This document outlines a formative study on designing effective visualization interfaces for planning support systems. The study evaluated nine interface prototypes for a land use planning system called LEAM over three years. Key principles for effective interfaces were derived based on the evaluations. These principles include using appropriate graphic representations and layouts to direct user attention and maintain engagement. Effective graphic representations use proximity and a limited number of attributes to show relationships between different variables. Effective layouts group related drivers and impacts closely, align scales for comparison, and provide motivation and flexibility.
2. Overview
Background
Research Problem
Research Objective
Research Design
Principles
Discussion
3. Background: Research Problem
Planning Support Systems (PSS)
Data
Model
Interface
How to create effective visualization interfaces?
4. Background: Research Objective
Literature
Cognitive quality of graphic components and tasks, Spatial relationship property
between the components, and Human-computer interaction factors
Principles for effective visualization interfaces not
articulated
Objective
Derive principles for designing effective
visualization interfaces
5. PSS Interface Effectiveness
Making Plan involves Shaping Attention
PSS must: Direct interest
Counter short term memory limit
Maintain attention
Leverage influence of representation
6. Background: Research Method
• Formative evaluation
• Build various interface prototypes
• Assess effectiveness and derive principles
• Questions
• What components are effective?
• What layouts are effective?
• How to direct interest & maintain engagement?
7. Background: Research Design
Project PSS: Land-use Evaluation and impact
Assessment Model (LEAM)
Interface design evolved over three years
Evaluators of interface effectiveness
LEAM colleagues
Planning students
Other stakeholders
LEAM, a scenario-based PSS simulates regional land-use change as a
consequence of policy choices interacting with different economic and demographic
futures
8. Data
Nine prototypes
Model
Design
For each, documented Objectives
Data Technology
Design objectives
Data
Component Layout
Technology
Interface components
Interface layout
Lessons learned Lesson
Learned
Evaluation
Tradeoffs
13. Principles: Graphic Representation
Graphic representation Local Global
(One variable, Exact information) (Different variables, Relationship
comparison)
Non- Static -Separated bar -Description -Grouped bar or -Comparison
spatial (One time) or icon [or (summarizing icons -Alternatives
Table chart] data) -2attributes: shape -Options
-1attribute and texture/color -Relations
used: shape or (Add dimension = (Comparing
color see more Points and
relationship) Patterns)
(summarizing
data)
Dynamic -Line or Bars -Trends -Lines or bars -Comparison
(Different -2attributes: (showing -3attributes: shape, -Alternatives
time) shape and trends over texture/color, and -Options
spatial time) spatial pattern -Relations
pattern/location (Comparing
Points and
Patterns)
(showing
trends over
time)
14. Principles: Graphic Representation
Graphic representation Local Global
(One variable, Exact (Different variables, Relationship
information) comparison)
Spatial Static -One-variable -Description -Map using different -Comparison
(W/o time) map or One (summarizing texture or color -Alternatives
object image data) for different -Options
-2attributes: variables -Relations
shape and -3attributes: shape, (Comparing
location texture/color, and Points and
location Patterns)
(summarizing
data)
Dynamic -Summary map, -Aggregation -Multiple maps or -Comparison
(W/ time) animated (summarizing Animated maps -Alternatives
map or data) -3attributes: shape, -Options
multiple (showing color/pattern and -Relations
maps trends location (Comparing
-3attributes: over time) Points and
shape, Patterns)
location, and (showing
color/pattern trends
over time)
15. Principles: Effective Layout
Role of Media
Role of Structure
Provide information about plan and its
consequences
Help evaluate alternative land use policies
Display must be proximate
Display must be comparable
16. Principles: Layout & Media Technology
Existing Paper Document
Economy
Population
Housing/Resident
Education/Social Service
Transportation
Environment
17. Principles: Layout & Media Technology
Existing Electronic Document
Text/Number Map Graph
Land-use
Change
Economy -housing Economy
-school
-infrastructure
Population Population
Environment Environment
18. Principles: Layout
Displaying Interrelationships between Drivers and
Impacts
Drivers Impact
Trends Social Perception
Economic (GDP) Congestion
Population City Growth Energy CS
Land-use
Regulations -residential Economic Cost
-commercial
Ag. Preservation -industrial Infra costs
River Bluff Hidden cost
Investments Environment
Ring Road Habitat FM
New infrastructure Forest lost
19. Principles: Layout
Comparing Alternatives
Scenario1 vs 1 vs 2: Impact
Scenario2: Grouped bar chart
Scenario1: driver Difference Map
Impact description
Scenario2: driver Text
23. Other principles
Provide motivation
Maintain engagement
Provide functional flexibility
Experience / familiarity
Interface Complexity
Way-finding
Clarity & Transparency
Innovative surprise Maximum number
of animals
<100
100-200
200-500
> 500
No Data
24. Conclusion
Bridgethe gap in PSS interface literature
Improvement
Broader range of users/evaluators
More formative study of PSS development
Future study
Experimental study of each principle
Aural media as an enhancement
25.
26. Discussion: Tufte on Graphic
Component
Perhaps not Data : Ink
Perhaps 1 piece of Data : 1 graphic Attribute
27. Discussion: Wickens on Graphic
Component
Proximity
Memory limit -7+ chunks
3 attributes in one graphic
make up 1 chunk