DA3610 Visual Analytics

Visual Analytics is the first course in the CORE Lab sequence. It addresses a common problem we all face-the collection of data at a faster rate than our ability to analyze it. The course's purpose is to introduce methods to examine and analyze massive, multidimensional, multi-source, time-varying data. It offers new tools and technology to integrate and fuse data to support the analytical process so we are better prepared to make decisions in a time-critical manner. Ultimately, the course opens the door to what some consider a new multidisciplinary field: Visual representations and interaction techniques that enable us to see, explore, and understand large amounts of information at once; Data representations and transformations that convert all massive, multidimensional, multi-source, and time varying information in ways that support visualization and analysis; Analytical reasoning techniques that enable us to obtain deep insights that directly support assessment, planning, and decision making; Techniques that support the production, presentation, and dissemination of analytical results and the communication of information to a variety of audiences (Thomas and Cook, 2005:4). Prerequisites: None.

Lecture Hours

Lab Hours

Course Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

Apply practical skills in basic link, social network, geospatial, and temporal analyses to gain insights that directly support assessment, planning, and decision-making.
Understand appropriate uses of data visualization techniques for analytic, presentation, and dissemination purposes.
Identify new tools and technologies that will facilitate data driven analysis to inform decision making.
Apply critical thinking skills about data regardless of their size along with functional data management skills.
Be better consumers and producers of visual, data-driven products.