A brief introduction to data visualisation principles which was presented at the Visualising Climate Change event, May 2014, Bedruthan Steps Hotel, Cornwall, UK.

1. Dr Will Stahl-Timmins
20 May 2014
DATA VISUALISATION
a brief introduction and practical workshop

2. Session outline
15:30 Intro presentation
15:50 Workshop briefing
With Liane Bradbrook & Kim Dowsett, UK Environment Agency
16:10 Design workshop
17:40 Group feedback
18:00 Close

6. data visualisation

7. charts / graphs
7%
8%
10%
11%
29%
35%
0
25
50
75
100
2007 2008 2009 2010
0
25
50
75
100
2007 2008 2009 2010

8. charts / graphs

9. charts / graphs
William Playfair
(1759–1823)

10. maps / data maps

11. diagrams

12. information graphics

13. tower graphics

14. tower graphics
http://www.angelamorelli.com/water/
Angela Morelli

15. infographics

16. motion graphics

17. motion graphics
Röysopp - Remind Me (Music video)

18. interactives

19. physical graphics (data sculpture)

23. 6 mins
3 mins
RISK GROUP 1:
STORMS & FLOODS
RISK GROUP 2:
AIR QUALITY
mean view
time (log10)
a b
KEY MEAN
& 95% CI
ANOVA
SIGNIFICANT
(P < 0.05)
ANOVA NOT
SIGNIFICANT
(P > 0.05)
CONTROL
CONDITION
TEXT
CONDITION
GRAPHIC
CONDITION

24. 80%
70%
60%
RISK GROUP 1:
STORMS & FLOODS
RISK GROUP 2:
AIR QUALITY
d
mean
knowledge
KEY MEAN
& 95% CI
ANOVA
SIGNIFICANT
(P < 0.05)
ANOVA NOT
SIGNIFICANT
(P > 0.05)
CONTROL
CONDITION
TEXT
CONDITION
GRAPHIC
CONDITION

25. 28
21
14
RISK GROUP 1:
STORMS & FLOODS
RISK GROUP 2:
AIR QUALITY
mean risk
perception
KEY MEAN
& 95% CI
ANOVA
SIGNIFICANT
(P < 0.05)
ANOVA NOT
SIGNIFICANT
(P > 0.05)
CONTROL
CONDITION
TEXT
CONDITION
GRAPHIC
CONDITION

26. control graphictext
Mean knowledge
80%
70%
60%
50%
Error Bars: 95% CI
18-27
28-37
38-47
48-57
58-67
68-77
18-27
28-37
38-47
48-57
58-67
68-77
18-27
28-37
38-47
48-57
58-67
68-77
Age
group:

27. remember the needs of your audience

28. the simplest way to ensure a
visualisation is appropriate for a
particular audience is to test it

29. elements
data display:

30. 1 3 7 2

31. 1 3 7 2

32. 1 3 7 2
50px
150px
350px
100px

33. 1 3 7 2
50px
150px
350px
100px
the 1D size element

35. 1 3 7 2

36. 1 3 7 2
area =
2500px2
area =
7500px2
area =
17500px2
area =
5000px2

37. 1 3 7 2
area =
2500px2
area =
7500px2
area =
17500px2
area =
5000px2
the area element

39. 1 3 7 2
the count element

40. virtualwater.eu

42. 1 3 7 2

43. 1 3 7 2
0
10

44. 1 3 7 2
0
10
red =
green =
blue =
255
231
0
red =
green =
blue =
255
177
0
red =
green =
blue =
255
68
0
red =
green =
blue =
255
205
0
red =
green =
blue =
255
0
0
red =
green =
blue =
255
255
0

45. 1 3 7 2
0
10
red =
green =
blue =
255
231
0
red =
green =
blue =
255
177
0
red =
green =
blue =
255
68
0
red =
green =
blue =
255
205
0
red =
green =
blue =
255
0
0
the colour element

47. 1 3 7 2
4 6 1 2

48. 1 3 7 2
4 6 1 2
0
10

49. 1 3 7 2
4 6 1 2
0
10
2 4 2 1

50. 1 3 7 2
4 6 1 2
2 4 2 1
0
10
1
2
3
4

51. Gapminder - Hans Rosling

52. plus text, images, other things…

53. nitude:
ble charts), symbols (Isotype diagram).
Spatial data:
maps (but also consider if
category is more important
than physical location).
rchy:
Pragmatic Emotive Other
Print
ed data displays
Delivery
Screen
Physical
s)
Desktop
Mobile
Tablet
Size 1D (e.g. bar chart)
2D (area)
3D (volume)
Position 1D (e.g. means plot)
2D (e.g. scatter plot)
3D (e.g. 3D scatter)
Data display elements
Colour Categorical
Contiuous (colour scale)
Pictorial Symbol / illustration
Photograph
Grouping Link lines
Enclosure
Highlighting
Motion Animation (position, scale etc)
Video
Interaction User controls display
User Provides data
Other

