Visualizing dynamic data with heat triangles

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper, an overview-based interactive visualization for temporally long dynamic data sequences is described. To reach this goal, each data object at a certain time point can be mapped to a number value based on a given property. Among others, a property is application-dependent and can be number of vertices, number of edges, average degree, density, number of self-loops, degree (maximum and total), or edge weight (minimum, maximum, and total) for dynamic graph data, but it can as well be the number of ball contacts in a football match, or the time-dependent visual attention paid to a stimulus in an eye tracking study. To achieve an overview over time, an aggregation strategy based on either the mean, minimum, or maximum of two values is applied. This temporal value aggregation generates a triangular shape with an overview of the entire data sequence as the peak. The color coding can be adjusted, forming visual patterns that can be rapidly explored for certain data features over time, supporting comparison tasks between the properties. The usefulness of the approach is illustrated by means of applying it to dynamic graphs generated from US domestic flight data as well as to dynamic Covid-19 infections on country levels. Graphic abstract