No abstract

The interpretation process of complex data sets makes the integration of effective interaction techniques crucial. Recent work in the field of human-computer interaction has shown that there is strong evidence that multimodal user interaction, i.e. the integration of various input modalities and interaction techniques into one comprehensive user interface, can improve human performance when interacting with complex data sets. However, it is still unclear which factors make these user interfaces superior to unimodal user interfaces. The contribution of this work is an analytical comparison of a multimodal and a unimodal user interface for a scientific visualization application. We show that multimodal user interaction with simultaneously integrated speech and gesture input improves user performance regarding efficiency and ease of use.

The EU FP7 Network of Excellence CIPRNet has developed CIPRTrainer, an application that provides a new capability for training crisis management (CM) staff. It enables exploring different courses of action and comparing their consequences (what-if analysis) in complex simulated crisis and emergency scenarios. The simulation employs threat, impact, and damage models and is based on federated modelling, simulation and analysis of Critical Infrastructures. In this chapter, we present an overview of the technical realisation of CIPRTrainer, embed the approach into the state of the art, and elaborate on CIPRTrainer's user interface and the training experience. The chapter also explains how the models for the complex crisis scenarios have been created, what level of detail could be realised, and how cases of missing data could be handled. As an example, we use a cross-border scenario about a cargo train derailment disaster. In the final sections, the reader learns how to set up, start and perform a training session with CIPRTrainer, how to use 'what if' analysis, and how to read the results of consequence analysis.

We consider critical infrastructures as cyber-physical systems (CPS). Although simulations play an important role for CPS, no single simulator is available to simulate different depending CI. Therefore, interoperability of simulators in federated simulations is an important requirement. For modelling and simulation of CPS behaviour, both physical and control aspects have to be considered. CPS control is essentially based on events, states and reactions. Today there are mature numerical simulations for physical behaviours, whereas control is frequently treated in a restricted and ad-hoc manner. We present and analyse different simulator integration approaches based on explicit semantic models and show how they improve the modelling and simulation capabilities of federated simulations in CPS. We demonstrate how complex event processing and reactive rules allow the description of CPS behaviour on the event and action level and the integration of control into federated simu lations

The measurement of the growth state and health status of single plants or even single parts of the plants within a crop to conduct precision farming actions is a difficult task. We address this challenge by adopting a multi-sensor suite, which can be used on several sensor-platforms. Based on experimental field studies in relevant agricultural environments, we show how the acquired hyperspectral, LIDAR, stereo and thermal image data can be processed and classified to get a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural acreage.