Data Visualization

What is Data Visualization?

Data visualization offers ways to transform data into visual representations, allowing us to spot patterns and trends more easily. Data visualization is usually one of three types:

• Scientific visualization: these tend to be scientific data that is tied to real-world objects with spatial properties. For example, these visualizations include modeling air flow over an airplane. Scientific fields often have specific ways for doing these types of visualizations.
• Information visualization: these tend to be charts and graphs but also include other visual and spatial representations.
• Infographic: a specific sort of visualization that combines information visualization with narrative.

What is Data Visualization? by Centre of Teaching, Learning, and Technology, University of British Columbia. CC BY 3.0

Why Visualize?

Pictures or visualizations can say a lot more than words - some times what it says is unintended.  But proper visualization of data can provide insight, detect patterns, and can help readers understand your research better - if done well. This article describes different ways that data visualization can be used, the opportunities for future research, and how data visualization is taught.  

Why is Data Visualization Important? What is Important in Data Visualization by Anthony Urwin. CC BY 4.0