Lin Hsin Hsin Intelligence Center





DATA VISUALIZATION
by Lin Hsin Hsin
is

    Data visualization

    is a graphic representation of data used to communicate information clearly and efficiently through graphical means by deploying various tools and methods. It uses information graphics, statistical graphics such as plots, dots and charts as well as data analytics to present sparse and complex data sets.


    The Representation


    In data visualization, numerical data or even character strings may be encoded using visual objects such as dots, lines, or bars, denoted by color, size, shape, thickness, density, and links without or with one or more axes to:


    ☀ visually communicate a quantitative message in their interconnectivities
    ☀ meaningfully convey information at a single instance or over a period of time
    ☀ptimizes visual communication and knowledge about datasets


    Benefits


    ☀ Discloses data at several levels of details: from macroscopic to microscopic views
    ☀ Provides concise representation of plot perception of information
    ☀ Provides categorization of data visually
    ☀ Provides comparative studies of data @ one glance
    ☀ Provides a comprehensive measurable interrelationship of data
    ☀ Presents information in a structured manner
    ☀ Creates user awareness
    ☀ Stimulates viewer engagement
    ☀ Provides Interaction between user and data in real time


    Categories of Data Visualization Graphs


    There are 5 main categories of Data Visualization Graphs


    Temporal


    One Dimensional Plots


        ☀ Scatter plot
        ☀ Polar area diagram
        ☀ Time series sequence
        ☀ Timelines Line graph


    Multidimensional


    2 or more variables  to create a 3D data graphs

        ☀ Scatter plot
        ☀ Pie chart
        ☀ Bubble chart
        ☀ Venn diagram
        ☀ Voronoi Diagram
        ☀ Stacked bar graph
        ☀ Histogram



    Hierarchical


    A single origin, displays cluster information


        ☀ Tree diagram
        ☀ Ring chart
        ☀ Sunburst diagram



    Geospatial:


    Physical locations, overlay on maps with different data points


        ☀ Flow map
        ☀ Sankey diagram
        ☀ Density map
        ☀ Cartogram
        ☀ Choropleth
        ☀ Heat map



    Network


    Display relationships between datasets without words


        ☀ Word cloud
        ☀ Hive plot
        ☀ Alluvial diagram
        ☀ Matrix chart
        ☀ Chord diagram
        ☀ Node-link diagram
          - Cladogram
          - Dendrogram
          - Force-Directed Graph



    Skills, Tools & Methods


    With a huge arsenal of maps, graphs, and charts tools available, there is the great opportunity to create device and/or platform agnostic graphs that can pan, zoom and resize in static state or interactively. Be it commercially available software or open source, it is the science of numbers that seeks to: