arvO | ovras

arvO

OVRAS | augmented reality visualization for OCEANOGRAPHY

From ocean gliders to eddie parcel trajectories, the analysis of three dimensional paths in context of the bathymetry currently represents a great challenge. Analysis of the data is most relevant when there is a strong understanding of the physical land features beneath and around it. We saw this as an opportunity to explore natural 3D 'holographic' representations that coexist in the work space of researchers and scientists.

_ about
"The added understanding of the glider paths in context of the bathymetry that an augmented reality headset offers, is a game changer in terms of quickly understanding our data"

Oceanographic studies of global currents have mostly focused on surface data, as satellites have been able to capture this information at increasingly more refined detail for the last 4 decades. However, understanding the currents and water composition below the surface has proven much more difficult.

Between modern oceanographic flow simulations, which try to better understand the movement of water parcels across our oceans; autonomous gliders which capture ocean attribute information across vast or carefully localized paths at different depths; as well increased understanding of ocean eddies, which are engines that churn our oceans and move oxygen, nutrients, and other elements from the surface to the depth of the oceans and back; our understanding of the volumetric, three dimensional oceanography is increasing, and in need of tools to facilitate its research.

In 2018 Art Center College of Design, in collaboration with WoodsHole Oceanographic institute, alongside personnel from Caltech, was awarded a grant from the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative for "Seeing the Unseen: Visualizing Flow Patterns of Mesopelagic Ocean Eddies". The work was to: "Using emerging data visualization techniques, oceanographers will partner with designers in bringing these elusive structures to light so they can be better understood by scientists and the public."

#video
Our research revealed the following common needs of oceanographers:

_ CROSS REFERENCE
paths, sensors, and bathymetry

_ EXTRAPOLATE
paths into ribbons of information

_ COMPARE
data across different time intervals
  1. Visualize multiple data attributes at the same time, alongside with positional (latitude, longitude, depth) and time of capture
  2. Probe, and measure changes in data attributes
  3. Compare captured data with simulations and reference material
  4. Define and explore new possible areas or paths of exploration
Following, we designed interaction paths best suited for augmented reality that would enable researchers to:
_ Enable 3D holographic unintrusive visualization in the context of the researchers work environment
_ Define paths in three dimensions in the context of bathymetry
_ Monitor data being captured along a path
_ Visualize the resulting extrapolated path along data ribbons in the context bathymetry >
# actionable insights
_ research & design : pooja nair
_ hololens implementation : netra ravishankar
_ project lead : santiago v lombeyda
_ research collaborator : andy thompson & zach erickson
_ woodshole research collaborator : larry pratt
_ project supervisors : maggie hendrie & jennifer may
_ team
PROJECT BORN from NAKFI's SEEING the UNSEEN
and CALTECH's OVRAS LAB
_ with support from the CENTER for DATA DRIVEN DISCOVERY
_ with support from the NATION ACADEMIE's KECK FUTURES INITIATIVE
_ with support from ART CENTER COLLEGE of DESIGN | DESIGN MATTERS
_ with donations from MICROSOFT

as featured in
_ acknowledgements