Visualize Space Time Cube in 3D (Space Time Pattern Mining)

Summary

Visualizes the variables stored in a netCDF cube created with the Space Time Pattern Mining tools. Output from this tool is a three-dimensional representation uniquely rendered based on the variable and theme specified.

Illustration

Visualize Space Time Cube in 3D tool illustration

Usage

  • This tool only accepts netCDF files created by the Create Space Time Cube By Aggregating Points or Create Space Time Cube From Defined Locations tool.

  • The Value theme allows you to see the raw numbers associated with aggregation or creation of the cube.

  • If the Emerging Hot Spot Analysis tool was run on a particular variable, the Hot and cold spot results theme will be available. This theme shows the statistical significance of each bin based on the space-time hot spot analysis run in Emerging Hot Spot Analysis .

  • If the Local Outlier Analysis tool was run on a particular variable, the Cluster and outlier results theme will be available. This theme shows the result type assigned to each statistically significant bin based on the analysis run in Local Outlier Analysis.

  • If a Time Series Forecasting tool was run on a particular variable, the Forecast results theme will be available. This theme shows the time series at each location along with forecasted time steps. The fitted values for each time step are saved as a separate field. For cubes created by the Forest-based Forecast or Exponential Smoothing Forecast tool, the upper and lower bounds of the confidence intervals are saved as separate fields. Additionally, cubes created by the Exponential Smoothing Forecast tool have their level, trend, and seasonal components saved as separate fields. These attributes can be displayed in a map with symbology.

    If the Outlier Option parameter in the Time Series Forecasting tools was specified, the Time series outlier results theme will also be available.

  • If the Change Point Detection tool was run on a particular variable, the Time series change points theme will be available. This theme shows whether each time step is a change point along with estimates of the mean or standard deviation for the current and previous time step.

  • For cubes that were created with the Create Space Time Cube From Defined Locations tool and aggregated temporally, the Temporal aggregation count theme will be available to visualize the count of records aggregated into each space-time bin.

  • Time-series charts are created as part of the output of this tool. If the Display Theme parameter is Hot and cold spot results, the z-scores are plotted over time for each location. For all other display themes, the value of the Cube Variable parameter is charted over time for each location. These charts will be added to the Contents pane under the output feature class.

  • If Summary Fields or Variables values were aggregated, you can visualize the Estimated bins values to see which bins were estimated based on the specifications in Create Space Time Cube By Aggregating Points or Create Space Time Cube From Defined Locations.

  • Because time is used as the vertical axis in visualizing the space-time cube, all locations on the ground must be at the same elevation for accurate interpretation. This way, all time-step intervals start at the same base. To do this, turn off any Ground layers that appear in the Elevation Surfaces group in the Contents pane. This turns off the default elevation services.

    Note:
    The next time a New Scene value is added, the default surfaces will populate again.

  • If the data is not drawing, clear the visibility range limits by selecting the new layer in the Contents pane, clicking the Appearance tab, and clicking the Clear Limits button.

  • The output of this tool is symbolized with cube-shaped point symbols representing each bin in the cube. If your cube was created from defined locations, it is a best practice to add a 2D representation of your polygons to the Scene value for perspective.

  • The space-time cube can also be visualized in 3D using the Space Time Cube Explorer Add-in.

  • To maintain temporal precision, shapefile output is not recommended as it cannot store both date and time in the same field. This is particularly important when visualizing the results in 3D and using the time slider to explore the results. Temporal precision can only be achieved when storing data in a geodatabase.

  • For in-depth information about each of the Display Theme parameter options, including descriptions of the output and charts, see the Visualization display themes for the space-time cube topic.

Parameters

LabelExplanationData Type
Input Space Time Cube

The netCDF cube that contains the variable to be displayed. This file must have an .nc extension and must have been created using either the Create Space Time Cube By Aggregating Points or Create Space Time Cube From Defined Locations tool.

File
Cube Variable

The numeric variable in the netCDF cube that will be explored. The space-time cube will always contain the COUNT variable if aggregation was used when creating the cube. Any summary fields or variables will also be available if they were included when the cube was created.

String
Display Theme

Specifies the characteristic of the Cube Variable parameter to be displayed. Options will vary depending on how the cube was created and the analyses that were run.

Value is the numeric value of the Cube Variable parameter and is always available. Estimated bins values are only available for the summary fields that were included when the cube was created. Hot and cold spot results values will only be available for the Cube Variable parameter value for which Emerging Hot Spot Analysis has been run. Cluster and outlier results values will only be available for Cube Variable values for which Local Outlier Analysis has been run. Temporal aggregation count values will only be available for defined location cubes that have been aggregated temporally. Forecast results values will only be available for the Cube Variable parameter value for which a Time Series Forecasting tool has been run. Time series outlier results values will only be available when the Outlier Option parameter has been set for a tool in the the Time Series Forecasting toolset. Time series change points values will only be available for Cube Variable values for which Change Point Detection has been run.

