PSMEM Data Visualization and Education

Bill Winn 1,3 Fritz Stahr 2 Christian Sarason 2 Peter Oppenheimer 3 Ruth Fruland 1,3 Yen-Ling Lee 1 1 - UW College of Education 2 – 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 1

Immersive 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 2

Desktop 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 including: and use of Partnership tools, • Virtual Puget Sound • PSMEM web-based database interface • Aquatic BiogeoChemistry Cycling model