Untangling the X-ray Universe through immersive big data visualization

Closed Human-Computer Interaction Computer Science Games Engineering eXtended Artificial Intelligence Master Project No Affiliation

Aim & Objective

This project aims at investigating new concepts and methods for immersive data visualization and visual analytics of big data and the possible cooperation between human and artificial intelligence.

The project is a collaboration with the Max-Planck Institute of extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Garching, Germany. The objective is the development of a public data visualization tool for the multi-dimensional cosmological data of the eROSITA X-ray satellite in order to facilitate the search for interesting objects in the big data base and allow users for a first-order exploratory analysis of eROSITA data through visual exploration in conjunction with artificial intelligence.

Background

The role of scientists in making discoveries, drawing insight, and generating new knowledge continues to undergo transformations as research has entered the era of big data. This is especially true for astronomy and astrophysics. eROSITA is an X-ray telescope under the leadership of the Max-Planck Institute for extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) and was launched in 2019. The design-driving science of eROSITA is the detection of very large samples (~100,000 objects) of galaxy clusters and several million Active Galactic Nuclei, to study the large-scale structure in the Universe, test and characterize cosmological models including Dark Energy, and provide a unique view of the evolution of supermassive black holes within the Universe. This volume and diversity of data presents both an increased potential for discovery but also a challenge to astronomers to make full use of the data at hand. Human capabilities for discovery and insight will be augmented through an even tighter integration with intelligent computing systems. While this seems inevitable, human intervention will continue at all stages of the data collection and processing cycle. Data visualization for visual inspection and analysis plays an important role and is used at all stages of research.

Tasks

You will work in an interdisciplinary group of astronomers, designers, data and computer scientists. The overall goal is to develop a public virtual reality and web-based visualization tool for astronomers who want to use the eROSITA database.

The main tasks of this project are:

• Establish a framework to implement the eROSITA database into Unity
• Develop a python/Unity API for visual analytics
• Design the data mapping and concepts for visualizing big data in Unity
• Investigation of the user interaction system
• Study possible visual feedback / communication between machine-learning algorithms and scientists

Contact Persons at the University Würzburg