Publications
2018 |
Harmon, Brendan; Petrasova, Anna; Petras, Vaclav; Mitasova, Helena; Meentemeyer, Ross K Tangible topographic modeling for landscape architects Journal Article International Journal of Architectural Computing, 16 (1), pp. 4-21, 2018. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: geospatial modeling, human-computer interaction, hydrological modeling, landscape architecture, tangible interaction, tangible user interface, topographic modeling @article{Harmon2018, title = {Tangible topographic modeling for landscape architects}, author = {Brendan Harmon and Anna Petrasova and Vaclav Petras and Helena Mitasova and Ross K. Meentemeyer}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1478077117749959}, doi = {10.1177/1478077117749959}, year = {2018}, date = {2018-01-23}, journal = {International Journal of Architectural Computing}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {4-21}, abstract = {We present Tangible Landscape—a technology for rapidly and intuitively designing landscapes informed by geospatial modeling, analysis, and simulation. It is a tangible interface powered by a geographic information system that gives three-dimensional spatial data an interactive, physical form so that users can naturally sense and shape it. Tangible Landscape couples a physical and a digital model of a landscape through a real-time cycle of physical manipulation, three-dimensional scanning, spatial computation, and projected feedback. Natural three-dimensional sketching and real-time analytical feedback should aid landscape architects in the design of high performance landscapes that account for physical and ecological processes. We conducted a series of studies to assess the effectiveness of tangible modeling for landscape architects. Landscape architecture students, academics, and professionals were given a series of fundamental landscape design tasks—topographic modeling, cut-and-fill analysis, and water flow modeling. We assessed their performance using qualitative and quantitative methods including interviews, raster statistics, morphometric analyses, and geospatial simulation. With tangible modeling, participants built more accurate models that better represented morphological features than they did with either digital or analog hand modeling. When tangibly modeling, they worked in a rapid, iterative process informed by real-time geospatial analytics and simulations. With the aid of real-time simulations, they were able to quickly understand and then manipulate how complex topography controls the flow of water.}, keywords = {geospatial modeling, human-computer interaction, hydrological modeling, landscape architecture, tangible interaction, tangible user interface, topographic modeling}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } We present Tangible Landscape—a technology for rapidly and intuitively designing landscapes informed by geospatial modeling, analysis, and simulation. It is a tangible interface powered by a geographic information system that gives three-dimensional spatial data an interactive, physical form so that users can naturally sense and shape it. Tangible Landscape couples a physical and a digital model of a landscape through a real-time cycle of physical manipulation, three-dimensional scanning, spatial computation, and projected feedback. Natural three-dimensional sketching and real-time analytical feedback should aid landscape architects in the design of high performance landscapes that account for physical and ecological processes. We conducted a series of studies to assess the effectiveness of tangible modeling for landscape architects. Landscape architecture students, academics, and professionals were given a series of fundamental landscape design tasks—topographic modeling, cut-and-fill analysis, and water flow modeling. We assessed their performance using qualitative and quantitative methods including interviews, raster statistics, morphometric analyses, and geospatial simulation. With tangible modeling, participants built more accurate models that better represented morphological features than they did with either digital or analog hand modeling. When tangibly modeling, they worked in a rapid, iterative process informed by real-time geospatial analytics and simulations. With the aid of real-time simulations, they were able to quickly understand and then manipulate how complex topography controls the flow of water. |
2017 |
