Data Visualization as a Tool for Communicating Ocean Science

Rob BochenekInformation Architect

Axiom Consulting & Design

Presentation Summaryo Explore why communicating ocean science data is difficult in a data rich world.Explore why communicating ocean science data is difficult in a data rich world.

o Review an example dataset and discuss communication issues.Review an example dataset and discuss communication issues.

o Example visualizations.Example visualizations.

o How does data visualization improve science communication for everyone?How does data visualization improve science communication for everyone?

o How an organization can prepare to rapidly and cost effectively visualize their data.How an organization can prepare to rapidly and cost effectively visualize their data.

Why is communicating ocean science data difficult?Why is communicating ocean science data difficult?

o Data is complex (measurements spread over space and time).Data is complex (measurements spread over space and time).o The amount of data being created is increasing with time.The amount of data being created is increasing with time.o Raw data is not very accessible to scientists (and even less accessible to the public).Raw data is not very accessible to scientists (and even less accessible to the public).o Summarized data in report form is condensed lacking granular access.Summarized data in report form is condensed lacking granular access.

Example Dataset: NOAA Mussel Contaminants Dataseto Data is a simple table describing samples for lingering oil in the PWS oil spill Data is a simple table describing samples for lingering oil in the PWS oil spill

affected area.affected area.o Multiple samples at multiple locations sampled through time.Multiple samples at multiple locations sampled through time.

Example Dataset: NOAA Mussel Contaminants Dataset

o Example graphic from the final report.Example graphic from the final report.o Graphs display contaminant data grouped into Graphs display contaminant data grouped into

“common name” to show change over time.“common name” to show change over time.

o No way to tell where sampling events took No way to tell where sampling events took

place. place.

Google EarthGoogle Eartho Google Earth Client is free and available.Google Earth Client is free and available.o Renders .kml or .kmz documents (very much like a word document).Renders .kml or .kmz documents (very much like a word document).o 4 Dimensional Visualization (x,y,z,t).4 Dimensional Visualization (x,y,z,t).o Can interact with the web but is not required.Can interact with the web but is not required.o Can create data mosaics (layers from multiple sources).Can create data mosaics (layers from multiple sources).

Website Based Data VisualizationWebsite Based Data Visualizationo 2 D (x,y).2 D (x,y).o Requires Web Server.Requires Web Server.o Systems include : google maps, open layers, mapserver.Systems include : google maps, open layers, mapserver.

How to be Prepared to Visualize your Datao Require investigators to create descriptive metadata during (NOT five years after) Require investigators to create descriptive metadata during (NOT five years after)

data collectiondata collectiono Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC)Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC)

o Send them to the Friday workshop with USGS on metadata.Send them to the Friday workshop with USGS on metadata.o Require data fields for latitude, longitude and time for data which has a Require data fields for latitude, longitude and time for data which has a

geospatial/temporal component (avoid the “Beaver Creek” ambiguity).geospatial/temporal component (avoid the “Beaver Creek” ambiguity).o Make sure images and other information acquired during data collection are Make sure images and other information acquired during data collection are

logically linked to sampling efforts.logically linked to sampling efforts.

GEODB

Data

StandardizationDocumentation

Programming

Visualizations