Earth Mission Control: Advanced Data Visualizations for Climate Intelligence
Minoo Rathnasabapathy - MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, United States
Dava Newman - MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, United States
Rachel Connolly - MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, United States
Phillip Cherner - MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, United States
Jaden Palmer - MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, United States
Mark SubbaRao - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, United States
Room: Esplanade Suites I + II + III
2024-10-14T12:30:00ZGMT-0600Change your timezone on the schedule page
2024-10-14T12:30:00Z
Abstract
Satellite Earth Observation (EO) data is essential for tracking climate change trends and their impacts on ecosystems, however conventional methods of presenting EO data often fail to effectively communicate the intricate relationships between climate causes and effects in hyperlocal contexts. To address this challenge, this paper investigates the use of advanced data visualization techniques, focusing on the potential of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to enhance EO data understanding and climate storytelling. Leveraging the MIT Media Lab's Earth Mission Control (EMC) AR/VR platform, the paper details how immersive VR environments can simplify complex climate data narratives, and enhance the ability of decision-makers to analyze, interact with, and understand EO data. The paper presents the architecture of EMC’s platform, including key design features such as: information dashboard carousel; map table; globe; and dynamic scenic VR environments. User feedback from diverse stakeholders reveals significant improvements in climate communication and decision-making, emphasizing the capability of leveraging immersive technologies to address global climate challenges.