represent distribution and interaction of spatial objects or spatial phenomenon. However, with the continuous development of acquisition and processing technologies for spatio-temporal data, traditional map can hardly meet the visualization requirement for this type of data. In other words, the dynamic information about spatial object or phenomenon cannot be expressed fully by traditional map. The Space-Time-Cube (STC), as a three-dimensional visualization environment, whose base represents the two-dimensional geographical space and whose height represents the temporal dimension, can simultaneously represent the spatial distribution as well as the temporal changes of spatio-temporal data. For some spatial object or phenomenon, its moving trajectory can be visualized in STC as a Space-Time-Path (STP), by which the speed and state of motion can be clearly reflected. Noticeably, the problem of visual clutter about STP is inevitably due to the complexity of three-dimensional visualization. In order to reduce the impact of visual clutter, this paper discusses different aspects about visualization representation of STP in the STC. The multiple scales representation and the multiple views display can promote interactive experience of users, and the application of different visual variables can help to represent different kinds of attribute information of STP. With the visualization of STP, spatio-temporal changes and attributive characters of spatial object or phenomenon can be represented and analysed.