3.2. Visualization of sensor data
Although in a prototype stage, the system already shows its potential for environmental
monitoring and decision support. Sensor information such as temperature, wind speed,
wind direction, solar radiance is represented on maps in real-time using enhanced
cartographic descriptions. Such cartographic descriptions allow defining a desired map
symbolization that is decoupled from the physical data. In this manner, visualizations are
created in real-time from the latest data available. The monitoring of streamed data can
provide an insight in many natural processes as for example, the local wind currents in a
mountainous region. This can be observed from the representation of the wind direction on
the map using arrows. Moreover, several layers and sensor measurements types can be
overlaid in one map frame for an overview of the environmental parameters in the area.
Fig. 9 Overlay of several types of sensor measurements in the COGEAR
GIS Platform Development Prototype © SwissExperiment partners & swisstopo (5704 000 000)
As shown in Fig. 9, the system can be currently used for the monitoring of sensor
status (green – the sensor is delivering data, yellow – the sensor has errors in the data
provision) and for the monitoring of the streamed data (sensor measurements related with
the color, shape, size and rotation of map symbols). The basic functionalities are already
available and the system will be will be further refined and developed, mainly with
cartographic tools for visual data mining. The cartographic tools will improve the
possibilities to derive new information by offering visualisation of interpolated sensor
measurements and by allowing users to define class boundaries and set thresholds
interactively.