AHRC ICT Methods Network Expert Workshop

From Abstract Data Mapping to 3D Photorealism:
Understanding Emerging Intersections in Visualization Practices and Techniques

19 June 2007, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design

Researchers in arts and humanities, social sciences, scientific and engineering communities are generating, and accessing via grid and other networked technologies, ever increasing amounts of complex data. In turn, the analysis and presentation, or the enabling of real-time collaboration on such data and its constructed models, relies increasingly on visualisation techniques and environments. Incremental advances in technology have tended to lead to the emergence of discipline specific methodologies or dedicated software. This has at times posed problems of their interoperability or fitness for use by other communities.

This is changing; models and methodologies now tend to span multiple visualisation techniques and environments. The development of these intersections bodes well for reuse of resources, training and collaboration in the wider UK visualisation community; however the meaning of the term ‘visualisation’ varies widely between different disciplines according to the specific visualisation practices and techniques employed, and the research questions traditionally posed by that discipline. Interoperability and strategic approaches to tools development can be limited by research culture and focus. In addition, in both Science and Engineering and Arts and Humanities, visualisation can vary from multidimensional abstract datasets (including text visualisation and sensor data) to three-dimensional virtual reconstruction of natural and built environments. Providing introductions to, and overviews of, different areas of visualisation to a cross-domain audience is therefore quite a challenging task.

The vizNET 2007 Workshop successfully began this process. This follow-up expert workshop brought back together the presenters from vizNET 2007 along with other experts in visualization in Science & Engineering and Arts & Humanities, firstly to re-present to one another examples of visualisation in their respective fields, and secondly, to use these examples to draft cross-domain orientation materials in visualisation topics.

Why the visual format?

While it is impossible by definition to cover all the possibilities in different visualization areas in such a short space of time, annotated diagrammed examples can provide an excellent starting point for cross-domain group activity. In particular by juxtaposing diagrams authored from the viewpoints of different domains, we can assist in the rapid identification of places where the same term is used differently, or where different terms are traditionally employed in different domains for the same object or process. This visual format is designed to challenge researchers to extend their own research questions both into the language of other domains, and to envisage ways of appropriating the practices and techniques of other domains within their own research culture and focus, thus establishing a genuine cross-domain dialogue.

Outcomes of the event

Papers from each of the presenters, the group summaries and the workshop report will shortly be available on the Methods Network website. The programme of the actual event, including two participant presentations, is listed below. Workshop participants are also listed by group.

Why not join the Methods Network Group for this workshop?
You can register at http://www.arts-humanities.net/abstract_data_mapping_3d_photorealism.

Thank you

A special thank you to Gregory Sporton and the Visualisation Research Unit at the Birmingham School of Art and Design for hosting this event. Thank you to Mike Priddy for the group photographs and Jonathan Green for the audio files from which Julie Tolmie prepared transcripts for each presenter.

 

Workshop Programme

Note: with some changes in running order to group similar topics.