using sound to represent uncertainty in future climate predictions for the uk nick bearman
TRANSCRIPT
Using Sound to Represent Uncertainty in Future Climate Predictions for the UK
Nick Bearman
My Background
Using Sound to Represent Uncertainty in Spatial Data
Comparing different visual and sonic methods
BSc Geography, MSc GIS – Dept. of GeographyPhD – School of Environmental Sciences
New to ‘Sonification’ / ICAD conferenceNot much music background
23 June 2011
Background Spatial Data Why Sound? UKCP09Data
Evaluation Sessions Results
GIS – Geographical Information Systems
23 June 2011http://kbark.wordpress.com/2006/12/17/where-am-i/ (18/03/2009)
Finnish Town
GIS = Maps & Spatial Data
Data usually shown visually
But there are limits
What data would I need to show using sound?
Background Spatial Data Why Sound? UKCP09Data
Evaluation Sessions Results
+ 2.5°C
Future Climate Predictions
How do we show all of this
info?
Jenkins, G. J., Perry, M. C. & Prior, M. J. (2008) Figure 2.63d
± 5.2°C
Edinburgh
Norwich
+0.8°C to +1.2°C
-2.7°C to +7.7°C
Use another sense
+ 1°C ± 0.2°C
Background Spatial Data Why Sound? UKCP09Data
Evaluation Sessions Results
Why Sound?
If Vision is fullTouch or Sound are other feasible alternatives
Touch (haptic) has had work done on itbut can need expensive kit
Sound hasn’t had much work and can be cheap and easyspeakers / headphones & sound card
Sound has great potential in terms of what can be represented using sound
23 June 2011
Background Spatial Data Why Sound? UKCP09Data
Evaluation Sessions Results
Previous Examples
Often used for visual impairedSound replaces vision
I’m looking at using sound and vision in combination
Zhao (2006)
Zhao (2006) Splits Screen into 9, Reads Aloud
MacVeigh & Jacobson (2007)
MacVeigh & Jacobson (2007) Harbour, Sea and Land
Background Spatial Data Why Sound? UKCP09Data
Evaluation Sessions Results
UKCP09 - UK Climate Projections 2009
Future climate variables for UK up to 2080sLatest in the series of data setsFirst to include uncertainty
Temperature Increase
ProbabilityTemperature Increase
50th
90th
10th
Uncertainty is usefulBut users have to change their workflow to make use of it
How do we represent this?Advice is to use 3 maps at 10th, 50th and 90th percentileWe could use sound…
Background Spatial Data Why Sound? UKCP09Data
Evaluation Sessions Results
Method – Using Sound with UKCP09
Can sound be used to represent uncertainty in UKCP09?
Compare this to normal visual methods
Three different methods (showing 50th and Range):Some visual, some sonic, some both
Asked users to highlight specific areas where temperature and uncertainty are over thresholds
23 June 2011
Background Spatial Data Why Sound? UKCP09Data
Evaluation Sessions Results
Evaluation Sessions
71 participants – UEA, OS, UKCIPSmall group sessionsQuestionnaire, Maps, Discussion Session
Questionnaire covered lots of things including:Awareness and use of the UKCP09 dataLearning Style – Visual or AuralKnowledge of GIS / Climate Change
Used Google Maps interface to Show the UKCP09 dataAnd collect responses
23 June 2011
Background Spatial Data Why Sound? UKCP09Data
Evaluation Sessions Results
Background Spatial Data Why Sound? UKCP09Data
Evaluation Sessions Results
Results
Compared users results to the correct resultsGreat variation within results
Cluster C had a very visual learning style
Awareness of data set is important (p < 0.001)
Using sound to reinforce vision increases scores (p = 0.005) for most
Using sound for different variable helps some but not othersLearning Style – Visual learners more effectiveNot significant trends:
Subject knowledge Repeated use
Thanks & Questions