Visualisation-based Computer-assisted Modelling

Making sense of data whether public data on the economy or health, or investigating small scale personal puzzles are becoming more and more difficult in an information-rich world. Although there are currently numerical modelling tools like Excel which allow users to perform quantitative analysis and analyse what if scenarios, they can have a high learning threshold to use effectively. Similarly, it can be difficult to use such tools to perform textual analysis without first manually converting text into various numerical attributes. Currently, there are also many web tools or sites that allow calculation of specific information, like mortgage calculators or energy supplier switchers. However, these tools are often very specific and does not always differentiate clearly between the different options or provide a clear rational for how the result was reached.

This project seeks to investigate a visual modelling system that will allow such analysis to be performed visually and so reducing the barrier to entry to such calculations. The benefits that this would bring are numerous but most importantly, it will allow the general population to be able to gain a greater understanding of significant political and economic events as well as optimise their daily living, save money and make better decisions. Different types of calculations can be examined, like modelling systems, constraints modelling and statistically modelling, though the methods of calculation will be sourced from others and will not be in the scope of this project.

In order for users to model and understanding the information clearly, both the model and the data should be clearly modelled. The way that this is done could be similar to visual programming languages where block of actions and data are combined visually to create computer programs. This method of visual programming is often more intuitive and more accessible; often visual programming languages are used to help people learn about programming.

It is likely that web technologies will be used to provide such a visualisation utilising the interactivity that mobile devices provide like multi touch and orientation. This level of interactivity is currently mainstream and widely used within the general population. Thus, this type of interaction will provide an interaction that people are familiar with.

The project will involve an initial research and exploration period where current literature and technology are discovered, and different possible scenarios explored. Once the scenarios are determined, then possible modelling techniques will be designed and then prototyped. The prototypes will then be evaluated and implemented. Finally, further work will be considered using what was learnt during the studies. The project overall seeks to contribute to the development of a visual modelling system and seek to further the understanding of such visual language for general purpose modelling.




Training:
Web Technologies
Visualisation
Academic Writing
Research Methodology and Experimental Design