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Module 1: Importance of Data Visualization - �History, Future Trends and Methods��

Based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation grants DUE ATE 1304591, 1644409 and 1700496. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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Understanding Geospatial Data

How easy is it to compare the population density (individuals per sq. mile) for all 50 US states using only a spreadsheet?

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Visualizing Data Geospatially

Comparing population density for each state geospatially. Which is easier to interpret – a table of data or a map?

Each polygon feature (state) is symbolized by a graduated color based on an attribute (column) in its database for its population density

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Learning Objectives

Explain the importance of data visualization to effectively communicate GEOINT information
Describe different visualization methods that can be used for GEOINT data visualization
Summarize how cartography has evolved over time from paper maps to online, interactive visualizations
Explain why it is important to use good cartographic design principles to create maps that meet need of the audience for the map

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One Picture is Worth a Thousand Words*

This phrase in various versions suggests why visualizing data geospatially (as a map) is easier to understand and share then just text
Visualization – Displaying Geospatial Data

As maps, charts, and other graphic elements help the intended audience understand and use the information

Understanding how to present the data using good cartographic design for the intended audience in an appropriate format is vital

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_picture_is_worth_a_thousand_words

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Geospatial Intelligence – GEOINT Map Questions

What exists at a certain location?
What is happening at a location?
What has changed in a location over time?
What spatial patterns exist?
Why is it there?
What if this condition occurred at another place? (modeling, hypothesis testing)

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Maps – Activity 1

Maps help us see patterns created when data is displayed by its geographic location
Watch the “25 Maps that will change the way you see the world” on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXB1Z_CxBK0

The 25 maps quickly tell a story using shapes (points, lines and areas), a map projection, text and colors appropriate for the viewer of a web map to quickly get an understanding about the topic of the map

Do the maps include all the elements of a traditional map?

Do the maps meet the needs of the intended audience?

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Earliest Map Examples

Abauntz Lamizulo Rock Map, Spain

Found in a cave in Northern Spain
c 14,000 BCE years old
“Corresponds exactly to the surrounding geography“

http://www.oldest.org/geography/maps/

Lascaux Cave, France

Found in a cave
c 17,000 BCE years old

Author: Francesco Bandarin: http://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/108425

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Dr. John Snow’s

London Street Map – The Cholera Outbreak of 1854

Before Computers – Geospatial Data Visualization

Author Steven Johnson takes us on a 10-minute tour of The Ghost Map

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvHL0dHj3RM

Wisdom of the Map!

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Internet and Web - easier access to data, data sharing and publishing
Desktop computers become more powerful and less expensive allowing more users access to geospatial technology software for analysis
Global Positioning Systems (GPS/GNSS) provide more accurate location data
Satellite and airborne imagery (higher resolution, multi and hyper spectral and Lidar) data are available, but difficult to manage

Late 1980’s to early 2000 – Technology Advances

For centuries, maps where hand drawn documents carefully copied on hardcopy materials such as clays, papyrus, hides, and other surfaces. Data and data sharing was often difficult with the need to hand copy tables and charts. Maps were closely held and guarded as valuable resources for defense by most governments. Data access and sharing while difficult, was also costly with 80% of program development due to acquiring the needed data. Data gathering become easier and for most data collectors that were not licensed surveyors, location accuracy increased. Things changed radically in the US with the introduction of digital data sharing via the Internet. Also computer hardware and printers made map reproduction less costly and easier and quality improved with the ability to produce copies in color with good resolution. In addition, more imagery became available at high resolution, but cost for most projects continued to be prohibitive. Also size of data sets needed more powerful servers and computing so was more difficult to manage and costly.

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Data storage and retrieval systems able to handle large datasets

Geospatial data servers and portals
Adoption of more “standard” data formats
Cloud based technology and data portals

More remote sensing data available with software and hardware capable of analysis
Open-Source GIS platforms,

Quantum GIS (QGIS), GAIA, uDig

Browser-based Applications – ArcGIS Online, Google Earth
Crowd sourcing (Volunteer Geographic Information) for data creation
Sensor webs
New platforms for data collection (Drones)

2010 to Present - a push towards

Technology continued to improve and costs for hardware, software and data access and management continued to decrease. Landsat imagery became free which radically changed the ability of colleges and industry to access and use imagery. With Landsat archives going back to 1972, change detection become easier. Cloud-based computing and data storage helped manage large data sets. New sources of data were also developed and access easier using web-based portals. Browser based software made simple data visualization possible with Google Earth and ArcGIS Online helping to introduce more disciplines and workforce domains to geospatial analysis. Sensors and sensor webs provided real-time data feeds of air quality, river and stream gauges, traffic flows and many others made it possible to monitory situations in real time. Unmanned aerial devices improved with sensors that could not just photograph a location but collect lidar and multispectral data at high resolution with the possibility of repeating collections more frequently.

