Virtual geographic environments in socio-environmental modeling: a fancy distraction or a key to communication?

Voinov, A; Çöltekin, A; Chen, M; Beydoun, G

Virtual geographic environments in socio-environmental modeling: a fancy distraction or a key to communication?

Voinov, A

Çöltekin, A Chen, M Beydoun, G

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Digital Earth, 2018, 11 (4), pp. 408 - 419
Issue Date:: 2018-04-03

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	Filename	Description	Size
	5_2_2018_Virtual ge.pdf	Published Version	1.67 MB	Adobe PDF	View/Open
	VR-and-modeling-last.pdf	Accepted Manuscript Version	277.72 kB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Voinov, A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2985-4574	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Çöltekin, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Chen, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Beydoun, G https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8087-5445	en_US
dc.date.issued	2018-04-03	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Digital Earth, 2018, 11 (4), pp. 408 - 419	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1753-8947	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/134496
dc.description.abstract	© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Modeling and simulation are recognized as effective tools for management and decision support across various disciplines; however, poor communication of results to the end users is a major obstacle for properly using and understanding model output. Visualizations can play an essential role in making modeling results accessible for management and decision-making. Virtual reality (VR) and virtual geographic environments (VGEs) are popular and potentially very rewarding ways to visualize socio-environmental models. However, there is a fundamental conflict between abstraction and realism: models are goal-driven, and created to simplify reality and to focus on certain crucial aspects of the system; VR, in the meanwhile, by definition, attempts to replicate reality as closely as possible. This elevated realism may add to the complexity curse in modeling, and the message might be diluted by too many (background) details. This is also connected to information overload and cognitive load. Moreover, modeling is always associated with the treatment of uncertainty–something difficult to present in VR. In this paper, we examine the use of VR and, specifically, VGEs in socio-environmental modeling, and discuss how VGEs and simulation modeling can be married in a mutually beneficial way that makes VGEs more effective for users, while enhancing simulation models.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Digital Earth	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/17538947.2017.1365961	en_US
dc.title	Virtual geographic environments in socio-environmental modeling: a fancy distraction or a key to communication?	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	11	en_US
utslib.for	0806 Information Systems	en_US
utslib.for	0803 Computer Software	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Information, Systems and Modelling
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CAMGIS - Centre for Advanced Modelling and Geospatial lnformation Systems
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - PERSWADE - Centre on Persuasive Systems for Wise Adaptive Living
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	4	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	11	en_US

Abstract:

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Modeling and simulation are recognized as effective tools for management and decision support across various disciplines; however, poor communication of results to the end users is a major obstacle for properly using and understanding model output. Visualizations can play an essential role in making modeling results accessible for management and decision-making. Virtual reality (VR) and virtual geographic environments (VGEs) are popular and potentially very rewarding ways to visualize socio-environmental models. However, there is a fundamental conflict between abstraction and realism: models are goal-driven, and created to simplify reality and to focus on certain crucial aspects of the system; VR, in the meanwhile, by definition, attempts to replicate reality as closely as possible. This elevated realism may add to the complexity curse in modeling, and the message might be diluted by too many (background) details. This is also connected to information overload and cognitive load. Moreover, modeling is always associated with the treatment of uncertainty–something difficult to present in VR. In this paper, we examine the use of VR and, specifically, VGEs in socio-environmental modeling, and discuss how VGEs and simulation modeling can be married in a mutually beneficial way that makes VGEs more effective for users, while enhancing simulation models.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/124018