Alexandra Koussoulakou

A Visualization Environment for the Space-Time-Cube

At the end of the sixties Hagerstrand introduced a space-time model which included features such as a Space-Time-Path, and a Space-Time-Prism. From a visualization perspective the Space-Time-Cube was the most prominent element in Hagerstrand’s a pproach. However, when the concept was introduced the options to create the graphics were limited to manual methods and the user could only experience the single view created by the draftsperson. Today’s software has options to automatically create the cube and its contents from database. Data acquisition of space-time paths for both individuals and groups is also made easier using GPS. The user’s viewing environment is, by default, interactive and allows one to view the cube from any direction. In this paper the visualization environment is proposed in a geovisualization cont

Geovisualization and Archaeology: supporting Excavation Site Research

Archaeology is a science where geographical and spatial factors are of capital importance; in this context Geo-visualization and Archaeology provide interesting challenges for each other and they can both benefit from a combined approach of their interests. Archaeological excavations in particular constitute an excellent field for geo-visualization applications, since they generate large amounts of data with complex structures in 3D space and in time. Consequently, visualization methods and tools can provide support to archaeological excavation analysis. This paper presents a visualization environment created for use by archaeologists in the prehistoric excavation site of Paliambela in Northern Greece. It is currently fully operational and is used on a steady basis in the excavation field. The system enables the archaeologist to create his/her own paths in information querying and synthesis and to save any concluded interpretations. This task is undertaken through the design of custom tools, based on principles arising through archaeological methodology and theory, structuring a useful geo-visualization framework for the assistance of archaeological interpretation. It is this need that the environment presented here attempts to fulfill.

Geographical Reference in Multimedia Cartography

A typical characteristic of cartography is that although one of the oldest disciplines on Earth, it is also one among the first to adapt to new technological developments and make use of their methods and techniques. The case of multimedia is a relatively recent example of this: use of multimedia in cartography has increased during the last decade. A rapid survey of this trend shows that initially cartographic multimedia applications were viewed as presentational tools intended for public use; probably this could be attributed to the new types of means available (that is picture, video, sound) and their strong communicative nature, suitable for clarifying and/or enhancing the abstract nature of map representations. In the meanwhile, however, it has become clear that cartographic multimedia has the potential to develop along the whole spectrum of the map-use continuum. Furthermore, there is a rapidly growing demand for multimedia geographical products in other geoscientific areas related to cartography, such as photogrammetric applications for 3D city models and urban object reconstruction, 3D GIS database and its applications etc. (See for example Arikawa (1998), Asche and Herrmann (1994), Gruber (1998), Jiang et al. (1995), Dbouk and Boursier (1995), Fonseca et al. (1995)). Thus, apart from a public communicative tool for presenting known facts and data, multimedia mapping also constitutes powerful means for data exploration, analysis and visualisation, directly due to the capabilities of displaying the multiple aspects of reality via a variety of means. Nevertheless, this theoretical potential can be effectively fulfilled if a number of capabilities and functionality are built in the cartographic applications that make use of the new medium. To begin with, if multimedia are meant for more than presentational tools, some elementary GIS functions have to be present.