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Map Design and Data Visualization

Ultimately, the map is what distinguishes geospatial technology as a different approach to the management and analysis of information
Poorly made maps (and even well-made maps) can accidentally or intentionally miscommunicate information

Complex maps can be difficult to understand
Maps can be created to provide misinformation

How to Lie With Maps by Mark Monmonier is an interesting read on this topic!http://www.amazon.com/How-Lie-Maps-2nd-Edition/dp/0226534219

When a map is the result of a complex analytical or modeling process, good design for the intended audience is essential!

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Cartography and Cartographic Design

Cartography is an art based on science
Digital cartography is also art based on science, but using technology
Traditional cartography used for Atlases, Road Maps, and other thematic maps use design elements that helps viewers understand the content.

Some element are:

Scale bars, legends, north arrows, neat lines, inset maps, information about the projection used and date of creation and updates

Maps should use “appropriate” cartographic design principles for the intended audience for the specific output (hardcopy or digital)!

And MAY or MAY NOT use traditional cartographic elements

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Activity 2 – The Power of Geospatial Intelligence - GEOINT

Watch the Video - The Power of Geospatial Intelligence? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yezZ0cX4pw4
Discuss how and why geospatial data visualization is used by the GEOINT community

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The World Into a Flat Map

First we need to provide a way to specify locations on a sphere

Second we want to have locations of features not just on any sphere but on the Earth

Finally, we need to project the locations on to a flat surface using its Datum and Geographic Coordinate System

Note the “wrinkles” as the globe deflates
map projections smooth out the wrinkles but create other distortions

http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2010/11/choosing-a-globe-for-your-home-school/

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Designing an Affective Map

Based on the need of the audience for the map, these criteria need to be determined:

Colors
Fonts
Symbols
Features to include – the fewest to tell the story
Map Scale (small, medium or large scale)
Map Projection (are areas, direction, or shape of features most important)
Cartographic elements needed to help the audience understand the story

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2D: Reference Maps

The family of maps that are used to locate features on the surface of the Earth.
Geographic features and map elements on a reference map tend to be treated and represented equally.
The accuracy of a given reference map is critical to many users.

Local governments need accurate reference maps for land use, zoning, and tax purposes.
National governments need accurate reference maps for political, infrastructure, and military purposes.

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2D: Thematic Maps

The family of maps that are about a particular topic or theme
More concerned with how things are distributed across space
Strength - It can make such abstract and invisible concepts visible and comparable on a map
Reference and thematic maps are not mutually exclusive

When used in conjunction, thematic and reference maps often complement each other

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Some Limitations of Paper Maps

Fixed scale
Fixed extent
Static view
Quickly out of date
Flat and hence limited generally to 2D visualization
Map producer-centric
But still have value

They can be folded and fit in a pocket and if the power goes out or GPS malfunctions, having a paper map can be life saving!

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Modern Mapping Technology �Visualization 3D and 4D

Today, mapping is done via computer applications, hosted online and sometimes interactive.

For example: This 3D map of sea surface temperature where the surface is specified by X, Y, and Z with change over time the 4^th D

Play video http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/map/clim/sst.anim.week.html

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Interactive Map Using Sensor Data

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/

This USGS site lists earthquakes collected by seismic sensors and displays them on simple maps. There are options for users to select dates, magnitudes, and regions of interest as well as change the type of base map.

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Central Monitoring of Data Feeds and Sharing

Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Center

http://www.bom.gov.au/tsunami/

This is the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Center in Canberra, Australia. The Center monitors data from seismic sensors globally. Data includes magnitude, latitude and longitude, depth and other data needed to locate the earthquake, determine is size and possible related faults and determine the type of movement along the fracture plane. Other factors are reviewed such as where the quake occurred, that is, in the ocean or on land. Large earthquakes under the ocean have the potential of generating tsunamis. These tsunami waves travel at hundreds of miles an hour and when they reach a land, can cause extensive damage, injury and death. The Center, when it detects a potential tsunami generating earthquakes sends out warnings to regions at potential risk includes estimates of size and arrival time.

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Visualization - Not just a pretty Map!

Analysis for investigating:

Weather
Natural Disasters

Floods, fires, landslides, volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes

Man Caused Disasters
Many more GEOINT scenarios!

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Preplanning, response and recovery

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Conclusions

Cartography is both an art and a science
Maps are fundamental to data visualization for GEOINT projects
Modern advances in cartography make it easy to produce good and bad maps
New technology and especially the Internet has changed the content and techniques of digital cartography
Additional modules in this course will help you evaluate and create effective maps and other graphics appropriate for the GEOINT community