54. production methods

55. 1. Use standard graph tools
2. Use existing specialist data
visualisation tools
3. Do it by hand
4. Develop new specialist data
visualisation tools
5. Work with a professional
information designer

56. Software:
Illustrator
InDesign
Presentation software
!
Premiere
Flash
!
Processing / D3
PhP / HTML5
Other programming languages
Stills
{
Motion}
Interactive
{

57. Stan’s Cafe: stanscafe.co.uk

58. Data visualisation workshop

60. The Environment Agency,
evidence
and infographics…
Name Liane Bradbrook,
Job Title Evidence Advisor
Date May 2014
!
email liane.bradbrook@environment-agency.gov.uk

61. We are the Environment Agency
We are an Executive Non-departmental Public Body responsible to
the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
We protect and improve the environment and make it a better place
for people and wildlife.
We operate at the place where environmental change has its greatest
impact on people’s lives. We reduce the risks to people and
properties from flooding; make sure there is enough water for people
and wildlife; protect and improve air, land and water quality and
apply the environmental standards within which industry can operate.
Acting to reduce climate change and helping people and wildlife
adapt to its consequences are at the heart of all that we do.
We cannot do this alone. We work closely with a wide range of
partners including government, business, local authorities, other
agencies, civil society groups and the communities we serve.

62. The Environment Agency

63. Our funding
Government provides 62 per cent of our funding.
The remainder comes from charging schemes such
as environmental permits, rod licences and boat fee’s.
We spend around 55 per cent of our income on flood
and coastal risk management
28 per cent on environmental protection
12 per cent on safeguarding water resources and 5
percent on fisheries, conservation and navigation.

64. What does Evidence do?
Research
Communities and Flooding
Climate Change and
Resource Efficiency
Air, Land and Water
Chemical Assessment Unit
(UK environmental hazard & risk
assessment expertise on behalf of
Defra)
Data,
Mapping,
Modelling &
Information
Statistics
Modelling
Directives Reporting
Data Standards
Data Sharing & Access
Data Management
Data Integrity
Commercial Licensing
Monitoring,
Analysis &
Innovation
Monitoring Strategy
Risk and Forecasting
Innovation
Catchment Sensitive
Farming
Also: Economics, Social Science, Strategic Environmental
Planning, Integrated Assessment, Partnerships and Engagement,
Publishing and Support Services

65. 7
Our approach to visualisation
Complex datasets &/or Visualisation for
analysis
Narrative lead infographic products for
engagement, more complex
information. Some commissioned.
Developing in-house skills and
capabilty, tackling non standard and
custom graphics. Supporting
incident response
Beyond excel standard
outputs, Improving basic
skills, making use of what we
have: Powerpoint
Wherewehavegotto
Strategy: Developing skills, interest and demand

66. 8
Developing skills: thinking visually - infographic CV’s

67. Think Powerpoint is just for bullet points?
9

68. 10

69. 11

70. Climate Change and Resource Efficiency
!
Kim Dowsett, CCRE Team.
!
Kim. Dowsett@environment-agency.gov.uk

71. Act to reduce
climate change
and its
consequences
We help England and Wales
meet greenhouse gas
emissions targets in ways
that minimise other
environmental impacts
We help people and wildlife
adapt to climate change and
reduce its adverse impacts
We put reducing and
adapting to climate change
at the heart of everything we
do

72. EA’s role in mitigation
Regulator of greenhouse gas
emissions
Regulator of low carbon
technologies
Deployment of low carbon
infrastructure
Mitigation – reducing our greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency,
reduced energy demand and renewable energy.

73. EA’s role in adaptation
Adaptation action plans exist for all
our functions
We embed adaptation in Agency
roles and functions in particular
flood risk, water resources and
biodiversity
Help others to adapt through the
Climate Ready support service
Adaptation - preparing for the unavoidable impacts of climate change

75. The challenges
1. Catchment visualisation tool
2. Displaying sea level rise projections
3. Displaying future flows information
4. Displaying climate projections for a particular geographical location
5. Communicating risk
6. What does an adapted business look like?
7. Business & Supply Chains
8. Habitat impacted by coastal squeeze and habitat creation targets?
9. Extreme weather events timeline
10. Financial impacts of climate/weather on the economy
11. Food security
12. How local authorities can adapt to changes in climate