Types of Visualization(3)

 Bilal Hussain Malik

19/4/25

                                                              Types of Visualization

                                                             Maps (Geospatial Visualizations)

Maps signify information pertaining to locations, and thus they are required for spatial analysis. They enable us to discover patterns, distributions, and relations varying by place. Common types are choropleth maps, heatmaps, dot maps, and symbol maps. Choropleth maps utilize different colors or shades to signify the density or value of data over pre-defined areas like countries or states. Heatmaps indicate intensity or concentration through gradient color, ideal to show hotspots of weather data or population density. Dot maps assign single dots to show quantity or events at specific places, while symbol maps use scaled symbols to denote values, such as earthquake strengths. 

These visualizations are particularly important in urban planning, environmental science, public health, logistics, and marketing. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, maps were heavily utilized to demonstrate infection transmission by region. Modern tools like GIS (Geographic Information Systems), Mapbox, and Google Maps APIs make it easy to create interactive, layered maps. Users can zoom, filter, and click, and drill down to more granular data. Effective map visualizations consider scale, projection, color mapping, and data resolution to avoid misinterpretation. In effect, maps translate static data into geographically sensible narratives, facilitating place-based decision-making and facilitating the intelligibility of geographic patterns.