A Visual Analytic for High-Dimensional Data Exploitation: The Heterogeneous Data-Reduction Proximity Tool

Visual analytics is a growing area of research within the Department of Defense that targets the effective interleaving of analytical reasoning with interactive interfaces. Capitalizing on the human capacity for spatial reasoning, visual analytics enhance the decision maker's understanding of the underlying decision space by augmenting the assimilation of complex relationships. The Tactical Information Fusion Branch has developed a visual analytic application, entitled the Heterogeneous Data-Reduction Proximity Tool (HDPT). The goal of the HDPT is to complement traditional social network analysis by allowing the exploitation of a social network based upon the calculated similarity of the individuals (against a known reference set) as opposed to the traditional organizational structure. The result is an improved understanding of the human terrain that effectively incorporates qualitative and quantitative information into the decision making process. The original document contains color images.