Tonini, Francesco; Shoemaker, Douglas; Petrasova, Anna; Harmon, Brendan; Petras, Vaclav; Cobb, Richard C; Mitasova, Helena; Meentemeyer, Ross K Tangible geospatial modeling for collaborative solutions to invasive species management Journal Article Environmental Modelling and Software, 92 , pp. 176-188, 2017. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: forest disease, geospatial modeling, landscape epidemiology, participatory research, stakeholder engagement, tangible user interface @article{Tonini2017, title = {Tangible geospatial modeling for collaborative solutions to invasive species management}, author = {Francesco Tonini and Douglas Shoemaker and Anna Petrasova and Brendan Harmon and Vaclav Petras and Richard C. Cobb and Helena Mitasova and Ross K. Meentemeyer}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.02.020}, doi = {10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.02.020}, year = {2017}, date = {2017-06-01}, journal = {Environmental Modelling and Software}, volume = {92}, pages = {176-188}, abstract = {Managing landscape-scale environmental problems, such as biological invasions, can be facilitated by integrating realistic geospatial models with user-friendly interfaces that stakeholders can use to make critical management decisions. However, gaps between scientific theory and application have typically limited opportunities for model-based knowledge to reach the stakeholders responsible for problem-solving. To address this challenge, we introduce Tangible Landscape, an open-source participatory modeling tool providing an interactive, shared arena for consensus-building and development of collaborative solutions for landscape-scale problems. Using Tangible Landscape, stakeholders gather around a geographically realistic 3D visualization and explore management scenarios with instant feedback; users direct model simulations with intuitive tangible gestures and compare alternative strategies with an output dashboard. We applied Tangible Landscape to the complex problem of managing the emerging infectious disease, sudden oak death, in California and explored its potential to generate co-learning and collaborative management strategies among actors representing stakeholders with competing management aims.}, keywords = {forest disease, geospatial modeling, landscape epidemiology, participatory research, stakeholder engagement, tangible user interface}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Managing landscape-scale environmental problems, such as biological invasions, can be facilitated by integrating realistic geospatial models with user-friendly interfaces that stakeholders can use to make critical management decisions. However, gaps between scientific theory and application have typically limited opportunities for model-based knowledge to reach the stakeholders responsible for problem-solving. To address this challenge, we introduce Tangible Landscape, an open-source participatory modeling tool providing an interactive, shared arena for consensus-building and development of collaborative solutions for landscape-scale problems. Using Tangible Landscape, stakeholders gather around a geographically realistic 3D visualization and explore management scenarios with instant feedback; users direct model simulations with intuitive tangible gestures and compare alternative strategies with an output dashboard. We applied Tangible Landscape to the complex problem of managing the emerging infectious disease, sudden oak death, in California and explored its potential to generate co-learning and collaborative management strategies among actors representing stakeholders with competing management aims. |
1. | Harmon, Brendan; Petrasova, Anna; Petras, Vaclav; Mitasova, Helena; Meentemeyer, Ross K: Tangible topographic modeling for landscape architects. In: International Journal of Architectural Computing, 16 (1), pp. 4-21, 2018. (Type: Journal Article | Abstract | Links | BibTeX) @article{Harmon2018, title = {Tangible topographic modeling for landscape architects}, author = {Brendan Harmon and Anna Petrasova and Vaclav Petras and Helena Mitasova and Ross K. Meentemeyer}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1478077117749959}, doi = {10.1177/1478077117749959}, year = {2018}, date = {2018-01-23}, journal = {International Journal of Architectural Computing}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {4-21}, abstract = {We present Tangible Landscape—a technology for rapidly and intuitively designing landscapes informed by geospatial modeling, analysis, and simulation. It is a tangible interface powered by a geographic information system that gives three-dimensional spatial data an interactive, physical form so that users can naturally sense and shape it. Tangible Landscape couples a physical and a digital model of a landscape through a real-time cycle of physical manipulation, three-dimensional scanning, spatial computation, and projected feedback. Natural three-dimensional sketching and real-time analytical feedback should aid landscape architects in the design of high performance landscapes that account for physical and ecological processes. We conducted a series of studies to assess the effectiveness of tangible modeling for landscape architects. Landscape architecture students, academics, and professionals were given a series of fundamental landscape design tasks—topographic modeling, cut-and-fill analysis, and water flow modeling. We assessed their performance using qualitative and quantitative methods including interviews, raster statistics, morphometric analyses, and geospatial simulation. With tangible modeling, participants built more accurate models that better represented morphological features than they did with either digital or analog hand modeling. When tangibly modeling, they worked in a rapid, iterative process informed by real-time geospatial analytics and simulations. With the aid of real-time simulations, they were able to quickly understand and then manipulate how complex topography controls the flow of water.