eOCS already offers comprehensive options for displaying static and dynamic content – from background and topographical maps to operations, operational resources and other object elements. This information provides a consistent situational picture, but in its traditional form remains tied to a specific point in time.

The ‘MUSIG’ research project adds a crucial dimension to this representation: time.
Map content can now be integrated as time-dependent layers, thereby enabling a continuous view of developments and changes.

A prerequisite for visualisation is the provision of the relevant data in a defined format. This data is integrated into eOCS as layers and can be specifically assigned to individual user roles.

When such a layer is activated, a time slider is automatically made available. This allows specific points in time to be selected and makes changes over time immediately visible. The map thus evolves from a static representation into a dynamic overview of the situation.

The Danube Island Festival in Vienna, which attracts around 2.5 million visitors, provides a clear example. The visualisation shows not only the current crowd density but also how it changes over the entire duration of the event.

Navigating through time reveals patterns: areas become congested, visitor flows shift, and pressure eases. Critical situations – such as locally increased crowd density – can be identified and assessed at an early stage.

The visualisation of time-dependent data opens up a wide range of applications. Wherever situations are constantly changing, this provides significant added value. Examples include:

• Changes in water levels in flood-prone areas
• The spread of hazardous substances in industrial facilities
• Movement patterns at gatherings or demonstrations

By placing events in a temporal context, developments become not only visible but also interpretable.

Time-lapse view of the situation.