One View Is Not Enough: Review of and Encouragement for Multiple and Alternative Representations in 3D and Immersive Visualisation

Abstract

The opportunities for 3D visualisations are huge. People can be immersed inside their data, interface with it in natural ways, and see it in ways that are not possible on a traditional desktop screen. Indeed, 3D visualisations, especially those that are immersed inside head-mounted displays are becoming popular. Much of this growth is driven by the availability, popularity and falling cost of head-mounted displays and other immersive technologies. However, there are also challenges. For example, data visualisation objects can be obscured, important facets missed (perhaps behind the viewer), and the interfaces may be unfamiliar. Some of these challenges are not unique to 3D immersive technologies. Indeed, developers of traditional 2D exploratory visualisation tools would use alternative views, across a multiple coordinated view (MCV) system. Coordinated view interfaces help users explore the richness of the data. For instance, an alphabetical list of people in one view shows everyone in the database, while a map view depicts where they live. Each view provides a different task or purpose. While it is possible to translate some desktop interface techniques into the 3D immersive world, it is not always clear what equivalences would be. In this paper, using several case studies, we discuss the challenges and opportunities for using multiple views in immersive visualisation. Our aim is to provide a set of concepts that will enable developers to perform critical thinking, creative thinking and push the boundaries of what is possible with 3D and immersive visualisation. In summary developers should consider how to integrate many views, techniques and presentation styles, and one view is not enough when using 3D and immersive visualisations.

Visual Highlighting for Situated Brushing and Linking

“…Immersive technologies, both VR and AR, are increasingly being used for immersive analytics [MSD*18] of spatial data [FP21] and abstract data [KFS*22]. Research has shown how the 3D environment can be used as an “immersive space to think” [LDG*21], populating this space with multiple views and representations [RBR22]. However, care must be taken to consider the pitfalls of designing for immersive displays [ML14].…”

Generation of 3-D Large-Scale Maps Using Lidar Point Cloud Data

“…These procedures, which are familiar to the conventional 2D method, are subject to changes and provide new guidelines for producing 3D spatial research (Petrovic, 2003;Hájek et al, 2016). Individual spatial objects (Roberts et al, 2022) are subject to three-dimensional presentation, and a visualization of entire cities is generated (Mao et al, 2020). An increasingly frequent process is the creation of cadastral maps presenting the three-dimensional range of the object's occurrence and the laws of ruling in the form of the 3D cadastre (Aditya et al, 2020;Klapa, 2021).…”

Advances in Geodesy and Geoinformation

“…These processes, known in the traditional 2D approach, are subject to modifications and introduce new rules for generating 3D spatial studies (Petrovic, 2003;Hájek et al, 2016). Individual spatial objects (Roberts et al, 2022) are subject to three-dimensional presentation, as well as a visualization of entire cities is generated (Mao et al, 2020).…”