Knowledge visualization in spatial analysis
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School of Engineering |
Master's thesis
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Date
2011
Department
Major/Subject
Kartografia ja geoinformatiikka
Mcode
Maa-123
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
viii + 43
Series
Abstract
Knowledge visualization is a research direction that examines the use of visual representations to improve the transfer and creation of knowledge between people. In this study, knowledge visualization was applied to the spatial analysis process in order to develop knowledge representations for the capture, storage and reuse of knowledge input throughout the spatial analysis process. Focus was on improving the transparency of analysis results by developing ways to visualize the knowledge input of the analyst. The research was motivated by a need for these kinds of visualizations both in the scientific community in general and in the Geomatics research group at Aalto University where this study was realized. First a literature review was done and then the findings were applied to spatial analysis in a case study. In the case study, an example of the spatial analysis process was investigated in detail. The knowledge input was identified and an outline for the visualization of the knowledge input was introduced. Two specific knowledge visualization methods were developed: sketches on top of reasoning artefacts and a variant of the causal graph. In addition to these, a conceptual design of a user interface for the reuse of the recorded knowledge was suggested. Findings show that knowledge visualization has big potential for application in spatial analysis and can be used in developing knowledge representations for the capture, storage and reuse of knowledge input throughout the spatial analysis process. Tacit spatial knowledge can be made explicit by drawing sketches on top of maps while causal graphs allow the reasoning behind an analysis to be studied and traced back to its origin. The nature of the knowledge input in the case study is also discussed. The fact that knowledge visualizations have big potential in the management of knowledge in spatial analysis motivates future research on the subject.Description
Supervisor
Virrantaus, KirsiThesis advisor
Ahonen-Rainio, PaulaLuokkala, Pekka
Keywords
knowledge visualization, kunskapsvisualisering, spatial analysis, spatial analys, analysis process, analysprocess, knowledge input, kunskapsinput