Linking simulation and visualization construction through interactions with an ontology visualization

An ontology is a formalized knowledge structure understandable by humans and machines. Positioned within the interface layer, domain-specific ontologies can afford simulation model building and visualization construction. Such an ontology-enabled interface would allow modelers to interact with the semantics they are already familiar with, due to their field-specific education and training, in order to build executable simulation models. We present a methodology in which ontology visualizations serve as interface to simulation model building and visualization construction activities. Further, we describe how the ontology can be used to link simulation variables to visualization parameters, thus supporting integrative multi-modeling by allowing simulations and their corresponding visualizations to be constructed within the same interface and interaction paradigm. To demonstrate the ontology-enabled interface, we present a case study: a physiological simulation of hypovolemic shock and its corresponding three-dimensional (3D) visualization.