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Data Visualization Consulting

Consulting Services


Consulting services are available to help you visualize and present your data and information. This will be most helpful toward the end of your project when your data is complete or mostly complete. We can talk about types of visuals to consider using, composition design, and the best tools to create them. Here are a few types of projects I can help with:

  • Graph selection
  • Graphical abstracts
  • Poster support
  • Presentations
  • Data stories

Resources

Here are a few UVM sponsored or free data visualization resources to try. This is not an exhaustive list. It was put together based on popularity and availability. 

Data visualizations using spreadsheet programsExcel graphs

Excel

Excel is mostly a spreadsheet program that can also create simple visualizations. More complex visualizations are also possible with some extra work. Here are available chart types and how to select data to make a chart

Google Sheets

Google Sheets is similar to Excel and works within the Google platform. Here is a list of graphs and how to make them: Charts and graphs in Google Sheets.

Complex and interactive data visualizationsTableau dashboard graphs

Tableau 

Tableau lets you import and combine data sources for great interactivity. You can build visualizations with a drag and drop interface. Students and Instructors can use the full version of Tableau for free for a year with renewals. Tableau Public allows you to create graphs for free if user/data privacy is not a concern. It is a more limited version.

You can get started with Tableau starter kits, preparing your data for Tableau, and pivoting data from columns to rows. 

Power BI 

The free Power BI version works with Microsoft products like Excel. You can work on projects but not share them with other Power BI users. Here is a tutorial: Getting started with Power BI.

Presentations, posters, and infographics

BioRender illustration

PowerPoint

PowerPoint is presentation software created by Microsoft. You can create a slide show of important information, charts, and images for a presentation. 

BioRender

BioRender has scientific icons and illustrations. It has a drag and drop interface, customization tools, and templates. The BioRender free version allows use of up to 5 figures at a time.  

Canva, Adobe Express, etc...

There are many free programs to create simple infographs by using a premade template and/or creating your own design elements. Two examples are Canva and Adobe Express.

Codingggplot2 scatterplot

R

R is a statistical analysis tool that can also be used to make complex and customizable data visualizations. The primary graphic making package is ggplot2. You can download R and RSTudio

Python

Python is a general purpose programming language.  Popular visualization libraries include Plotly, Seaborn, and more.

GeospatialArcGIS map

ArcGIS

ArcGIS is a geographical information system (GIS) that is used for creating, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data and maps.
*To meet with a GIS specialist at UVM and for more information: https://library.uvm.edu/research/GIS_support

Network graphs

VOSviewer network graph

Gephi

Gephi is a network visualization tool. It uses "nodes" and "edges" to show items and their connections. Here are tutorials on how to use it.

VOSviewer

VOSviewer is used for constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks. VOSviewer Getting started has a video and instructions. There is also a VOSviewer manual with more detailed instructions.

Research Rabbit

ResearchRabbit is a citation-based literature mapping tool.

BibliometricsiCite graph

iCite

iCite provides a panel of bibliometric information for scientific publications within a defined analysis group. Here is an overview.