A 2D Flow Visualization User Study Using Explicit Flow Synthesis and Implicit Task Design

—This paper presents a 2D flow visualization user study that we conducted using new methodologies to increase the objectiveness. We evaluated grid-based variable-size arrows, evenly spaced streamlines, and line integral convolution (LIC) variants (basic, oriented, and enhanced versions) coupled with a colorwheel and/or rainbow color map, which are representative of many geometry-based and texture-based techniques. To reduce data-related bias, template-based explicit flow synthesis was used to create a wide variety of symmetric flows with similar topological complexity. To suppress task-related bias, pattern-based implicit task design was employed, addressing critical point recognition, critical point classification, and symmetric pattern categorization. In addition, variable-duration and fixed-duration measurement schemes were utilized for lightweight precision-critical and heavyweight judgmentintensive flow analysis tasks, respectively, to record visualization effectiveness. We elim...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2012
• Where: TVCG
• Authors: Zhanping Liu, Shangshu Cai, J. Edward Swan II, Robert J. Moorhead II, Joel P. Martin, T. J. Jankun-Kelly
• Keywords: Hardware, Line Integral Convolution, Measurement Schemes, Pattern Categorization, TVCG 2012