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Christian Tominski
apl. Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil.
Visual Analytics Group
Institute for Visual & Analytic Computing
Computer Science • University of Rostock
christian.tominski [ät] uni-rostock.de
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About

Christian is a scientist at the Institute for Visual & Analytic Computing at the University of Rostock, Germany. He received doctoral (Dr.-Ing.) and post-doctoral (Dr.-Ing. habil.) degrees in 2006 and 2015, respectively. In 2021, he became a professor (apl. Prof.) of human-data interaction. Christian's research is primarily in the area of visualization, with a focus on interacting with visual data representations. He is particularly interested in effective and efficient visual analytics techniques for interactively exploring, analyzing, and editing complex data. In his work, he emphasizes conceptual aspects and aims to systematically investigate visual analytics challenges. Christian has published numerous papers on new visualization and interaction techniques for multivariate data, temporal data, geo-spatial data, and graph data. He co-authored three books, including a book on the visualization of time-oriented data in 2011 (second edition in 2023), a book focusing on interaction for visualization in 2015, and a text book on interactive visual data analysis in 2020. Christian has developed several visual analytics systems and tools, including the LandVis system for spatio-temporal health data, the CGV system for coordinated graph visualization, the Responsive Matrix Cells for exploring and editing multivariate graphs, and the TimeViz Browser, an interactive catalogue of visualization techniques for time-oriented data.

Research Interests

Visualization
  • Multi-variate data visualization, time-series visualization, geo-visualization, visualization of movement data, graph visualization
  • Coordinated multiple-views visualization
  • Visualization on interactive displays and large high-resolution displays
Interaction
  • Interaction for visual data analysis
  • Interactive lenses
  • Interactive visual comparison
  • Navigation and exploration techniques
  • Guidance for visual analytics
Computation
  • Analytic support for interactive exploration
  • Efficient algorithms and data structures for visualization
  • Asynchronous progressive computation

Awards

Recent talks

Professional Activities

University and Memberships
  • Elected member of the faculty council
  • Member of the GI Visualization special interest group
  • Member of the INFO.RO association
  • Former interim head of the chair of Visual Analytics
  • Former interim head of the chair of Computer Graphics
Editor, Chair, and Organizer
  • Symposium HS.2020, 2020
  • Guest-Editor Special Section on Visual Analytics in The Visual Computer, 2018
  • Workshop Co-Chair EuroVis Workshop on Visual Analytics (EuroVA), 2017, 2018
  • Organizer Special Track Interactive Visualization in Novel and Heterogeneous Display Environments at the International Symposium on Visual Computing (ISVC), 2011
Committees
  • Eurographics Conference on Visualization (EuroVis)
  • EuroVis State-of-the-Art Reports (EuroVis STAR)
  • EuroVis Workshop on Visual Analytics (EuroVA)
  • IEEE Visualization & Visual Analytics (VIS)
  • IEEE Information Visualization (InfoVis)
  • IEEE Visual Analytics Science and Technology (VAST)
  • IEEE Working Conference on Software Visualization (VISSOFT)
  • International Symposium on Vision, Modeling and Visualization (VMV)
  • International Symposium on Graph Drawing (GD)
  • International Conference on Information Visualization Theory and Applications (IVAPP)
  • International Workshop on Big Data Visual Exploration and Analytics (BigVis)
  • ITS Workshop on Visual Data Exploration on Interactive Surfaces (DEXIS)
Reviewing
  • Journals: Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, Computer Graphics Forum, Information Visualization, Computers & Graphics, Computer Graphics and Applications, Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, International Journal on Geographical Information Science, Cartographic Journal, Software: Practice and Experience, Information Systems, Interacting with Computers, Journal of Imaging Sciences and Technology, Informatics, Behavior & Information Technology
  • Conferences and workshops: VIS, EuroVis, CHI, EuroVA, PacificVis, UIST, IV, BigVis, SIGRAD, VAKD, GeoVA(t), GeoViz
  • Research foundations: DFG (Germany), BW Stiftung (Germany), NWO (Netherlands), NSERC (Canada), ANR (France)
  • Publishers: CRC Press, Morgan & Claypool

