Title
Assessing the quality of geoscientific simulation models with visual analytics methods-a design study
Abstract
Simulation models are essential means of scientific knowledge building and also the basis for decision-making. Because of their relevance, they have to be assessed thoroughly with respect to their quality. Simulation model assessment comprises two challenges: (a) modelers have to create a comprehensive mental image of the model's quality despite the massive multidimensional, multivariate, and often heterogeneous data; and (b) the model assessment process should be as efficient as possible. We face these challenges with a visual analytics approach. We aim at developing interactive visual representations which, in combination with present computational analysis methods, support the scientist's reasoning process to enhance the assessment of simulation models. In a design study, we analyzed two exemplary reasoning processes which cover the main model assessment procedures: the evaluation of the internal coherence of the model's structure and behavior and the assessment of its empirical validity. The analysis was conducted by means of a user-and task-centered approach which combines several knowledge elicitation techniques and task analysis concepts. We derived domain tasks as well as cognitive actions and developed and implemented interactive visualization components which supplement the statistical analysis methods already used. An informal qualitative user study shows that our visual analytics approach and tools help gain a more detailed mental image and hence a better understanding of the data and the underlying simulation model and allow for a faster and more comprehensive assessment of the simulation model.
Year
DOI
Venue
2010
10.1080/13658816.2010.510800
International Journal of Geographical Information Science
Keywords
DocType
Volume
task analysis concept,main model assessment procedure,methods-a design study,present computational analysis method,simulation model assessment,comprehensive assessment,simulation model,visual analytics approach,statistical analysis method,geoscientific simulation model,model assessment process,underlying simulation model,reasoning,task analysis,statistical analysis,visual analytics,geovisualization,scientific knowledge,interactive visualization
Journal
24
Issue
ISSN
Citations 
10
1365-8816
10
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.61
3
5
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Doris Dransch116810.97
Patrick Kothur2151.40
Sven Schulte3100.61
Volker Klemann4211.48
Henryk Dobslaw5172.44