For in-depth information about each option, including descriptions of the output and created charts, see the Visualization display themes for the space-time cube topic.

  • ValueThe numeric value of the Cube Variable parameter will be displayed.
  • Hot and cold spot resultsThe statistical significance of each bin will be displayed based on the space-time hot spot analysis run in Emerging Hot Spot Analysis.
  • Estimated binsBins with estimated values will be displayed.
  • Cluster and outlier resultsThe cluster or outlier type (COType) for each bin determined by Local Outlier Analysis will be displayed.
  • Temporal aggregation countThe count of records aggregated into each space-time bin will be displayed.
  • Forecast resultsThe input time steps and the resulting forecasted values from the Time Series Forecasting tools will be displayed.
  • Time series outlier resultsThe results of the Outlier Option parameter in the Time Series Forecasting tools will be displayed.
  • Time series change pointsThe results of the Change Point Detection tool will be displayed. The output will contain fields indicating whether each time step is a change point along with estimates of the mean or standard deviation for the current and previous time step.
String
Output Features

The output feature class results. This feature class will be a three-dimensional map representation of the display variable that can be displayed in a 3D scene.

Feature Class

arcpy.stpm.VisualizeSpaceTimeCube3D(in_cube, cube_variable, display_theme, output_features)
NameExplanationData Type
in_cube

The netCDF cube that contains the variable to be displayed. This file must have an .nc extension and must have been created using either the Create Space Time Cube By Aggregating Points or Create Space Time Cube From Defined Locations tool.

File
cube_variable

The numeric variable in the netCDF cube that will be explored. The space-time cube will always contain the COUNT variable if aggregation was used when creating the cube. Any summary fields or variables will also be available if they were included when the cube was created.

String
display_theme

Specifies the characteristic of the Cube Variable parameter to be displayed. Options will vary depending on how the cube was created and the analyses that were run.

  • VALUEThe numeric value of the Cube Variable parameter will be displayed.
  • HOT_AND_COLD_SPOT_RESULTSThe statistical significance of each bin will be displayed based on the space-time hot spot analysis run in Emerging Hot Spot Analysis.
  • ESTIMATED_BINSBins with estimated values will be displayed.
  • LOCAL_OUTLIER_RESULTSThe cluster or outlier type (COType) for each bin determined by Local Outlier Analysis will be displayed.
  • TEMPORAL_AGGREGATION_COUNTThe count of records aggregated into each space-time bin will be displayed.
  • FORECAST_RESULTSThe input time steps and the resulting forecasted values from the Time Series Forecasting tools will be displayed.
  • TIME_SERIES_OUTLIER_RESULTSThe results of the Outlier Option parameter in the Time Series Forecasting tools will be displayed.
  • TIME_SERIES_CHANGE_POINTSThe results of the Change Point Detection tool will be displayed. The output will contain fields indicating whether each time step is a change point along with estimates of the mean or standard deviation for the current and previous time step.

Value is the numeric value of the Cube Variable parameter and is always available. Estimated bins values are only available for the summary fields that were included when the cube was created. Hot and cold spot results values will only be available for the Cube Variable parameter value for which Emerging Hot Spot Analysis has been run. Cluster and outlier results values will only be available for Cube Variable values for which Local Outlier Analysis has been run. Temporal aggregation count values will only be available for defined location cubes that have been aggregated temporally. Forecast results values will only be available for the Cube Variable parameter value for which a Time Series Forecasting tool has been run. Time series outlier results values will only be available when the Outlier Option parameter has been set for a tool in the the Time Series Forecasting toolset. Time series change points values will only be available for Cube Variable values for which Change Point Detection has been run.

For in-depth information about each option, including descriptions of the output and created charts, see the Visualization display themes for the space-time cube topic.

String
output_features

The output feature class results. This feature class will be a three-dimensional map representation of the display variable that can be displayed in a 3D scene.

Feature Class

Code sample

VisualizeSpaceTimeCube3D example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the VisualizeSpaceTimeCube3D function.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = r"C:\STPM"
arcpy.VisualizeSpaceTimeCube3D_stpm("Homicides.nc", "COUNT", 
                                    "HOT_AND_COLD_SPOT_RESULTS", 
                                    "Homicides_Count_HS.shp")
VisualizeSpaceTimeCube3D example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone Python script demonstrates how to use the VisualizeSpaceTimeCube3D function.

# Display Space Time Cube of homicide incidents in a metropolitan area

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set geoprocessor object property to overwrite existing output, by default
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True

# Local variables...
workspace = r"C:\STPM"

arcpy.env.workspace = workspace

# Display Space Time Cube of homicide with the hot and cold spots with crime 
# counts.
# Process: Visualize Space Time Cube in 3D 
cube = arcpy.VisualizeSpaceTimeCube3D_stpm("Homicides.nc", "COUNT", 
                                           "HOT_AND_COLD_SPOT_RESULTS", 
                                           "Homicides_Count_HS.shp")

Licensing information

  • Basic: Yes
  • Standard: Yes
  • Advanced: Yes

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