Chapter 28: Data Visualization Techniques: Synthesis of a Workshop

Workshop participants were introduced to innovative visualization techniques being used in transportation planning and explored the potential uses of visualization for improving travel survey data. It is argued that by improving and expanding visualization methods, transport researchers and practitioners will improve the quality of their data and more effectively convey the richness and insights of that data to policy makers and stakeholders. This would thereby support higher levels of communication, awareness, understanding, and decision-making. It is also envisioned that these tools and methods would improve the participation of travel survey respondents, also enhancing data quality and completeness. Interactive tools usable by policy makers or citizens are of special interest, as are innovative, information-rich, and aesthetically appealing graphs, charts, maps, and animated visualizations. They can be the results of data mining tools or statistical analysis, addressing either micro-data (individual records) or aggregate data. Making the data “come alive” is crucial for stakeholder discussion and participation. Examples used in this workshop focused on the problem definitions and visualization solutions involved rather than the technical work behind the data itself.