Books

Book Visualization of Time-Oriented Data Second Edition
Visualization of Time-Oriented Data, Second Edition
W. Aigner, S. Miksch, H. Schumann, C. Tominski, Springer, 2023
Building on the success of the first edition, the second edition of the book Visualization of Time-Oriented Data comprehensively highlights current visualization methods as well as approaches to interaction and computational analysis. The book is available under an open-access license.
More
Book Interactive Visual Data Analysis
Interactive Visual Data Analysis
C. Tominski and H. Schumann, A K Peters Visualization Series, CRC Press, 2020
In the age of big data, being able to make sense of data is an important key to success. Interactive Visual Data Analysis advocates the synthesis of visualization, interaction, and automatic computation to facilitate insight generation and knowledge crystallization from large and complex data.
More
Book Interaction for Visualization
Interaction for Visualization
C. Tominski, Synthesis Lectures on Visualization, No. 3, Morgan & Claypool, 2015
The goal of Interaction for Visualization is to strengthen the interaction side of visualization. Based on a review of general aspects of interaction, the book develops an interaction-oriented view on visualization. This view comprises five key aspects: the data, the tasks, the technology, the human, and the implementation.
More
Book Visualization of Time-Oriented Data
Visualization of Time-Oriented Data
W. Aigner, S. Miksch, H. Schumann, C. Tominski, Springer, 2011
Time is an exceptional dimension. Understanding time-oriented data enables us to learn from the past in order to predict, plan, and build the future. Visualization of Time-Oriented Data addresses the distinct characteristics of time and presents appropriate visual and analytical methods to explore and analyze time-oriented data.
More

Teaching

Student Information

I provide advice for students on how to engage in student projects and theses in the "Student How To" guide. Reading it is highly recommended.

Courses
  • Bachelor Computer Science
    • Visualization Project
    • Visual Data Science
  • Computer Science for Natural Scientists
    • Introduction to Programming
    • Algorithms and Data Structures
Topics for Projects and Theses

MA = Master thesis, BA = Bachelor thesis, SP = Software project, LP = Literature project

  • VR Interaction for 3D Axes-Based VisualizationMA
  • Multi-layer Network VisualizationMA
  • Automatic Labeling for SVG VisualizationsMA
  • Labeling Zoomable Graph VisualizationsMA
  • WebGL Framework for Axes-based VisualizationMA
  • Visualization of JSON Schema EvaluationMA
  • Visualization of Distributed AlgorithmsMA
  • Sub-space Statistics for Guiding Data NavigationMA
  • Guidance for Graph Exploration on Small DisplaysMA
  • Metaphoric Visualization of Marine Data on Mobile DevicesBA, MA
  • Visualizing Model Provenance GraphsBA, MA
  • Multi-touch Framework for Dynamic Data GraphicsBA, MA
  • Utilizing the Floor in Immersive AnalyticsBA, in progress
  • Touch and pen interaction for Responsive Matrix CellsBA, MA
  • Precise Interactive Dual-handed Multi-touch Range SpecificationBA, MA
  • Labeling Choropleth MapsSP, BA
  • A Testbed for Off-screen VisualizationSP
  • 3D Wormplots for Immersive AnalyticsSP
  • Natural Language Interaction for Visual Data AnalysisMA, LP
  • Coping with Overplotting in Scatter PlotsLP
  • Multi-modal Interaction for VisualizationLP

