Home // ACHI 2025, The Eighteenth International Conference on Advances in Computer-Human Interactions // View article

From Tables to 3D-Models: Improving the Usability of Scientific Data Visualization

Authors:
Dennis Marschall
Michael Butzek
Nikolaos Margaritis
Ghaleb Natour

Keywords: research facilities; HMI-Systems; 3D-integration.

Abstract:
In research facilities, critical components such as reactors or other centrepieces are equipped with a large number of sensors to record safety, process, and research-relevant data in real time. The effective visualisation of this measurement data is crucial for fast acquisition, analysis, and decision-making by plant operators. This Work in Progress Paper investigates different methods of visualising complex sensor data using the example of a 2-in-1 reactor, starting from classical tabular approaches to color-coded 2D-heatmaps, and interactive 3D-models. One focus is on human perception and the cognitive processing of the large amounts of data from 171 temperature measuring points. While tabular visualisations offer maximum precision, they are often unsuitable for the rapid detection of patterns and anomalies. Graphical visualisations - especially color-coded maps and 3D-models - provide an intuitive representation, but can be challenging due to color perception problems, information overload, and limited scalability. The system implementation, featuring an interactive 3D-model of the reactor, is described in detail in order to improve usability, reduce the cognitive load on the user and increase situational awareness. In further steps, specific usability tests will be carried out to validate the effectiveness of the 3D-visualisation and to analyze its influence on the user.

Pages: 9 to 12

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2025

Publication date: May 18, 2025

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4138

ISBN: 978-1-68558-268-5

Location: Nice, France

Dates: from May 18, 2025 to May 22, 2025