¹Oculus Info Inc. Toronto, Canada

Correspondence: Thomas Kapler, Oculus Info Inc., Toronto, Canada. Tel: 416 203 3003; Fax: 416 203 0646; E-mail: tom.kapler@oculusinfo.com; bill.wright@oculusinfo.com

Received 30 October 2004; Revised 15 January 2005; Accepted 1 February 2005.

Abstract

Analyzing observations over time and geography is a common task, but typically requires multiple, separate tools. The objective of our research has been to develop a method to visualize, and work with, the spatial inter-connectedness of information over time and geography within a single, highly interactive three-dimensional (3-D) view. A novel visualization technique for displaying and tracking events, objects and activities within a combined temporal and geospatial display has been developed. This technique has been implemented as a demonstrable prototype called GeoTime in order to determine potential utility. Capabilities include descriptive events and relationships, association analysis, event aggregation methods and geo-located linked charting. Initial evaluations have been with military users. However, we believe the concept is applicable to a variety of government and business analysis tasks.