Publications

Statistics
2024
  • D. Ceneda, C. Collins, M. El-Assady, S. Miksch, C. Tominski, and A. Arleo. A Heuristic Approach for Dual Expert/End-User Evaluation of Guidance in Visual Analytics. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, Vol. ?, No. ?, 2024.
2023
2022
  • I. Belkacem, C. Tominski, N. Médoc, S. Knudsen, R. Dachselt, and M. Ghoniem. Interactive Visualization on Large High-Resolution Displays: A Survey. arXiv:2212.04346 [cs.HC], CoRR, 2022.
  • P. Berger, H. Schumann, and C. Tominski. Towards Understanding Edit Histories of Multivariate Graphs. Proceedings of the EuroVis Workshop on Visual Analytics (EuroVA), Rome, Italy, Eurographics Association, 2022.
  • P. Berger, H. Schumann, and C. Tominski. Integrating Visual Exploration and Direct Editing of Multivariate Graphs. In: B. Kovalerchuk, K. Nazemi, R. Andonie, N. Datia, and E. Bannissi (ed.) Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Visualization for Visual Knowledge Discovery, Springer, ISBN: 978-3-030-93119-3, 2022.
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
  • G. Andrienko, N. Andrienko, U. Demšar, D. Dransch, J. Dykes, S. I. Fabrikant, M. Jern, M.-J. Kraak, H. Schumann, and C. Tominski. Space and Time. In: D. Keim, J. Kohlhammer, G. Ellis, and F. Mansmann (ed.) Mastering the Information Age – Solving Problems with Visual Analytics, Eurographics Association, ISBN: 9783905673777, 2010.
  • M. Spindler, C. Tominski, H. Schumann, and R. Dachselt. Tangible Views for Information Visualization. Proceedings of the ACM International Conference on Interactive Tabletops and Surfaces (ITS), Saarbrücken, Germany, ACM, 2010.
  • M. Spindler, C. Tominski, M. Hauschild, H. Schumann, and R. Dachselt. Novel Fields of Application for Tangible Displays above the Tabletop. Proceedings of the ACM International Conference on Interactive Tabletops and Surfaces (ITS), Saarbrücken, Germany, ACM, 2010.
  • M. Spindler, C. Tominski, H. Schumann, and R. Dachselt. Poster: Towards Making InfoVis Views Tangible. Poster at IEEE Conference on Information Visualization (InfoVis), Salt Lake City, USA, 2010.
  • G. Andrienko, N. Andrienko, U. Demšar, D. Dransch, J. Dykes, S. I. Fabrikant, M. Jern, M.-J. Kraak, H. Schumann, and C. Tominski. Space, Time and Visual Analytics. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, Vol. 24, No. 10, 2010.
  • S. Hadlak, C. Tominski, H.-J. Schulz, and H. Schumann. Visualization of Attributed Hierarchical Structures in a Spatio-Temporal Context. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, Vol. 24, No. 10, 2010.
  • S. Hadlak, C. Tominski, H.-J. Schulz, and H. Schumann. Visualization of Hierarchies in Space and Time. Workshop GeoVA(t) - Geospatial Visual Analytics: Focus on Time at the AGILE International Conference on Geographic Information Science, Guimarães, Portugal, 2010.
2009
2008
  • C. Tominski and H. Schumann. Enhanced Interactive Spiral Display. Proceedings of the Annual SIGRAD Conference, Special Theme: Interactivity, Stockholm, Sweden, Linköping University Electronic Press, 2008.
  • C. Tominski and H. Schumann. Visualization of Gene Combinations. Proceedings of the International Conference Information Visualisation (IV), London, UK, IEEE Computer Society, 2008.
  • C. Tominski, G. Fuchs, and H. Schumann. Task-Driven Color Coding. Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Visualisation (IV), London, UK, IEEE Computer Society, 2008.
  • C. Tominski, P. Schulze-Wollgast, and H. Schumann. Visual Methods for Analyzing Human Health Data. In: N. Wickramasinghe and E. Geisler (ed.) Encyclopedia of Healthcare Information Systems, Information Science Reference, ISBN: 9781599048895, 2008.
  • M. John, C. Tominski, and H. Schumann. Visual and Analytical Extensions for the Table Lens. Proceedings of Visualization and Data Analysis (VDA), San Jose, USA, SPIE/IS&T, 2008.
  • W. Aigner, S. Miksch, W. Müller, H. Schumann, and C. Tominski. Visual Methods for Analyzing Time-Oriented Data. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, Vol. 14, No. 1, 2008.
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003

