Theme 2: Data

Data encompasses "data generated from mathematical models or computations and from human and machine collection (e.g., sensors or point of sale systems)." This theme relates data to the world being modeled, describes processing stages and explores useful models to characterize data. Examples of complex data sets and their visual counterparts will make students sense the importance of knowledge gained from this chapter.

(2.1) Examples

Examples of complex visualizations, their corresponding data sets, and the world being modeled by these data sets explain best the need to understand data together with their history of origin, their intent and their characteristics.

(2.1.1) Proteins

(2.1.2) Satellite Data

(2.1.3) Software

(2.1.4) Web pages

(2.2) Relationship between data and the World being modeled

First it is important to establish a valid and reliable relationship between the data on one hand and the world being modeled by these data on the other hand.

(2.2.1) establishing reliability

(2.2.2) establishing validity

(2.3) Processing the data

Manipulating (part of) the data to be displayed, e.g. by normalizing or filtering, may enhance the information content after visual display.

(2.3.1) normalizing

(2.3.2) data cleansing

(2.3.3) filtering

(2.4) Data Models

More information than the computer representation of data is necessary to map them into useful perceptible representations. Data are therefore characterized in often comprehensive data models that describe geometry, topology, type, dependency or value of data and data elements.

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