Section: New Results

Space-Time Cube Framework

Participants : Benjamin Bach, Pierre Dragicevic [correspondant] , Dominique Archambault, Christophe Hurter, Sheelagh Carpendale.

We presented a descriptive model for visualizations of temporal data based on a generalized space-time cube framework [1]. Visualizations are described as operations on a conceptual space-time cube, which transform the cube's 3D shape into readable 2D visualizations. Operations include: extracting subparts of the cube, flattening it across space or time, or transforming the cube's geometry and content. We introduced a taxonomy of elementary space-time cube operations and explained how these operations can be combined and parameterized.

The generalized space-time cube has two properties: a) it is purely conceptual without the need to be implemented, and b) it applies to all datasets that can be represented in two dimensions plus time (e.g., geospatial, videos, networks, multivariate data). The proper choice of space-time cube operations depends on many factors, e.g., density or sparsity of a cube, hence we proposed a characterization of structures within space-time cubes, which allowed us to discuss strengths and limitations of operations. We also reviewed interactive systems that support multiple operations, allowing a user to customize his view on the data. With this framework, we hope to facilitate the description, criticism and comparison of temporal data visualizations, as well as encourage the exploration of new techniques and systems.

More on the project Web page: spacetimecubevis.com.