Mentored Students

Statistics
2023
  • Norbert Paul S.: Nutzung des leeren Raums bei exozentrischen Visualisierungen abstrakter Daten in der virtuellen Realität, Bachelor's thesis
2022
  • Nils S.: Visual Exploration of Version Histories of Graphs, Bachelor's thesis
  • Hannes H.: Vergleichende Analyse von animierten Transitionen für die Graphvisualisierung, Masters's thesis
  • Sebastian B.: Lokale Dynamische Anpassung von Node-Link Layouts zur Hervorhebung von Features zwischen Knoten, Bachelor's thesis
  • Antonia D.: Handlungsempfehlungen für die visuelle Exploration von multi-skalen Datenräumen, Masters's thesis
2021
  • Joshua L.: Visuelle Hervorhebung in Netzwerkdiagrammen, Bachelor's thesis
  • Antonia D.: Neuronale Netze verstehen durch Visualisierung, Literature project
2020
  • Antonia G.: Visualisierung von Krankheitsausbreitungen, Bachelor's thesis
  • Paul L.: Guiding the Interactive Exploration of Large Ship Models, Bachelor's thesis
2018
  • Hannes H.: Flexible Layouts für Bring & Go, Bachelor's thesis
2017
  • Albrecht R.: Darstellung und Editierung von Transferfunktionen für die visuelle Exploration von 3D Retinadaten, Masters's thesis
  • Arne N.: Multi-touch Interaktion für die visuelle Exploration von Bewegungstrajektorien, Masters's thesis
  • Tim K.: An Interface for the Stereoscopic Visualization of Trajectories, Software project
2016
  • Albrecht R.: Guidance für Visualisierung, Literature project
  • Arne N.: Direkte Manipulation in Visualisierungstechniken, Literature project
  • Philipp A.: Interaktive Anfragen für Bewegungstrajektorien, Masters's thesis
  • Alexander B.: Offscreen Visualisierung, Software project
2015
  • Philipp A.: Extended Dynamic Temporal Queries, Software project
  • Xing W.: Gestures for Exploring and Querying Time-Oriented Data, Masters's thesis
  • Philipp A.: Spatio-Temporal Dynamic Queries, Literature project
2014
  • Geghetsik D.: Task-based Design of Axes-based Visualizations, Masters's thesis
  • Katja D.: Visualisierung der Eigenschaften von Gruppen, Masters's thesis
  • Anja G.: Erweiterte Farbkodierung für die Visualisierung, Studienarbeit
2013
  • Martin P.: Gestaltung und Implementierung der Nutzerschnittstelle von ScatterVis, Software project
  • Sven D.: Voronoi Diagram Editing and Visualization, Software project
  • Diana M.: Data Management for ScatterVis, Software project
  • Florian H.: Visualization with Scattered Data Interpolation, Software project
  • Geghetsik D.: Interaction Techniques for Navigating and Manipulating Visual Representations of Data, Literature project
  • Katja D.: Visualisierung von Mortalitätsdaten, Software project
  • Mikayel E.: Interactive Steering of Analytic Clustering, Masters's thesis
  • Benjamin S.: Text in der Visualisierung, Literature project
  • Benno W.: Touchinteraktion für die Exploration und Manipulation von Graphen, Masters's thesis
  • Benno W.: Multitouch Brushing in a Combined Parallel Coordinates and Scatter Plot, Software project
2012
  • Haykush A.: Interaction Models in Information Visualization, Literature project
  • Shushan B.: Optimized Sequence Queries, Software project
  • Christian E.: Feature-basierte Visualisierung der Next-Subvolume Methode, Masters's thesis
  • Stefan G.: Handlungsempfehlungen für die visuelle Exploration von Graphen, Masters's thesis
  • Benjamin S.: Multitouch Graph Editor, Software project
  • Benno W.: Visualisierung mit neuaritgen Anzeige- und Interaktionsgeräten, Literature project
2011
  • Anne-Katrin B.: Integration von Techniken der Informationsvisualisierung in freie Geobrowser, Diplomarbeit
  • Felix B.: Visualisierung in der Cloud, Literature project
  • Felix B.: Mehrfestervisualisierung im Browser, Software project
  • Christian E.: Effiziente Motivdetektion für die interaktive Analyse von Graphen, Bachelor's thesis
