Researchers in scientific, engineering, social sciences and the arts and humanities communities are generating ever increasing amounts of complex data. Analysis and presentation of this data in meaningful and optimal manner relies on effective use of visualization techniques. vizNET (a UK National Visualization Network) a collaboration between a number of visualization centres in the UK has been established to share knowledge, communicate best practice between application domains, provide training and support to researchers in visualization. vizNET is in the process of establishing a Visualization Support Network spanning the UK Academic Research Community. vizNET will offer technical guidance to new users (entry level visualization) to advanced users (expert visualization users). Consolidating the strengths of major visualization centres and groups across the UK will help the UK to realize the full potential of emerging visualization techniques and resources at a National and Regional level. vizNET is funded by the JISC Support of Research Committee.

vizNET (UK Visualisation Support Network)


Start date: 1 April 2006

End date: 1 November 2009

Funding programme: Support for e-Research programme

Project website: http://www.viznet.ac.uk/

JISC theme(s): e-Research

Committees: JISC Support of Research committee

Overview

Based on the conclusions from the User Needs workshop (held on 19 October 2004) and the JCSR January 2004 Champions Meeting, a strong recommendation came forward for JSR to fund a number of visualization centres in order to create a UK National Visualization Network. The case to establish such a ‘network’ to benefit UK research is stronger than ever before.  Instead of simply re-instating one of the earlier visualization forums we believe that it is more appropriate to create a ‘network’ of visualization users across the UK drawing upon the facilities, knowledge and expertise of leading practitioners.

Aims and objectives 

VizNET is providing a point of focus for the UK academic research community. The prime aim of vizNET is dissemination of knowledge to the wider UK academic community and the sharing of key resources, and to establish a Visualization Support Network spanning the UK Academic Research Community. The key objectives are to consolidate the strengths of major visualization centres and groups across the UK to share knowledge, communicate best practice between application domains, provide training and support to researchers in visualization, and provide access to major visualization resources at a National and Regional level.

Project methodology

vizNET aims to be proactive and reactive to the needs of the visualization community in the UK. At a proactive level vizNET will organise special events, workshops, seminars and provision of online materials which will be helpful to new, novice and more experienced visualization users. In our reactive role, vizNET will employ various techniques to capture requirements from the visualization community with a view to hosting/facilitating special events or provision of online materials.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

Outputs
  • vizNET Showcases
  • vizNET Annual Conference
  • Technical reports
  • Workshops
  • Seminars
  • Surgery sessions
  • Support to major visualization conferences/events (eg All Hands Meeting and VizSIG)
Outcomes
  • To demystify the art and practice of visualization
  • To map existing knowledge gathered from the scientific and engineering community to the arts/humanities and social sciences
  • To lower the barrier and allow users to harness the phenomenal visualization resources that are available in even the most modest personal computer
  • To react to the needs of the visualization community, by running events and using exit questioners

Technology / Standards used

vizNET website is designed to meet the ISO TS 16071 (Guidance on Accessibility of Human Computer Interfaces) and ISO 9241 Part 11 (Guidance on Usability). HTML tables and CSS to are mainly used in the website design.

Lead Institution

Loughborough University 

Project partners

University of Leeds 
Cardiff University  
University of Manchester  
Science and Technology Facilities Council 

project staff

Project Manager
  • Prof Roy Kalawsky, Loughborough University, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Tel +44 (0) 1509 635678, Fax +44 (0)1509 635231 r.s.kalawsky@lboro.ac.uk
Project Team
  • Prof Ken Brodlie, University of Leeds, School of Computing, Tel +44 (0) 113 343 5484, Fax +44 (0) 113 343 5468 kwb@comp.leeds.ac.uk
  • Prof Nick Avis, Department of Computer Science, Cardiff University, Tel +44 (0) 29 20876767, Fax +44 (0) 29 20874598 N.J.Avis@cs.cardiff.ac.uk
  • Dr Martin Turner, University of Manchester, Research Computing Services, +44 (0) 161 275 0613, +44 (0) 161 275 0637 martin.turner@manchester.ac.uk
  • Dr Nijad Al-Najdawi, Loughborough University, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Tel +44 (0) 1509 635678, Fax +44 (0)1509 635231 n.al-najdawi@lboro.ac.uk
  • Dr Lakshmi Sastry, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Tel +44 (0) 1235 446892, Fax +44 (0) 1235 445945 m.sastry@rl.ac.uk
  • Last updated on 07/01/09 by Kerry Ann Down