SVG research group has been merged with Learning + Technology Group. These pages will no longer be updated.
Research projects and external funding
- TAPAS (2006-) is a collaborative project between the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) and the Department of Computer Science at the University of Joensuu (UJ). The aim is to develop methods and tools for free text and program text analysis by combining the strengths of the two universities. Some of the staff working in SVG receive their funding from this project even though this is originally a COMPSER project.
- VISTA (2006-): Visualization of Spatial Data Structures and Algorithms is a joint research project between the Software Visualization Group at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics funded by Academy of Finland. The project aims at applying software visualization (SV) techniques to spatial data structures and algorithms. Spatial data is used in numerous different fields, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), robotics, computer graphics, virtual reality, as well as in other disciplines such as computer-aided design, biology, and statistics. In this project, however, the focus is on spatial data structures in geoinformatics where visualization are widely utilized for illustrating data accurately and understandably. Such visualizations often contain different types of maps and diagrams that make it easier to analyze the data. The maps are primarily aimed at showing the data in an accurate and understandable manner, but lack the representation of the underlying data structures needed to implement the applications. Thus, the idea is to promote SV techiques and tools to provide the user a better insight into the data stuctures used to store the data and the algorithms used to manipulate it.
- SIMUTRAF (2005-)is a cooperative research project organized by the Laboratory of Software Technology and the Laboratory of Transportation Engineering funded by the Helsinki University of Technology. The goal of SIMUTRAF is to combine visual algorithm simulation as a tool to create more versatile and user-friendly traffic simulators. Another goal in SIMUTRAF is to build the DIGITRAFFIC project database where all traffic model information is stored. As a whole, the combination of Software Visualization techniques and DIGITRAFFIC simulation program can provide a totally new level of interactive visual traffic simulations.
- AAFAS (2005-2008): Automatic Assessment and Feedback on Algorithm Simulation is a research project funded by Academy of Finland. The project concentrates on improving the use of interactive software visualization methods and tools as an aid for learning and exploring data structures and algorithms. Especially, we are promoting the feedback an automatic assessment tool can provide for the learner during the interaction. The current activity includes the study of misconceptions that is currently an emerging research field in Computer Science Education. The aim is to identify several misconceptions automatically in terms of dedicated algorithms that can mimic user mistakes. The algorithms are altered to follow the (faulty) user simulation sequence in order to automatically detect which algorithm the user has in is or her mind (see also Machine Learning, Programming by Demonstration, and Fault Injection). After a successful detection, the user can be informed about the misconception he/she most probably have, thus the system can be put to promote learning by giving better feedback.