To demonstrate the initiative to make climate data clearer and more engaging, the team developed three major visualization use cases, each designed to illustrate complex, time-dependent environmental changes. Using a blend of cinematic techniques, scientific data and interactive formats, EcoViz illustrates complex data sets ranging from the benefits of coastal flood protection and marine animal behavior to wildfire management.
According to the presenters, some visualizations were more effective as narrative animations, while others gained traction by being interactive by allowing users to explore geospatial data and virtually experience ecosystems through immersive technology.
“Through varied approaches, this collaborative team discovered that data-driven cinematic videos, with simple graphics and minimal text annotations, can synthesize results as clearly as possible,” Kendall-Bar said. “Videos can help diverse audiences quickly grasp big ideas, retain essential details, and are adaptable enough to be used in broader environmental storytelling. »
According to Altintas, who co-leads the Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship and director of the Cyberinfrastructure and Convergence Research Division at SDSC, by combining visual creativity with scientific rigor, EcoViz helps transform raw climate data into stories that can inspire insights. illuminated. resilient climate policies and solutions. “As we integrate AI into the scientific workflows that form the basis of decision-making, visualizations are essential to making our models interpretable,” she said.
Funding for this work was provided by the University of California Climate Action Program, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, AXA Research Fund, FEMA, USGS, and the Center for UCSC Coastal Climate Resilience.
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