  We present a visual analytics tool, based on the VisIVO suite, to exploit a
combination of all new-generation surveys of the Galactic Plane to study the
star formation process of the Milky Way. The tool has been developed within the
VIALACTEA project, founded by the 7th Framework Programme of the European
Union, that creates a common forum for the major new-generation surveys of the
Milky Way Galactic Plane from the near infrared to the radio, both in thermal
continuum and molecular lines. Massive volumes of data are produced by space
missions and ground-based facilities and the ability to collect and store them
is increasing at a higher pace than the ability to analyze them. This gap leads
to new challenges in the analysis pipeline to discover information contained in
the data. Visual analytics focuses on handling these massive, heterogeneous,
and dynamic volumes of information accessing the data previously processed by
data mining algorithms and advanced analysis techniques with highly interactive
visual interfaces offering scientists the opportunity for in-depth
understanding of massive, noisy, and high-dimensional data.
