Space, time and visual analytics

TLDR

Spatio‑temporal analysis is increasingly demanded by both professionals and citizens, requiring seamless human–computer cooperation through visualisation to enable effective exploration of data in time and space. Visual analytics seeks to merge human intuition with electronic processing, and researchers aim to develop accessible tools that handle complex data to support broad spatio‑temporal thinking and problem solving.

Abstract

Visual analytics aims to combine the strengths of human and electronic data processing. Visualisation, whereby humans and computers cooperate through graphics, is the means through which this is achieved. Seamless and sophisticated synergies are required for analysing spatio-temporal data and solving spatio-temporal problems. In modern society, spatio-temporal analysis is not solely the business of professional analysts. Many citizens need or would be interested in undertaking analysis of information in time and space. Researchers should find approaches to deal with the complexities of the current data and problems and find ways to make analytical tools accessible and usable for the broad community of potential users to support spatio-temporal thinking and contribute to solving a large range of problems.