EcoViz: Advancing Climate Communication with Immersive Visualizations

Staff Writer

Scientists and communicators from the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at the School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences at UC San Diego, along with the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience at UC Santa Cruz, have initiated a project known as EcoViz. This venture harnesses immersive technology to simulate environments and experiences, aiming to tackle a range of environmental issues such as wildfire management, reef restoration, and coastal flooding.

The central goal of EcoViz is to enhance communication of complex climate data to audiences such as policymakers, researchers, and local communities. By converting intricate data into clear and engaging visual formats, the initiative seeks to foster understanding and drive actionable insights.

“With climate impacts rippling through ecosystems worldwide, EcoViz’s mission is to help bridge the communication gap by working with domain experts, community members, and policymakers to create clear and compelling visualizations of environmental data,” said Jessica Kendall-Bar, an Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “These visualizations depict data-driven science that can serve as the groundwork for fire management, reef restoration, and conservation decisions.”

The EcoViz Approach to Climate Communication

EcoViz applies cinematic techniques and interactive tools to visualize environmental changes over time. This approach not only makes scientific data accessible but also inspires informed decision-making. The EcoViz team, including Kendall-Bar, SDSC Chief Data Science Officer Ilkay Altintas, and experts from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio and MIT’s Media Lab, presented their work at the 2024 IEEE VIS Workshop on Visualization for Climate Action and Sustainability.

Three case studies were developed to illustrate EcoViz’s range:

1. Coastal Flood Protection Benefits: Through cinematic visuals and interactive maps, this showcases the role of coastal ecosystems like mangroves and wetlands in flood mitigation.
2. Marine Animal Behavior: Data-driven animations reveal migratory patterns and habitat shifts of marine animals due to climate change, aiding conservation efforts.
3. Wildfire Management: Simulations demonstrate fire spread under variable conditions, equipping firefighters and policymakers with strategic tools.

Leveraging Immersive Technology for Broader Impact

EcoViz tailors visualizations to fit diverse audiences, finding that narrative-driven animations and interactive tools best convey complex data. “Through varied approaches, this collaborative team has found that data-driven, cinematic videos with straightforward charts and minimal text annotations can synthesize findings most clearly,” Kendall-Bar explained, emphasizing the adaptability of videos for broader environmental narratives.

Examples include cinematic animations that highlight ecosystem and climate resilience connections, and VR applications that immerse users in environments like coral reefs or wildfire-prone forests, enhancing understanding of environmental challenges.

Merging Creativity with Scientific Rigor

EcoViz embodies the blend of visual creativity and scientific accuracy. Altintas, who co-leads the Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship and is the Director of the Cyberinfrastructure and Convergence Research Division at SDSC, notes that EcoViz transforms data into compelling stories that inspire policy and climate solutions. “By combining visual creativity with scientific rigor, EcoViz is helping to transform raw climate data into stories that can inspire informed policy and resilient climate solutions,” she said.

EcoViz’s innovative AI and visualization methods underline its role in influencing global climate strategies. By making complex data accessible, it empowers communities and informs decision-making, creating a common language for collaboration on sustainable solutions.

Funding and Future Directions

EcoViz is supported by a variety of organizations, such as the University of California Climate Action program, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, AXA Research Fund, FEMA, USGS, and the UCSC Center for Coastal Climate Resilience. This diverse backing highlights the initiative’s potential for significant environmental impact.