3D software helps curb data overload.

Modern technology has created the opportunity to access information rapidly on a myriad of subjects, often resulting in the generation of hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of pieces of data. In many instances, the abundance and variety can be overwhelming for decision-makers.

Starlight, an advanced three-dimensional visualization technology, has been developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash., to help solve the problem of information overload. Already in use by the U.S. intelligence community, it can be applied to a variety of other fields, such as medical data analysis, environmental security, and monitoring current events.

"Advanced data sources and rapid communication technologies generate massive collections of information rich with facts. However, such an information overload can hide critical details and subtle relationships that are integral to effectively interpreting the data," notes Randy Woodson, Pacific Northwest program manager. "Starlight provides an easy-to-use interactive tool for exploring and integrating data needed for effective decision-making. For example, an organization like the Centers for Disease Control could use Starlight to help assess potential public health effects that may result from global warming. Starlight could enable CDC analysts to search and interpret massive and diverse amounts of information on global warming trends."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could use the technology in its comparison of the compliance of Superfund sites to environmental regulations. There currently are 1,200 designated...