  • Thomas G.: Interaktive Exploration von Graphen in einer hochauflösenden Displayumgebung, Diplomarbeit
  • Stefan G.: Kantenbündelung in interaktiven und zoombaren Visualisierungsumgebungen, Bachelor's thesis
  • Inga W.: Unterstützung von Visualisierungszielen durch verschiedene Arten der Abbildung von Daten auf Farbe, Studienarbeit
2010
  • Anne-Katrin B.: Temporal Tag Clouds, Studienarbeit
  • Christian E.: Algorithmen zur Erkennung von Graphisomorphismen und deren Anwendung zur Motivdetektion, Literature recherche
  • Stefan G.: Verbesserung der Kantendarstellung in der Graphvisualisierung, Literature recherche
  • Martin H.: Analytische Datenabstraktion in mehreren Dimensionen, Diplomarbeit
  • Mike V.: Neue Interaktions- und Visualisierungskonzepte für Daten mit Raum- und Zeitbezug, Diplomarbeit
2009
  • Ulrike E.: Visualisierung von Sensordaten, Diplomarbeit
  • Daniel F.: Multidimensionale Zugriffsmethoden für interaktive Informationsvisualisierung, Studienarbeit
  • Martin H.: Integration von 2D und 3D Visualisierungen für Raum-Zeit-Daten, Studienarbeit
  • Anja K.: Rekursives Graphlayout, Diplomarbeit
  • Alexander S.: Web-basiertes visuelles Monitoring von JAMES II Simulationen, Diplomarbeit
  • Erik V.: Motivanalyse in Graphen, Diplomarbeit
  • Mike V.: Kantenbündelung für geclusterte Graphen im System CGV, Studienarbeit
2008
  • Géraldine H.: Konzeption und Implementierung eines Applets zur Illustration der Schritte des Contouring & Connecting Verfahrens, Studienarbeit
  • Tobias H.: Visuelle Techniken für Reguläre Ausdrücke, Diplomarbeit
  • Daniel S.: Visualisierung von zeitveränderlichen Graphen, Diplomarbeit
2007
  • Anne H.: Analyse und vergleichende Bewertung von Visualisierungstoolkits, Diplomarbeit
  • Christian S.: Entwurf einer nutzer- und aufgabenbezogenen visuellen Oberfläche zur Analyse des Gesichtschädelwachstums, Diplomarbeit
  • Frank S.: Ein allgemeiner Ansatz zur Durchführung von Nutzerstudien in der Visualisierung multivariater Daten, Diplomarbeit
  • Kishore V.: Intuitive Interactive Tools for Enhanced Color Spaces, Masters's thesis
  • Michael Z.: Arc Diagrams zur Visualisierung von Mustern in multivariaten Zeitreihen, Diplomarbeit
2006
  • Clemens H.: Visuelle Techniken zur Analyse von Microarraydaten, Diplomarbeit
  • Mathias J.: Two-Tone Pseudo Coloring für Multiparameterdaten, Diplomarbeit
  • Falko L.: Koordinierte Visualisierung zur Vergleichsunterstützung bei der visuellen Analyse zeitabhängiger Multiparameterdaten, Diplomarbeit
  • Falko L.: Einsatzmöglichkeiten visueller Anfragesprachen zur Spezifikation von Ereignissen sowie Konzeption und Realisierung eines visuellen Editors, Studienarbeit
  • Andreas R.: Analyse von Verkaufsdaten in der Umgebung von ticket-web, Diplomarbeit
  • Raphael S.: Ein Modell zur Beschreibung von Visualisierungszielen beim Einsatz von Farbkodierung zur Darstellung multivariater Daten, Diplomarbeit
  • Michael S.: Visuell gestützte Mustererkennung zur Identifikation und Klassifikation von Ozonlöchern, Diplomarbeit
  • Malte W.: Einsatzmöglichkeiten visueller Anfragesprachen zur Spezifikation von Ereignissen sowie Konzeption und Realisierung eines visuellen Editors, Studienarbeit
  • Michael Z.: Einsatzmöglichkeiten von SVG zur Informationsvisualisierung auf mobilen Endgeräten, Studienarbeit
2005
  • Jörg F.: Untersuchung der zeitlichen und räumlichen Ausbreitung von Diagnosen anhand der Maximumanalyse, Studienarbeit
  • Clemens H.: Achsenbasierte 3D-Techniken zur Visualisierung zeitabhängiger Daten, Studienarbeit
  • Raphael S.: Effektive Abbildung nominaler Daten auf numerische Skalen, Studienarbeit
2004
  • Michael Z.: Entwicklung eines Konzeptes zur angemessenen Beschriftung von Informationsobjekten, Bachelor's thesis

