Visual Analysis of Multi-Parameter Distributions across Ensembles of 3D Fields

Alexander Kumpf, Josef Stumpfegger, Patrick Fabian Härtl, Rüdiger Westermann

Department of Informatics, Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany

Abstract

For an ensemble of 3D multi-parameter fields, we present a visual analytics workflow to analyse whether and which parts of a selected
multi-parameter distribution is present in all ensemble members. Supported by a parallel coordinate plot, a multi-parameter brush is applied to all
ensemble members to select data points with similar multi-parameter distribution. By a combination of spatial sub-division and a covariance analysis of
partitioned sub-sets of data points, a tight partition in multi-parameter space with reduced number of selected data points is obtained. To assess the
representativeness of the selected multi-parameter distribution across the ensemble, we propose a novel extension of violin plots that can show multiple
parameter distributions simultaneously. We investigate the visual design that effectively conveys (dis-)similarities in multi-parameter distributions, and
demonstrate that users can quickly comprehend parameter-specific differences regarding distribution shape and representativeness from a side-by-side
view of these plots. In a 3D spatial view, users can analyse and compare the spatial distribution of selected data points in different ensemble members
via interval-based isosurface raycasting. In two real-world application cases we show how our approach is used to analyse the multi-parameter
distributions across an ensemble of 3D fields.

Associated publications

Visual Analysis of Multi-Parameter Distributions across Ensembles of 3D Fields
Alexander Kumpf, Josef Stumpfegger, Patrick Fabian Härtl, Rüdiger Westermann
IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics 2021 (TVCG 2021)[PDF] [VIDEO][BIBTEX]