Spatiotemporal visualisation of PS InSAR generated space–time series describing large areal land deformations using diagram map with spiral graph

Abstract

The space–time series carry information on temporal and spatial patterns in observed phenomena. The reported research integrates computational, visual and cartographic methods to support visual analysis of space–time series describing terrain surface movement. The proposed methodology for space–time series visualisation can support their analysts in investigating space– time patterns using transformation, clustering, filtration and visualisation. The presented approach involves spiral graphs for representation time dimension and cartographic visualisation through proportional point symbol map for representation of spatial dimension. The result is an intuitive visualisation of space–time series, conveying the sought-after spatio-temporal information. For practical tests, we used space–time series obtained by permanent scatterers interferometry (PS InSAR) to monitor the Earth’s surface movement above the underground gas storage (UGS) Tvrdonice, the Czech Republic. An UGS is characterised by periodic injection and withdrawal of natural gas, which induces periodic movement of the terrain above it. We have verified that our visualisation method provides the required pattern information and is easy to use.