Software

Statistics

Projects

Research Travel

2023
  • Dagstuhl Seminar: Humans in the (Process) Mines, Dagstuhl, Germany
  • EuroVis, Leipzig, Germany
  • VCG Workshop, Aarhus/Mols Bjerge, Denmark
  • CHI, Hamburg, Germany
2022
  • Dagstuhl Seminar: Set Visualization and Uncertainty, Dagstuhl, Germany
  • VIS, Oklahoma, USA (online)
  • EuroVis, Rome, Italy (online)
  • Sino-European Workshop Series on Visualization (online)
2021
  • VIS, New Orleans, USA (online)
  • VMV, Dresden, Germany (online)
  • ACM VINCI, Potsdam, Germany (online)
  • Invited talk at Information+Visualization talk series at FH Potsdam, Germany (online)
  • EuroVis, Zurich, Switzerland (online)
  • IEEE VR, Lisboa, Portugal (online)

2020

  • VIS, Salt Lake City, USA (online)
  • MuC, Magdeburg, Germany (online)
  • GD, Vancouver, Canada (online)
  • EuroVis, Norrköping, Sweden (online)
  • Invited researcher at Interactive Media Lab Dresden, TU Dresden, Germany
  • Invited talk at Visual Computing Colloquium, Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Germany

2019

  • VIS, Vancouver, Canada
  • Dagstuhl Seminar: Mobile Data Visualization, Dagstuhl, Germany
  • Dagstuhl Seminar: Visual Analytics for Sets over Time and Space, Dagstuhl, Germany
  • Dagstuhl Seminar: Visual Analytics of Multilayer Networks Across Disciplines, Dagstuhl, Germany

2018

  • VIS, Berlin, Germany
  • EuroVis, Brno, Czech Republic

2017

  • EuroVis, Barcelona, Spain

2016

  • EuroVis, Groningen, The Netherlands

2015

2014

  • ITS, Dresden, Germany
  • VIS, Paris, France
  • EuroVis, Swansea, UK

2013

  • Dagstuhl Seminar: Interaction with Information for Visual Reasoning, Dagstuhl, Germany
  • EuroVis, Leipzig, Germany

2012

  • VisWeek, Seattle, USA
  • EuroVis, Vienna, Austria

2011

  • VisWeek, Providence, USA
  • IV, London, UK

2010

2009

  • VisWeek, Atlantic City, USA
  • IV, Barcelona, Spain
  • EuroVis, Berlin, Germany

2008

  • SIGRAD Conference, Stockholm, Sweden
  • IV, London, UK

2007

  • InfoVis, Sacramento, USA
  • Invited Scholar at DIMACS, Rutgers University, Piscataway, USA
  • IS&T/SPIE Annual Symposium Electronic Imaging, San Jose, USA

2006

  • InfoVis, Baltimore, USA
  • Data Mining Workshop and Research Visit at DIMACS, Rutgers University, Piscataway, USA

2005

  • Invited Scholar at DIMACS, Rutgers University, Piscataway, USA
  • IV, London, UK

2004

  • Eurographics, Grenoble, France
  • IV, London, UK
  • IRMA International Conference, New Orleans, USA
  • SAC, Nicosia, Cyprus

2003

  • HCI International, Hersonissos, Crete
  • IRMA International Conference, Philadelphia, USA
  • GeoVis, Hannover, Germany