ASU's Decision Theater Offers Varied Views on Policy Issues

Facility is high-tech tool useful for envisioning water policy options

Far removed from the Classical World, Decision Theater utilizes an advanced visualization technique that provides a special way to see and contemplate public policy and other issues.

Decision Theater has been likened to an IMAX! cinema. Its core component, called the Drum, is a 260-degree, faceted screen with seven rear projection passive stereo sources displaying panoramic computer graphics or 3D screen video content. Up to 25 people can participate, interacting with each other and the on-screen scenario.

Decision Theater can offer multiple scenarios with different perspectives on such issues as the urban heat island effect, use patterns, urban growth, air quality, homeland security, public health as well as other environmental and social challenges. Also, Decision Theater can serve as a water planning and management tool.

Decision Theater Research Scientist Jessica Block emphasizes another aspect of the operation in its goal to link researchers at the university with community members and their needs. She says this was especially evident in the work they did with the East Valley Water Forum.

Consisting of a partnership of tribal, public and private water agencies and stakeholders, EVWF is facing the challenge of explosive growth resulting in the need for a proactive approach to water management. The forum wanted to translate and integrate a large number of water datasets into a visual form to promote more informed planning decisions.

More specifically EVWF was concerned about managing its groundwater resources. That aquifers were common to many users necessitated a regional approach to planning, especially since EVWF member communities bordered Phoenix, a rapidly growing urban center. Decision Theater assisted the forum by creating 3D models showing the long-term impact of development on the aquifer. A geopolitical decisions making process was developed incorporating visual modeling and simulation activities.

Although all forum members shared an interest in water they were not at the same level in their understanding of some of the technical information related to hydrology. For example, ADWR, contracted to do groundwater modeling, provided color-coded contour maps that some members were unable to read. Block says Decision Theater helped with this situation.

She says, "We were able to generate surfaces out of data and animate them through time. The entire group was then able to discuss where groundwater overdraft should be mitigated and how population growth was going to affect the aquifer. They got the gist of it more quickly, and within 10 minutes everyone was on the same page and the discussion could move forward."

Also participants were able to employ interactive strategies to simulate/evaluate the effects of potential water management policies on water supply. This viewing of simulations and models provided a basis for group discussions.

The resulting analysis assisted the East Valley Water Forum in efforts to develop guidelines and policies to manage both groundwater and surface water in the future.

Another water protect utilizing Decision Theater is being conducted by Dr. Mark Schmeeckle and his graduate student, Ryosuke Akahori. They are studying the interaction between turbulence structures and suspended sediment in rivers to determine how to prevent sandbars in the Colorado River from washing away. They are working with the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center.

Decision Theater also benefits ASU researchers by enabling them to compose visualization representations of their projects or work. Attractive, informational representations are invaluable in clarifying ideas and concepts for presentations, whether in a research proposals or when explaining research results. Also, audience reception to complex and detailed information is likely to be greater with the use of visualization.

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