Analyse & Visualise

After organizing the data collected in the initial stages of research it is the task of the researcher to turn data into information, allowing exploration, analysis and interpretation. Again there is a multitude of tools and technical options to aid the researcher in this process.

Data Management rules of thumb:

Never KEEP your research data in analytical systems, working environments or devices. These are not designed to ensure the retention and sanity of your data in the long run.
After concluding the analysis of (personal) data. The data should always be copied to a trusted, secure and accessible location where you can manage it and keep track of different versions.
After securing your processed data and analytical results. Remove the data from the analytical system, environment or device.

For specific technical questions about aspects of data science (automation) and processing and visualising geospatial or 3D data we have close ties to data experts at the CIT and for computing power we can find an answer to your questions for you with the HPC team.

The University of Groningen also offers a wide variety of (research) applications on the University Workplace to help researchers analyse and visualise their own data.

Contact the DCC for support on processing data Find which research software is available within the UG

High Performance Computing

High-performance computing (HPC)

To perform large complex calculations, the university has its own high-performance computing (HPC) cluster, the Hábrók. You can access and transfer data to Hábrók via various SSH and file transfer clients. In order to use Hábrók your applications need to be run under Linux.

All the information regarding the specifications and access to the system, use cases, training and support can be found in the user manual of Hábrók.

High-throughput computing (HTC)

The CIT is currently developing a local cloud solution focused on HPC and HTC solutions (Merlin). This enables the CIT to provide an infrastructure as a service (IaaS) environment designed for high-throughput and computing solutions.

More about Hábrók

Data Science

The CIT Data Science team can help you to collect, analyze, process, visualize and manage all types of research data. This includes (geo, visual) sensors, audio and medical data. Some examples of possibilities:

Data collection and Data scraping

Scraping web data, setting up data collection tools for online surveys and information about existing data resources.

Processing imagery (photos and videos) and Computer vision

Detecting (abnormal) objects in images, scans and video, predicting object types, automate the processing, super-resolution images.

Text Mining and Natural Language Processing

Find structures or hidden information in your collection of books, articles, emails, jurisprudence, Twitter comments or other corpora. AI and natural language processing techniques.

Exploring tabular data/statistics/time series analysis

Analyze, explore and predict tabular data from spreadsheets, csv files or complicated data like genetic, historical or time series data. Advanced statistical techniques and machine learning models.

Machine Learning/Deep Learning

Machine learning is a method of data analysis that automates analytical model building. It is a branch of artificial intelligence based on the idea that systems can learn from data, identify patterns and make decisions with minimal human intervention. Deep learning is a subset of machine learning where artificial neural networks, algorithms inspired by the human brain, learn from large amounts of data.

More information on Data Science

Geographical data analysis and visualisation

Much research has a spatial component. Research always happens somewhere or compares different phenomena at different locations. The Geodienst (geographic service), a team of specialists in spatial data, provides various services in the field of geodata. These include collecting, storing, sharing, analysing and visualizing data. The specialists also provide training for different geographic information systems (GIS) and are available for advice.

Spatial analyses

Powerful tools such as GIS, ArcGIS Online, ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, Story Maps, and Insights allow you to create both vector and grid-based spatial analyses, such as network analysis, viewshed analysis or spatial interpolation. Visualizing the results of these types of analyses usually results in a map and helps to interpret the results of your analysis.

Advice and contact

Ask Research Support for all your questions about geographic data.

More information on the Geodienst

Virtual/augmented reality and 3D data

CIT’s visualization specialists focus on visualizing data and creating interactive xR environments (virtual and augmented reality) and (custom) applications for interacting with xR/3D data. They also provide facilities and equipment for interacting with xR and 3D data, such as a 3D theatre and a VR lab.

Reality Theatre

The Reality Theatre at the Smitsborg at Zernike is a cinema that can accommodate up to 20 people for interactive 3D presentations. The room has a multi-touchscreen and the layout for the public is flexible. The Reality Theatre can be used for a wide range of scientific areas.

VR Lab (3D recordings and 3D printing)

In the Reality Center laboratory, you can experiment with VR/3D equipment. In addition to VR head-mounted displays and augmented reality interfaces, the VR lab has several devices for scanning objects in 3D and the ability to visualize or print them digitally. The lab also has a set-up for photographic 3D (photogrammetry) shooting.

VR equipment on loan

Do you need a VR device for your research project or an educational setting? You can borrow VR equipment, including a powerful laptop from the Reality Center (pick up and return at the Smitsborg).

Software development

Do you have a project for which no VR software exists so far? We can help you develop new software for your project or customize existing software. For example, you can customize popular software for visualizing molecular structures such as PyMol and VMD for use in our Reality Theatre.

More information

Check out the video showreel of the visualization experts if you want to learn more about the possibilities of using 3D visualization and Virtual Reality in your research or education. This gives a good impression of the possibilities. Visit this webpage for more information on visualisation.

Last modified:

11 August 2023 3.12 p.m.