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Information Visualization Applied in Presenting some Fundamental Power Systems Topics

Abstract

Visualization methods are widely credited for simplifying presentation of difficult subjects as well as aiding cognition. Its use in the power engineering industry and education is enjoying significant growth. However, developing visualization systems for fundamental power system topics is a time-consuming task. This paper presents a series of student-created applications of visualization concepts in teaching a number of power system topics. The simple visualization schemes emanating from students’ perspectives serve to both aid understanding of concepts as well as enable the instructor to systematically integrate the valuable inputs into instruction delivery.

1. Introduction

The methods and patterns of presentation of traditional topics and concepts in power engineering have stabilized and remained largely intact, and until recently have survived the deluge of changes brought about by the digital revolution. This may be attributed to a variety of factors -- refining pedagogy to better adapt undergraduate power engineering classes to the needs of the times presents much demand on time and limits time commitment to non- pedagogic research and other scholarly activities. Also, textbooks that have made some attempts to recast presentation methods are few.

Significant strides in information visualization have been documented in research and application literatures over the past decade. With its wider acceptance as an alternative to studying complex problems defined by multidimensional and large data sets, many visualization software development systems have been deployed and are finding applications in power engineering. The profusion of visual displays of information without an educated guide to meanings discerned from the information has led to a groundswell of movements seeking to develop metrics and quantifiable quality measures.

Amar and Stasko1 discuss a framework for design and evaluation of information visualization systems. It suggests that exposing uncertainty, concretizing relationships, and formulating cause and effect would lead to more effective information visualization techniques. Burkhard2 highlights the differences between information visualization (exploring abstract data to amplify cognition) and knowledge visualization, indicating the necessity to customize the information to recipient’s cognitive background. It draws a parallel between information visualization and the work of an architect; showing how the visual representations by an architect transfer knowledge. Chaomei and Chen3 list ten high priority unsolved information visualization problems compiled by a panel of experts at an IEEE Visualization Conference in 2004. Viewer background, aesthetics, intrinsic quality measures, and usability ranked high on the list. In exploring a most effective means of visualizing high dimension data, Keim4 focuses on the number of variables or dimensionality

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Idowu, P., & Brinton, G., & Hartman, H., & Neuhard, S., & Abraham, R., & Boyer, E. (2006, June), Information Visualization Applied In Presenting Some Fundamental Power Systems Topics Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--781