What Role Visualization Can Play in Urban Computing: A Survey on Urban Visual Analytics

PhD Qualifying Examination


Title: "What Role Visualization Can Play in Urban Computing: A Survey on 
Urban Visual Analytics"

by

Mr. Wenchao WU


Abstract:

Without doubt, we are in the midst of a data explosion. A variety of data 
in urban environments has been generated and collected, providing 
opportunities for a better and smarter city through urban computing. 
However, due to the heterogeneity, high complexity and large volumes of 
these data, exploring and analyzing them is not an easy task, which often 
requires integrating human perception in the data exploration process, 
triggering a broad use of visualization.

In this survey, we discuss what role visualization can play in urban 
computing. We first introduce the concept of urban computing and describe 
frequently used data types and representative applications for four 
popular urban computing scenarios (i.e. urban planning, transportation, 
environment and energy). Then we propose a framework for urban visual 
analytics which combines the key features of urban computing and 
visualization based on the review of the general frameworks of urban 
computing, visualization and visual analytics. Next, we review some most 
recent visual designs as well as interaction techniques applied to the 
analysis and exploration of urban data. Furthermore, we identify three 
major issues (i.e. model selection, process control and result evaluation) 
that automated data mining approaches are facing, and discuss how 
visualization can help tackle these issues by the hybrid of visualization 
and automated approaches. Finally, after discussing some general 
challenges for urban visual analytics, we conclude the survey with some 
future research directions.


Date:			Wednesday, 15 October 2014

Time:                  	2:00pm - 4:00pm

Venue:                  Room 5563
                         Lifts 27/28

Committee Members:	Prof. Lionel Ni (Supervisor)
  			Dr. Huamin Qu (Chairperson)
 			Dr. Qiong Luo
  			Prof. Chiew-Lan Tai


**** ALL are Welcome ****