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Data Visualization and GIS

A collection of tools and resources for visualizing data with charts, infographics, maps and more!

The Basics

What is data visualization?

Data visualization is the graphical representation of information and data.

By using visual elements like charts, graphs, and maps, data visualization tools provide an accessible way to see and understand trends, outliers, and patterns in data and research.

Why is data visualization important?

Visualizations help people see, interact with, and better understand data. The right visualization can make a dense datasets or complex research more digestible, actionable, and shareable. With that, data visualizations can also present biased or inaccurate information, imply that a correlation is a causation, or incorrectly translate the core message of a research study. Being a critical reader and creator of data visuals, will help you better understand the nuances of data-heavy research, visualized data, and more.

Visualization created by Stefanie Posavec as part of the Dear Data Project -- "Week 41 – A Week of Music"