Visualization of Complex Statistical Information in Maps: The Checkerplot

• Activity Number: 612
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 2, 2012 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Graphics
• Author(s): Matthias Templ*+ and Alexander Kowarik and Beat Hulliger
• Companies: Vienna University of Technology and Statistics Austria and University of Northwestern Switzerland
• Keywords: Visualization ; Geographical Information ; Checkerplot ; Linear Programming ; R

Abstract

The checkerplot is a new type of graphics that combines geographical information and plots. Hereby, traditional plots like barplots or polygon lines are visualized in geographical order on a grid. The checkerplots can be seen as a mixture between thematic maps and the grid-representation in trellis plots.

More precisely, a checkerplot a stylized map in rectangular grid-like form (like a checker board), in which geographical position and neighborhood are approximately (as best as possible) maintained. Therefore, for all geographical entities an equally sized plotting region exists on a grid.

The checkerplot combines all advantages of traditional statistical graphs and representation in thematic maps:

- All areas have equal space for presenting (even complex) statistical information.

- The geographical position of the areas are approximately maintained.

- The common baseline of t