LogoLogo
OS Docs HomeOS NGDOS APIsOS Download ProductsMore than MapsContact Us
  • More than Maps
  • Geographic Data Visualisation
    • Guide to cartography
      • Introduction to cartography
      • Types of maps
      • Symbology
      • Colour
      • Text on maps
      • Generalisation
      • Coordinate reference systems
      • Projections
      • Scale
      • Map legends
      • Map layout
      • Relief representation
      • North arrows
    • Guide to data visualisation
      • Introduction to data visualisation
      • GeoDataViz design principles
      • Types of visualisation
      • Thematic mapping techniques
      • Data visualisation critique
      • Accessible data visualisation
      • Ethical data visualisation
      • Software
      • Data
    • GeoDataViz assets
      • GeoDataViz basemaps
      • Stylesheets
      • GeoDataViz virtual gallery
      • Equal area cartograms
      • How did I make that?
        • Apollo 11 Landing
        • North York Moors National Park, 70 years
        • Snowdonia National Park, 70 years
        • Great Britain's National Parks
        • Great Britain's Islands
        • Great Britain's AONB's and National Scenic Areas
        • Famous shipwrecks of Pembrokeshire
        • Trig pillars today
        • Britain's most complex motorway junctions
      • #30DayMapChallenge
  • Data in Action
    • Examples
  • Demonstrators
    • 🆕Product Viewer
    • Addressing & location demonstrators
      • Address Portfolio overview
      • Which address product should you use?
      • AddressBase
      • AddressBase Core
      • AddressBase Plus
      • AddressBase Premium
      • Address Classifications
      • Addressing Lifecycle
      • OS Emergency Services Gazetteer
      • What are Vertical Streets?
      • Why are there differences in boundaries?
    • Contextual demonstrators
    • Customer best practice
      • Channel Shift
      • Data Management and OS Data Hub
      • End User Licence vs Contractor Licence
      • 🆕 IDs vs Spatial Relationships
      • Why we should capture good quality addresses at source
      • Why we Snap and Trace
    • Network Demonstrators
      • OS Detailed Path Network
      • OS Multi Modal Routing Network
        • OS Multi Modal Routing Network
      • Water Networks overview
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network and OS NGD Speeds
      • OS MasterMap® Highways Network and OS Open Roads™
    • OS MasterMap Generation APIs
      • Using the OS Features API
      • Using the OS Features API Archive
      • Using the OS Downloads API
      • Using OS APIs in ESRI Software
    • 🆕OS NGD (National Geographic Database)
      • OS NGD Address
      • OS NGD Boundaries
      • 🆕OS NGD Buildings
        • 🆕Building and Building Access Feature Types
        • Building Part and Building Line Feature Types
      • 🆕OS NGD Geographical Names
      • OS NGD Land
      • OS NGD Land Cover enhancements
      • 🆕OS NGD Land Use
      • OS NGD Land Use enhancements
      • 🆕OS NGD Structures
        • 🆕OS NGD Structures
        • Field Boundaries
      • 🆕OS NGD Transport Features
      • 🆕OS NGD Transport Network
      • OS NGD Transport RAMI
      • OS NGD Water Features
      • OS NGD Water Network
      • OS NGD API - Features
      • Ordering OS NGD data
      • Change only updates
      • OS NGD Versioning
      • Creating a topographic map from OS NGD Data
      • Analytical styling for OS NGD data
    • OS MasterMap® demonstrators
    • 🆕Product & API Comparisons
      • 🆕Comparison of Water Network Products
  • Tutorials
    • GeoDataViz
      • Thematic Mapping Techniques
      • Downloading and using data from the OS Data Hub
      • How to download and use OS stylesheets
      • How to use the OS Maps API
      • Creating a bespoke style in Maputnik
    • GIS
      • Analysing pavement widths
      • Basic routing with OS Open Data and QGIS
      • Walktime analysis using OS Multi-modal Routing Network and QGIS
      • Creating 3D Symbols for GIS Applications
      • Constructing a Single Line Address using a Geographic Address
      • Creating a Digital Terrain Model (DTM)
      • Visualising a road gradient using a Digital Terrain Model
      • Visualising a road gradient using OSMM Highways
    • 🆕APIs
      • 🆕Using OS APIs with EPC API
      • 🆕OS APIs and ArcGIS
  • Deep Dive
    • Introduction to address matching
    • Guide to routing for the Public Sector
      • Part 1: Guide to routing
      • Part 2: Routing software and data options
      • Part 3: Building a routable network
    • Unlocking the Power of Geospatial Data
    • Using Blender for Geospatial Projects
    • A Guide to Coordinate Systems in Great Britain
      • Myths about coordinate systems
      • The shape of the Earth
      • What is position?
        • Types of coordinates
        • We need a datum
        • Position summary
      • Modern GNSS coordinate systems
        • Realising WGS84 with a TRF
        • The WGS84 broadcast TRF
        • The International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF)
        • The International GNSS Service (IGS)
        • European Terrestrial Reference System 1989 (ETRS89)
      • Ordnance Survey coordinate systems
        • ETRS89 realised through OS Net
        • National Grid and the OSGB36 TRF
        • Ordnance Datum Newlyn
        • The future of British mapping coordinate systems
        • The future of British mapping coordinate systems
      • From one coordinate system to another: geodetic transformations
        • What is a geodetic transformation?
        • Helmert datum transformations
        • National Grid Transformation OSTN15 (ETRS89–OSGB36)
        • National Geoid Model OSGM15 (ETRS89-Orthometric height)
        • ETRS89 to and from ITRS
        • Approximate WGS84 to OSGB36/ODN transformation
        • Transformation between OS Net v2001 and v2009 realisations
      • Transverse Mercator map projections
        • The National Grid reference convention
      • Datum, ellipsoid and projection information
      • Converting between 3D Cartesian and ellipsoidal latitude, longitude and height coordinates
      • Converting between grid eastings and northings and ellipsoidal latitude and longitude
      • Helmert transformation worked example
      • Further information
  • Code
    • Ordnance Survey APIs
    • Mapping
    • Routing with pgRouting
      • Getting started with OS MasterMap Highways and pgRouting
      • Getting started with OS MasterMap Highways Network - Paths and pgRouting
      • Getting started with OS NGD Transport Theme and pgRouting
      • Getting started with OS NGD Transport Path features and pgRouting
  • RESOURCES
    • 🆕Data Visualisation External Resources
Powered by GitBook

