Noly


 * Lab 1 - Tableau and Possible Layouts for my Final Assignment**

My purpose for exploring Tableau is to utilize a software for visualization that allows for eye catching visualization without sacrificing the integrity of my data, and with little or no requirement for coding.
 * First thoughts:**

Upon opening up Tableau, you’re presented with a section called “workbook,” which shows any recent workbooks you’ve worked on by providing a ‘one click’ selection for quick access to previous work. On the left panel there is a saved data connection – providing one quick section to various data sources. To begin you need to connect to data: 1. Go to data menu 2. Select connect to data. The difference between Tableau personal versus professional is the access to data.

For the purpose of my final assignment, I connected to the excel spreadsheet in ‘Data sources’ within the tableau repository which was automatically set up during the software installation. Data connection allows flexibility on how you want to connect to your data: 1. Connect live 2. Import all data 3. Import some data. Once connected; Tableau reads and places different items into ‘Dimensions’ and ‘measures’; Measures creates axis and dimensions creates labels. Dimensions slices the data and measures are the values you do calculations on.

The Tableau toolbar bears similarity to a typical windows interface and the MS excel-like tabs at the bottom to open new worksheet. This makes learning the software somewhat easier for those familiar with the windows interface and excel. Below the toolbar are quick ‘one click’ options for columns and rows defined as shelves. The ‘Show me’ feature provides a quick look at possible visualizations based on selections made in Dimensions and measures. By hovering over the examples, Tableau provides a quick tip as to why that particular type of visualization is recommended. The greyed out section – provides reasons why it is not available for the data set you’re working on. This is especially helpful for someone new to visualization. Upon choosing the recommended view tableau presents the visualization. While the feature of drag and drop fields onto the work area allows for ease of use for the beginner, the overall task of creating a visualization is even made simpler by the software providing the most suitable visualization type depending on the type of data to work with. Multiple visualizations can be combined onto one dashboard, whereby one search filter can connect to charts, maps, and graphs including joining underlying data tables. Compared to R, the drag, and drop interface of tableau is simpler than manually coding in JavaScript or R. This can be encouraging for users to try different types of visualizations with their data set.

Despite the functionality of Tableau, the learning curve is not quite as easy as it would first appear. In my attempt to use my own data set in Excel, I was required to sort the columns and rows in such a way that Tableau could interpret the data for an intelligible visualization. Unlike Open Paths which allows the user privacy of data, you can’t save your unfinished work without the risk exposure prior to completion as saved work resides in the public website. To Tableau’s credit, the site does not explicitly expose your work unless your individual URL entered.
 * Not as easy as it looks!**

While Tableau allows for some beautiful visualization coupled with the ability to provide various graphing and mapping tools, I’m opting to continue to explore the software to gain some insight as to how I might to choose to do my final assignment in print. Tableau’s ‘Show Me’ feature has helped me gain some understanding of how I might choose to layout my visualization in print format. For my final assignment, I’m opting to use various graphs to support a ‘heat map’ as it re lates to energy consumption, environmental footprint, and some form of measure for ‘sustainability’ (energy expended versus our carrying capacity, individual versus the population).
 * Conclusion**

Noly Lomigo

[| http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/aeo/tablebrowser/] During my preliminary research on the global energy outlook, I stumbled across the EIA (Independent Statistics and analysis) website which provides data tools that covers International Energy Statistics, profiles for countries and a broad range of information and data products covering energy production, stocks, demand, imports, exports and prices. EIA is the primary communication channel for the U.S. Energy Information Administration and serves as the Agency’s world-wide information point of contact for the government, academic communities, businesses, media, financial institutions, and the public. Although the site is not necessarily intended as a visualization tool, the website automatically an application whereby the user can select a table by region and automatically provides a graphic presentation of countries and or regions of the world based on reference cases **(fig. 1).** Once the selected filters are chosen, a table is shown for the respective regions along with the metrics that coincide with query **(fig. 2).**
 * Lab 2 - EIA TABLE BROWSER**

The UI is self-explanatory, which greatly reduced any time consumed trying to navigate my way through the various types of information I was searching for. Upon the presentation of columns and rows, the user can intuitively navigate to the second column where the option to chart a specific row is available.


 * Figure 3** displays the time series graph of a region, Canada, with the related metrics. On the top right corner of the page, the user has the option to download their chosen data.

This application within the website provides an amazing tool to allow for efficient analysis and retrieval of data as it relates to energy. As my final project involves the visualization of various statistical data geared towards sustainability, this tool will be essential for the completion of my project. Although the final deliverable of my project will be presented via Adobe illustrator, my ability to access the required data and download and open the file in CS5 will undoubtedly help get the job done faster. Upon opening the downloaded file in Photoshop, I was able to manipulate the visualization to cater to what I want to present in my visualization. Alternatively, I can also import my image to illustrator and use the charts as a template with provisions for altering the graphic details as I deem fit. I’m hoping to use the data from the EIA to compliment a heat map of the world showing the ecological footprints of countries. The heat map used in conjunction with relevant data such as fossil fuel, electricity, renewable and non-renewable consumption can help explain the central question of my assignment, “What are the causes of ecological deficit in our world?” and or “What is Driving the Crude Oil Prices?”.

While the website does not appear to be a visualization tool, the broad range of information and data products covering energy production, stocks, demand, imports, exports and prices and the ability to download data allowing for a collection of data that can be implemented for a more complicated visualization of data as it relates to energy. The user interface is was intuitive, simple to use due to their deliberate attempt to allow for easy navigation. More important, the AEO Table Browser provides the opportunity for users like me to answer questions relating to energy and the crisis we face in the midst of our depleting natural resources.
 * Concluding Thoughts:**

Noly Lomigo