{"142661":{"#nid":"142661","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Data Visualization Tool Helps Find the \u201cUnknown Unknowns\u201d","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA research team at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) has developed a software tool that enables users to perform in-depth analysis of modeling and simulation data, then visualize the results on screen. The new data analysis and visualization tool offers improved ease of use compared to similar tools, the researchers say, and could be readily adapted for use with existing data sets in a variety of disciplines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe data analysis and visualization tool is a subset of the Test Matrix Tool (TMT), a multi-component system developed by GTRI for designing, executing and analyzing large-scale modeling and simulation data sets. The visualization capability offers a graphical user interface that provides both on-screen data-manipulation features like filters and the ability to see query results in the form of graphical images almost instantly.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cData visualization supports data analysis by letting users pose data-related questions onscreen with ease and then view the answers in ways that go far beyond ordinary table formats,\u201d said Edward Clarkson, a GTRI research scientist who is leading the data visualization work. \u201cA picture can be worth a thousand numbers, because visualizing data in a graph allows us to see patterns that might not be apparent from purely numerical results.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDevelopment of the Test Matrix Tool and its components is being led by Greg Rohling, a GTRI principal research engineer. Rohling\u2019s team developed the TMT to support modeling and simulation investigations into the effectiveness and optimization of numerous U.S. defense systems, including electronic warfare equipment used to protect military aircraft. The work is supported by the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn developing a simulation test, Test Matrix Tool users can specify desired variations in input parameters using multiple data filters. The TMT system executes all possible combinations of those parameters, creating a test matrix. It then executes the simulations on a Sun\/Oracle Grid Engine and stores the resulting simulation output data in a MySQL database.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt that point, TMT\u2019s data analysis component, which includes the data visualization tool, helps users evaluate the often complex test results. By collating the test matrix input and output, the data analysis tools allow users to efficiently filter and visualize test matrix data.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Test Matrix Tool is designed for use on personal computers.\u0026nbsp; It works under the Linux and Microsoft Windows operating systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENumerous Potential Applications\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome TMT capabilities, including the data analysis and visualization components, could be useful for scrutinizing information gathered in many disciplines, Clarkson said.\u0026nbsp; He mentioned health care as one field where a multitude of existing data sets could be mined for new insights.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFor example, there\u2019s an enormous amount of data out there on heart patients,\u201d he said. \u201cOur data tools could be used to investigate existing patient information and seek significant trends in the data.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EClarkson explained that users would face the challenge of organizing legacy data sets into formats that the GTRI data analysis software can exploit. But that task, he added, is generally straightforward and can be performed with automated tools in many cases.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe data format required by the TMT tools, he explained, is not particularly complex. What\u2019s needed is a standard database setup in which the information fields are organized into tabular formats. Moreover, any required metadata \u2013 special data that tell the system how to deal with a particular data set \u2013 would likely present few development issues.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EClarkson recently demonstrated the capabilities of the data analysis and visualization tool using an existing database: baseball statistics. This particular demonstration involved the use of 40 different data filters available onscreen; the TMT system allows for 300 or more such filters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a random query of the 46,000 National League players from the past, an onscreen graph unexpectedly revealed an interesting anomaly during the demonstration. The data indicate that players\u2019 height and weight increased in every past decade except the 1920s and 1930s, when it stayed inexplicably flat.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat\u2019s the beauty of this kind of tool \u2013 it can find the unknown unknowns,\u201d Clarkson observed. \u201cDetails show up in graphs that aren\u2019t obvious when you\u2019re looking at just the numbers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe TMT data visualization tool, he explained, bears some similarities to the data filtering features found on some websites. For example, many shopping sites let users search for products by using filters to select desired qualities such as size, color and brand name.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, Clarkson said, TMT\u2019s capabilities are considerably more advanced. Whereas commercial systems stop at the filtering stage, the TMT data analysis tools allow fundamental manipulation of the data. Using filters, investigators can transform the data mathematically, a process that makes unique insights and discoveries possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cData analysis and visualization are great for finding many things you want to know,\u201d Clarkson said.\u0026nbsp; \u201cBut another real advantage is that they can detect what you perhaps don\u2019t want to know \u2013 the bugs and the anomalies -- the things that just aren\u2019t right and have to be fixed.\u0022\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch News \u0026amp; Publications Office\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E75 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 309\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAtlanta, Georgia\u0026nbsp; 30308\u0026nbsp; USA\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Relations Contacts\u003C\/strong\u003E: John Toon (404-894-6986)(\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E) or Kirk Englehardt (404-894-6015)(\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kirk.englehardt@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ekirk.englehardt@comm.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter\u003C\/strong\u003E: Rick Robinson\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA research team at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) has developed a software tool that enables users to perform in-depth analysis of modeling and simulation data, then visualize the results on screen. The new data analysis and visualization tool offers improved ease of use compared to similar tools, the researchers say, and could be readily adapted for use with existing data sets in a variety of disciplines.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new software tool allows users to perform in-depth analysis of modeling and simulation data, then visualize the results on screen."}],"uid":"27303","created_gmt":"2012-07-25 15:54:12","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:12:36","author":"John Toon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2012-07-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2012-07-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"142641":{"id":"142641","type":"image","title":"Data Visualization","body":null,"created":"1449178723","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:38:43","changed":"1475894774","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:46:14","alt":"Data Visualization","file":{"fid":"194984","name":"110606r021_s.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/110606r021_s_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/110606r021_s_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1164905,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/110606r021_s_0.jpg?itok=XJ32wprR"}},"142651":{"id":"142651","type":"image","title":"Data Visualization2","body":null,"created":"1449178723","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:38:43","changed":"1475894774","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:46:14","alt":"Data Visualization2","file":{"fid":"194985","name":"110606r111_s.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/110606r111_s_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/110606r111_s_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1260664,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/110606r111_s_0.jpg?itok=2VnXB6zL"}}},"media_ids":["142641","142651"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"147","name":"Military Technology"}],"keywords":[{"id":"438","name":"data"},{"id":"38921","name":"data visualization"},{"id":"38931","name":"Ed Clarkson"},{"id":"416","name":"GTRI"},{"id":"38941","name":"Test Matrix Tool"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39481","name":"National Security"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearch News \u0026amp; Publications Office\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E(404) 894-6986\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jtoon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}