22 free tools for data visualization and analysis. You may not think you've got much in common with an investigative journalist or an academic medical researcher. But if you're trying to extract useful information from an ever-increasing inflow of data, you'll likely find visualization useful -- whether it's to show patterns or trends with graphics instead of mountains of text, or to try to explain complex issues to a nontechnical audience.
There are many tools around to help turn data into graphics, but they can carry hefty price tags. The cost can make sense for professionals whose primary job is to find meaning in mountains of information, but you might not be able to justify such an expense if you or your users only need a graphics application from time to time, or if your budget for new tools is somewhat limited. If one of the higher-priced options is out of your reach, there are a surprising number of highly robust tools for data visualization and analysis that are available at no charge.
Data cleaning DataWrangler. Image gallery: 22 free tools for data visualization and analysis. November 7, 2013 03:21 PM ET The chart below originally accompanied our story 22 free tools for data visualization and analysis (April 20, 2011). We're updating it as we cover additional tools, including 8 cool tools for data analysis, visualization and presentation (March 27, 2012) and Six useful JavaScript libraries for maps, charts and other data visualizations (March 6, 2013).
Click through to those articles for full tool reviews. Features: You can sort the chart by clicking on any column header once to sort in ascending order and a second time to sort by descending (browser JavaScript required). Skill levels are represented as numbers from easiest to most difficult to learn and use: Users who are comfortable with basic spreadsheet tasks Users who are technically proficient enough not to be frightened off by spending a couple of hours learning a new applicationPower usersUsers with coding experience or specialized knowledge in a field like GIS or network analysis. Ushahidi :: Home. Fusion Tables - Gather, visualize, and share data tables online. Bust your data out of its silo! Get more from data with Fusion Tables. Fusion Tables is an experimental data visualization web application to gather, visualize, and share data tables.
Visualize bigger table data online Filter and summarize across hundreds of thousands of rows. Then try a chart, map, network graph, or custom layout and embed or share it. Two tables are better than one! Merge two or three tables to generate a single visualization that includes both sets of data. Make a map in minutes Host data online - and stay in control Viewers located anywhere can produce charts or maps from it. Visualize bigger table data online Import your own data Upload data tables from spreadsheets or CSV files, even KML. Visualize it instantly See the data on a map or as a chart immediately. Publish your visualization on other web properties Now that you've got that nice map or chart of your data, you can embed it in a web page or blog post.
Two tables are better than one! Make a map in minutes. Tutorials for Fusion Tables - Google Fusion Tables Help. Create with Fusion Tables These tutorials step you through using Fusion Tables’ features to accomplish neat things with your data. See what others have done in the Example Gallery. Basic tutorials Get started using Fusion Tables: Create a map Turn a table of locations into a map. Create: a business card layout Convert a table of data into a customized display Customize and filter Create a chart, customize your maps, learn about cards, create filters and summaries of your data.
Extending your knowledge Gathering data Create: Collaborative data gathering Give everyone their own table to update, while keeping the eagle-eye view on all of it. Maps Make an intensity map with custom boundaries Display polygons in different colors according to values in your data. Publishing / Embedding Embed visualizations in Google Sites Work around the JavaScript restrictions in Google Sites Merge tricks Use merge to apply map styles by category Want a different icon or color for the map? Working with other tools. IMPURE | Home.