PSMEM Data Visualization and Education

Bill Winn1,3

Fritz Stahr2

Christian Sarason2

Peter Oppenheimer3

Ruth Fruland1,3

Yen-Ling Lee1

1 - UW College of Education2 – Ocean Inquiry Project (OIP)

3 - UW Human Interface Technology Lab (HITL)

GOALS & ACTIVITIES• Develop web interface to model output (see

Christian’s talk or OIP webpage).

• Improve and make broadly useful Virtual Puget Sound (VPS), a 3D visualization of Puget Sound POM model, previously developed at HITL.

• Study effectiveness of VPS (and models in general) for learning oceanography of Puget Sound.

• Use PSMEM partnership products for education and outreach.

Virtual Puget Sound (VPS)

An interactive 3D visualization of Puget Sound POM model data

Development Phase 1Immersive VPS • Developed under prior grants to study the

effectiveness of complete (electronic) “immersion” in complex environments, for bringing about conceptual change in students.

• Built on an SGI Onyx super-mini computer using Virtual Reality technology – tracked head-mounted display and hand motions.

Immersive VPS

• Used two parameters from POM output: Water movement and salinity.

• Studies show it helps students learn, especially about dynamic 3D processes.

• Only available at HITL.

User “inside” model

User “reaches out” to touch controls

Development Phase 2Desktop VPS (version 1)• Developed by PSMEM partners to spread VPS

more broadly, i.e. into classrooms and labs.

• First purpose was to create an instructional tool.

• Added new features such as cut-planes, and “neap-tide” day data file.

• Ported to PC environment with Windows graphic user interface.

• [Note: Used same set of parameters - low resolution, currents and salinity].

Desktop Instructional Use• Collaboration with Ocean

Inquiry Project and instructors.

• Used for education and study of UW and Seattle Central CC intro. oceanography classes, Spring and Fall, 2003.

• Collected data on what VPS and field experience contributed to learning.

Students taking “data” in VPS

Students taking data on OIP field trip.

Development Phase 3

Desktop VPS (version 2)• Designed to allow full exploration of model output

by partners and others, and to allow more general netCDF input.

• Primary purpose is scientific visualization, but also allows much more extensive and flexible educational use.

• Nearly released – beta version may be available downstairs even now!

Desktop Data Visualization• All parameters available on

cut-planes with adjustable ranges. Spatial resolution shown is adjustable.

• Allows any day of POM data to be worked with.

• Features include multicolored particle tracking, horizontal cut-plane, easier-to-use mouse & keyboard interface, etc.

Next Steps• Complete VPS-PC version 2.0 with file import

and data vis. tools – release for partnership use.• Build more curriculum around VPS for

oceanography (and other) students.• Make desktop version immersive (i.e., with new

features, and head and hand tracking.)• Continue educational studies of how VPS helps

students understand the PS environment (e.g., work planned with oceanographers and teachers this quarter and with grades 4 – 6 this summer).

And now, please join us downstairs in the Spatial Analysis Lab (OSB-111) for:

• Lunch• Demonstration and use of Partnership tools,

including:

• Virtual Puget Sound

• PSMEM web-based database interface

• Aquatic BiogeoChemistry Cycling model