Website

  • Ordnance Survey

Data

  • OS Data Hub
On this page
  • Maps
  • Charts/Graphs
  • Animations
  • Storymaps
  • Dashboards
  • Infographics

Was this helpful?

  1. Geographic Data Visualisation
  2. Guide to data visualisation

Types of visualisation

PreviousGeoDataViz design principlesNextThematic mapping techniques

Last updated 10 months ago

Was this helpful?

Often when we think of data visualisation in relation to spatial data we automatically assume we should create a map. But a map may not be the best way of communicating the story of the data and could even result in the data being interpreted incorrectly. Other data visualisation methods to be considered (beyond static and interactive maps) are charts, graphs, animations, storymaps, dashboards and infographics.

Before visualising your data, stop and ask yourself the question, “What’s the best way to represent and convey the message that the data is trying to tell?” Is a map the best way? Would a chart or graph or infographic be better? Your decision will likely depend on the data you have, the story you want to tell and your audience. A map might be the right presentation medium but don’t just make a map because you can.

Regardless of which method you use, it should be designed with care, following our 8 , to ensure effective communication.

Maps

Maps are a great way of visually communicating data of a spatial nature; where it is important to show the spatial relationships between, or distribution of, features, events or phenomena. A map could be a static image but could also be interactive in nature. If you want users to be able to interrogate and explore the data, an interactive map where you can click on features to see more, add or hide data layers or pan and zoom might be the best way to visualise your spatial data.

If you decide to make a map focused on a particular theme (e.g. climate, population or health issues), it will be important to think about which mapping technique will convey the message of your data the best. We discuss thematic mapping techniques in more detail .

