Improving visualisation tools in EUSTAT: Explaining the data

Jorge Aramendi Rique (Eustat), Anjeles Iztueta Azkue (Eustat),

Cristina Prado Valle (Eustat), Yosu Yurramendi Mendizabal (EHU-UPV)

European Conference on Quality in Official Statistics (Q2014)

Vienna – Austria

5 June 2014

Background

• EUSTAT, as most statistical organizations, has a mandate to be useful and to disseminate to the general public.

• We want to reach the greatest possible number of users and cover their needs in the shortest time possible

• Usually we disseminate data from surveys, registers and census in tables.

• Wide range of users, different needs and profiles.

• Different audiences simultaneously: social and financial analysts, bankers, researchers, students, …., each with their own data requirements.

• Users are increasingly expecting web content to be visual.

• User needs cannot be predetermined.

• Users wants more and more small pieces of information that can be consumed quickly.

• An alternative method of disseminating the information is via the visualisation of the data in the form of graphics.

• Graphics make data more accessible to end users irrespective of their statistical background

• “A graphic is worth a thousand tables” (if the graphic is good!!)

• Data visualisation was a weak point within our organisation

Background

• Working group with colleagues from different units and with the help of researchers from the University of the Basque Country.

• Reviewing the current practices:• ESS: EUROSTAT, ONS- Data Visualisation Centre, INSEE,

DESTATIS,INE, …• UNECE, OCDE,…• Google visualization API

• The group established two main ideas for the graphics: Ease and interactivity for our users and integration in the production process.

In Progress

• Interactive graphics in our press releases for all short-term statistics.

• Tight dissemination schedule, any change is extremely costly in terms of time.

• To produce the graphics, we have introduced a system that facilitates the current process (less time to produce the graphic)

• These graphics can be customized by users according to their interests and context, enabling selection and adaptation to their preferences.

In Progress

Visualisation requirements

Clean and uncluttered appearance

Clear scales adaptable to each graphic , avoiding too many classes.

Flexibility for labels and headings and only displayed when required (mouse over).

Combining different graphic elements (bars, lines, areas, …).

Similar colours are employed in all graphics.

Multilingual

Long data series, simple method of selecting the time scale.

Activating/deactivating the visualisation of data series

...

Technical requirements

Ready for different browsers, screen resolutions and devices.

Accessibility and technical requirements of our IT System .

Independence of the data and graphic code:

General configuration files for all graphics

The files that the producer generates only contain the data and the text element

of the graphic that are stored in a JSON file

A SAS program for each statistic generates the necessary files.

JavaScript: public libraries (JQuery,…) and others of our own creation. (open

source)

Easy maintenance and creation of new graphics.

Interactive population pyramids

Results• When interactive graphics are employed, the number of website access hits increase (according

to initial results)

• Both, the dissemination unit and the statistical producers are satisfied with the results.

• A tool to engage users and increase the potential use of official statistics. More accessible data

• In the next User satisfaction evaluation survey of Eustat (yearly), we will add a question on the visualisation elements in order to receive feedback and get information from our users.

• Initial web visits statistics and contact (informal) with frequent users encourages us to continue.

• Next steps:

• Continue improving current graphics and proceed with the standardisation of new interactive graphics.

• Our current work : Interactive maps.

Eskerrik asko

Thank you

Danke Schön

Jorge Aramendij-aramendi@eustat.es

www.eustat.es