| Scientific data analysis is the process whereby scientists in various disciplines apply mathematical, logical, or analytical methods to data to get new information or knowledge. The theme of this dissertation researches computational support for scientific data analysis. The current support systems are believed to have deficiencies in the completeness of functionality. Providing more complete functionality raises the issue of complexity of user interfaces. The goal of this dissertation is to investigate how to provide scientists a computing environment with more complete functionality while still providing a friendly user interface.; Instead of searching for general conclusions about scientific data analysis support, this dissertation chose Global Change Research as a specific scientific research area for study. In global change research, voluminous spatial, temporal, as well as attribute data are included, and analysis of this data is a fundamental research approach to produce answers to questions about the earth. Our study of scientists' data analysis activities indicates that data and analysis processes play equally important roles in scientific data analysis. A conceptual view of scientific data analysis is developed. Based on this understanding of data analysis, current supporting systems are analyzed in both functionality and user interface aspects. Our analysis, displayed in graphical form, indicates that deficiencies exist in current systems.; To remedy the deficiencies in current systems, a computational environment framework named GaeaVE has been developed. The GaeaVE framework is an integrated system supporting both data management and data analysis programming. Because of the system's complexity, the integrated system depends on an efficient user interface to be practical. A visual environment is a programming environment in which programming tasks are made easier for users by using graphical representations. Visual environment techniques have been used to develop a GaeaVE prototype. The GaeaVE prototype includes a data analysis programming system and a database browser. The GaeaVE prototype has been tested to perform global change research data analysis and those results have been evaluated. |