Charts/Graphs

Sometimes a map is not the best way to display data, even if the data does have a spatial element. Charts and graphs may be a better solution. There are hundreds of different charts and graphs out there which can be used to visualise data. Before launching into making a map, ask yourself, does showing the data on a map really add anything to the message you are trying to communicate?

Florence Nightingales 1950s Coxcombe Diagram is a great example of how a chart has been used to inform. The visual highlighted that more soldiers were dying in the Crimean War from preventable infections and disease in military hospitals than on the battlefield itself. She used this visual to tell a story and used it to campaign for funding to improve the sanitary conditions in military hospitals – ultimately saving thousands of lives. Would showing the number of deaths in each military hospital on a map have added to this story or would it potentially have over complicated things, diluted the message and thus reduced the effectiveness of communication of the message of the data?

Another nice example of the use of charts and graphs to visualise data are those of W.E.B. Du Bois who published a series of charts, graphs and maps for the 1900 Paris world fair. The visualisations were designed to showcase the educational, social and business accomplishments of black Americans in the 35 years since slavery had officially been abolished. Whether they actually show progress is debatable but they’re beautiful and innovative visualisations, making the user want to engage with them.

Animations

Animations are a great way to bring data to life and are more immersive and engaging as a method of communication than a simple static map or image. Animations are particularly effective if there is a temporal element to your data, showing the movement of something over time or changes to a dataset over time. Animations can help to identify patterns and trends which occur over time, which might not be immediately obvious from a static map. Animations could also be used to show how different datasets or layers fit together, giving the viewer a heightened understanding of your data.

Storymaps

Built on the idea of maps being a great way to communicate data of a spatial nature, storymaps take this one step further – they tell stories using a map or series of maps. Often these are presented as a web-based, dynamic, scrollable story, which combine descriptive text with maps (static or interactive) and other content such as images, videos and charts, to tell the story of the data. Storymaps are becoming a more and more popular way to immerse users in the story of the data, leading to better engagement with the content and effective communication of the message to the user. By including interactive maps within the storymap, users can be encouraged to explore the data in more detail.

Storymaps can be used to simply inform but can also be used effectively to engage the public or stakeholders in matters of a geospatial nature, allowing users to explore and understand the data. Storymaps are now commonly used to inform on policy, helping decision makers make better and more informed decisions. We think storymaps are a great way of telling the story of data to a non-technical audience.

Dashboards

Dashboards combine various types of data visualisations (on a single or related topic) in a single, easy to digest, view and can be tailored for a technical or non-technical audience. They commonly include graphs, charts, tables and statistics/metrics but can also include maps. A big benefit of dashboards is that they can be connected to multiple data sources and live data feeds, allowing changes in the data or status of something to be viewed in real-time.

Dashboards, like storymaps, can be used to provide information only (non-interactive) or can be interactive, allowing users to explore the data in more detail. They can be effectively used to tell a story with data and can reveal patterns, trends and relationships which ultimately help people understand the data and make better decisions.

Infographics

Infographics are a great way to present complex data in an easy to digest and visually appealing manner. Like a dashboard, they present a summary of a topic using several data visualisation techniques. They commonly include stylised icons, illustrations, statistics/metrics, charts, graphs and diagrams with short explanatory text. If presenting on spatial data, often a map will form part of the infographic. Although generally static, digital infographics sometimes include animations or short video clips.

Infographics are a great way to present a summary of data and findings to a non-technical or an audience with a time constraint, communicating clearly and quickly the key take-homes and attributes of your data.

A great example of the use of a dashboard is the one developed by John Hopkins University in response to the global Coronovirus Pandemic:

This example from shows how much our production of energy relies on water. Its a beautiful and well designed graphic that has a clear narrative and visual identity.

COVID-19 Map - Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center (jhu.edu)
The World Bank
design principles
here
Coxcomb diagram by Florence Nightingale - https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/s/h6xid2, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1474443
The Du Boisan toolkit
Ordnance Survey South Coast Ambulance Service animation depicting 12 hours of 999 incidents