Seeing the Big Picture: Principles for dynamic process data visualization on Large Screen Displays

摘要

Control room operators in time-constrained situations easily lose track of what is happening in complex large-scale processes, coping with thousands of variables and control-loops. Information-Rich Design (IRD) is an industry-tested approach to Large Screen Display (LSD) design that aims to close the gap through an easy perceivable big picture. This paper develops a theoretical basis and proposes design principles for IRD, focusing on visualization of dynamic behaviour of complex large-scale processes. The theoretical basis is discussed in light of initial evaluations of the IRD concept, other display concepts for complex processes, scientific findings on visualization and perception of displays, and psychological literature on rapid, intuitive, information perception. Design principles are discussed using the case of an on-going installation of a third generation IRD large screen display for a nuclear research reactor.