Data Visualisation / Astronomy

Challenges to commonality Challenges to commonality How does Astronomical visualisation How does Astronomical visualisation

differ from others?differ from others? Infrastructure RequirementsInfrastructure Requirements

Grid RequirementsGrid Requirements

Nature of Astronomical Data & Visualisation Largely StaticLargely Static

2d tables (catalogues) 2d tables (catalogues) pixel imagespixel images Metadata (some)Metadata (some)

Exploration – largely visualExploration – largely visual Hypothesis testing – largely miningHypothesis testing – largely mining

Challenges

Lots of loud astronomersLots of loud astronomers Hard to Normalise, esp between disciplines. Hard to Normalise, esp between disciplines.

Yet need to retain access to ‘raw’ data. Yet need to retain access to ‘raw’ data. Objects move…Objects move… Large images / tables Large images / tables sample, aggregate sample, aggregate Finding out about existing toolsFinding out about existing tools

More Challenges

Special Science Requirements for tools (eg finding Special Science Requirements for tools (eg finding distances on images) distances on images) plugins plugins

Noisy data (but bio / meteo have same problem)Noisy data (but bio / meteo have same problem) Incomplete/high error models (bio / meteo again)Incomplete/high error models (bio / meteo again) Inherent Mk 1 eyeball limitations. Solid cubes. Inherent Mk 1 eyeball limitations. Solid cubes.

Make use of colours, shapes, movies. 7d on paper.Make use of colours, shapes, movies. 7d on paper. Need pre-visualisation methods AND retain Need pre-visualisation methods AND retain

access to raw data.access to raw data.

Grid Requirements

Reliability – the right data to the right Reliability – the right data to the right machine!machine!

Speed & Latency (for visualisation)Speed & Latency (for visualisation) Collaboration (not yet)Collaboration (not yet) Integration – access to eg stats servicesIntegration – access to eg stats services Easy / simple controls – focus on science Easy / simple controls – focus on science

not infrastructure.not infrastructure.

Summary

Tools existTools exist ‘‘generalising’ + ‘modularisation’ generalising’ + ‘modularisation’

Expertise exists – ‘synergy’ with Expertise exists – ‘synergy’ with professional visualisorsprofessional visualisors

Astronomy data not unique – ‘synergy’ Astronomy data not unique – ‘synergy’ with other disciplineswith other disciplines