Expert opinions on using the third dimension to visualise wind speed uncertainty in wind farm planning

ABSTRACT

To date, most studies on uncertainty visualisations have focused on two-dimensional representations. The closing of the software gap between three-dimensional (3D) graphics and geovisualisation presents new opportunities for the visualisation of uncertainty. The goal of our research is to understand the usability and suitability of different visualisation techniques for representing uncertainty in the third dimension. In this paper, we present the perceptions of experts in the fields of renewable energy and climate modelling regarding 3D uncertainty maps. Four different maps, each representing uncertainty of mean wind speed in a different way, were prepared for expert interviews. Interviewees were asked questions about different usability and suitability aspects of the maps for regional planning of wind farms. Their responses provide valuable insights for the usability of the third dimension to represent uncertainty in maps, and the suitability in regional-level planning of wind farms. These exploratory research results can be used to guide the design of controlled user studies to further investigate the usability of the third dimension for uncertainty representations, and the suitability for wind farm planning.

RÉSUMÉ

Aujourd’hui la plupart des études sur la visualisation des incertitudes repose sur des représentations 2D. La réduction du fossé logiciel qui existait entre la géovisualisation et les graphiques 3D offre de nouvelles opportunités pour la représentation de l’incertitude. Le but de cette recherche est de comprendre la convivialité et la pertinence de différentes techniques de visualisation pour représenter l’incertitude en utilisant la 3^ième dimension. Dans ce papier, nous présentons les perceptions d’experts dans le domaine de l’énergie renouvelable et de la modélisation du climat sur des cartes 3D représentant de l’incertitude. Quatre cartes différentes, représentant de différentes façons l’incertitude de la vitesse moyenne du vent, ont été préparées pour les interviews d’experts à qui ont été posé un ensemble de questions sur l’utilisabilité et la pertinence de différents aspects de chaque carte pour la planification régionale de l’installation de parcs éoliens. Les résultats de cette recherche exploratoire peuvent être utilisés comme guide pour la conception d’études utilisateurs afin d’avancer sur l’étude de l’utilisabilité de la 3^ième dimension pour la représentation de l’incertitude et de sa pertinence pour la planification d’emplacement de parcs éoliens.

KEYWORDS:

• Uncertainty visualisation
• 3D maps
• climate modelling

Acknowledgements

We like to thank Sybil Adams for providing climate data in a readily readable data format and are grateful for the model output on suitable area by Cristina Balmuş. We would also like to thank ESRI South Africa for their support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Yvette Bevis is a Masters student in the Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Yvette’s research focuses on the visualisation of uncertainty.

Gertrud Schaab is professor for ‘Thematic cartography, spatial visualisation, map compilation and design, geospatial analysis, and geography’ in the Faculty of Information Management and Media at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (Hs KA) since 2002.

Victoria Rautenbach is a lecturer and PhD Geoinformatics student in the Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Victoria’s research focuses on spatial data visualisation to support decision making. Her research interests are multi-dimensional geovisualisation, spatial data infrastructure, open source for geospatial software and geoinformation standards.

Serena Coetzee is associate professor in the Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology and Director of the Centre for Geoinformation Science (CGIS) at the University of Pretoria. Her research focuses on spatial data infrastructures, addressing, geographic information standards and open source for geospatial software. She chairs the Commission on SDIs and Standards of the International Cartographic Association (ICA). Under her leadership, CGIS joined the ICA-OSGeo-ISPRS Lab Network and the GeoforAll initiative. Serena actively participates in geographic information standardisation at ISO/TC 211, Geographic Information/Geomatics: as project lead of ISO 19160, Addressing, and as chair of the Programme Maintenance Group.

ORCID

Victoria Rautenbach http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0581-302X

Serena Coetzee http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8683-8047

Additional information

Funding

We would like to acknowledge the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for University Students – BWS plus funded exchange programme between the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences in Germany and the University of Pretoria in South Africa.