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } We present Tangible Landscape—a technology for rapidly and intuitively designing landscapes informed by geospatial modeling, analysis, and simulation. It is a tangible interface powered by a geographic information system that gives three-dimensional spatial data an interactive, physical form so that users can naturally sense and shape it. Tangible Landscape couples a physical and a digital model of a landscape through a real-time cycle of physical manipulation, three-dimensional scanning, spatial computation, and projected feedback. Natural three-dimensional sketching and real-time analytical feedback should aid landscape architects in the design of high performance landscapes that account for physical and ecological processes. We conducted a series of studies to assess the effectiveness of tangible modeling for landscape architects. Landscape architecture students, academics, and professionals were given a series of fundamental landscape design tasks—topographic modeling, cut-and-fill analysis, and water flow modeling. We assessed their performance using qualitative and quantitative methods including interviews, raster statistics, morphometric analyses, and geospatial simulation. With tangible modeling, participants built more accurate models that better represented morphological features than they did with either digital or analog hand modeling. When tangibly modeling, they worked in a rapid, iterative process informed by real-time geospatial analytics and simulations. With the aid of real-time simulations, they were able to quickly understand and then manipulate how complex topography controls the flow of water. |
2. | Tonini, Francesco; Shoemaker, Douglas; Petrasova, Anna; Harmon, Brendan; Petras, Vaclav; Cobb, Richard C; Mitasova, Helena; Meentemeyer, Ross K: Tangible geospatial modeling for collaborative solutions to invasive species management. In: Environmental Modelling and Software, 92 , pp. 176-188, 2017. (Type: Journal Article | Abstract | Links | BibTeX) @article{Tonini2017, title = {Tangible geospatial modeling for collaborative solutions to invasive species management}, author = {Francesco Tonini and Douglas Shoemaker and Anna Petrasova and Brendan Harmon and Vaclav Petras and Richard C. Cobb and Helena Mitasova and Ross K. Meentemeyer}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.02.020}, doi = {10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.02.020}, year = {2017}, date = {2017-06-01}, journal = {Environmental Modelling and Software}, volume = {92}, pages = {176-188}, abstract = {Managing landscape-scale environmental problems, such as biological invasions, can be facilitated by integrating realistic geospatial models with user-friendly interfaces that stakeholders can use to make critical management decisions. However, gaps between scientific theory and application have typically limited opportunities for model-based knowledge to reach the stakeholders responsible for problem-solving. To address this challenge, we introduce Tangible Landscape, an open-source participatory modeling tool providing an interactive, shared arena for consensus-building and development of collaborative solutions for landscape-scale problems. Using Tangible Landscape, stakeholders gather around a geographically realistic 3D visualization and explore management scenarios with instant feedback; users direct model simulations with intuitive tangible gestures and compare alternative strategies with an output dashboard. We applied Tangible Landscape to the complex problem of managing the emerging infectious disease, sudden oak death, in California and explored its potential to generate co-learning and collaborative management strategies among actors representing stakeholders with competing management aims.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Managing landscape-scale environmental problems, such as biological invasions, can be facilitated by integrating realistic geospatial models with user-friendly interfaces that stakeholders can use to make critical management decisions. However, gaps between scientific theory and application have typically limited opportunities for model-based knowledge to reach the stakeholders responsible for problem-solving. To address this challenge, we introduce Tangible Landscape, an open-source participatory modeling tool providing an interactive, shared arena for consensus-building and development of collaborative solutions for landscape-scale problems. Using Tangible Landscape, stakeholders gather around a geographically realistic 3D visualization and explore management scenarios with instant feedback; users direct model simulations with intuitive tangible gestures and compare alternative strategies with an output dashboard. We applied Tangible Landscape to the complex problem of managing the emerging infectious disease, sudden oak death, in California and explored its potential to generate co-learning and collaborative management strategies among actors representing stakeholders with competing management aims. |