Visualizing Graph Data

by Corey Lanum

Overview

Summary

Visualizing Graph Data teaches you not only how to build graph data structures, but also how to create your own dynamic and interactive visualizations using a variety of tools. This book is loaded with fascinating examples and case studies to show you the real-world value of graph visualizations.

Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.

About the Technology

Assume you are doing a great job collecting data about your customers and products. Are you able to turn your rich data into important insight? Complex relationships in large data sets can be difficult to recognize. Visualizing these connections as graphs makes it possible to see the patterns, so you can find meaning in an otherwise over-whelming sea of facts.

About the Book

Visualizing Graph Data teaches you how to understand graph data, build graph data structures, and create meaningful visualizations. This engaging book gently introduces graph data visualization through fascinating examples and compelling case studies. You'll discover simple, but effective, techniques to model your data, handle big data, and depict temporal and spatial data. By the end, you'll have a conceptual foundation as well as the practical skills to explore your own data with confidence.

What's Inside

• Techniques for creating effective visualizations
• Examples using the Gephi and KeyLines visualization packages
• Real-world case studies

About the Reader

No prior experience with graph data is required.

About the Author

Corey Lanum has decades of experience building visualization and analysis applications for companies and government agencies around the globe.

Table of Contents

PART 1 - GRAPH VISUALIZATION BASICS
1. Getting to know graph visualization
2. Case studies
3. An introduction to Gephi and KeyLines
PART 2 VISUALIZE YOUR OWN DATA
4. Data modeling
5. How to build graph visualizations
6. Creating interactive visualizations
7. How to organize a chart
8. Big data: using graphs when there's too much data
9. Dynamic graphs: how to show data over time
10. Graphs on maps: the where of graph visualization

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781617293078
Publisher:	Manning
Publication date:	12/15/2016
Edition description:	1st Edition
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 2.40(d)

About the Author

Corey Lanum has decades of experience building visualization and analysis applications for companies and government agencies around the globe.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xiii

About this book xv

About the author xviii

About the cover illustration xix

Part 1 Graph Visualization Basics 1

1 Getting to know graph visualization 3

1.1 Getting to know graphs 4

What is a graph? 4

A bit of theory 6

Introducing the graph data model 8

When are graphs helpful? 10

1.2 Getting to know graph visualization 12

When to visualize graphs 13

Alternative graph visualizations 14

1.3 Summary 17

2 Case studies 18

2.1 Intelligence and terrorism 20

2.2 Credit card fraud 25

The markers of online shopping fraud 26

Online review fraud 28

Visualizing review fraud 29

2.3 Cyber security 33

Understanding unusual network traffic 34

Deconstructing a botnet attack 35

Analyzing malware propagation 37

2.4 Sales and marketing graphs 39

2.5 Summary 43

3 An introduction to Gephi and KeyLines 44

3.1 Gephi 46

Acquiring data 46

Importing data into Gephi 48

Visually organizing the data with layouts 49

Know what you're looking at with labels 50

Filtering 50

Size 53

Color 53

Final product 56

3.2 KeyLines 56

Encode an HTML page 57

Write KeyLines JavaScript 58

Bind KeyLines to data 59

3.3 Summary 61

Part 2 Visualize Your Own Data 63

4 Data modeling 65

4.1 What is a data model? 66

Relational data 66

Key-value stores 68

4.2 Graph data models 69

Identifying nodes 69

Identifying links 71

4.3 Graph databases 72

Neo4j 73

Titan 76

4.4 Summary 78

5 How to build graph visualizations 79

5.1 Understanding your user 80

5.2 Using intuitive visual properties 82

Size 83

Color 84

Node icons 86

Glyphs 88

Labels 89

5.3 Building charts with visual properties 90

5.4 Summary 99

6 Creating interactive visualizations 100

6.1 Chan navigation 102

6.2 Declutter your charts 104

Implementation in Gephi 107

Implementation in KeyLines 108

6.3 Data volumes 109

Expanding nodes to add, data 110

6.4 Animations and mobile 115

Animating charts 115

Designing for mobile touch environments 116

6.5 Summary 117

7 How to organize a chart 118

7.1 Force-directed layouts 120

Farce-directed layouts in Gephi 124

Implementation in KeyLines 127

7.2 Other layout options 128

Circular layouts 129

Hierarchy layout 132

Radial layout 134

3D layouts 136

7.3 Summary 137

8 Big data: using graphs when there's too much data 139

8.1 Controlling which nodes and edges are visible 140

Filtering in Gephi 144

Filtering in KeyLines 148

8.2 Grouping and combinations 151

What is grouping? 151

Grouping in Gephi 157

Grouping in KeyLines 158

8.3 Summary 159

9 Dynamic graphs: how to show data over time 160

9.1 How do graphs change over time? 161

9.2 How to visualize changes over time 164

Small multiples-showing time with many small graphs 164

Time-based filtering 166

Graphs with dynamic properties 171

9.3 Implementing dynamic graphs 172

Dynamic graphs in Gephi 172

Dynamic graphs in KeyLines 175

9.4 Summary 179

10 Graphs on maps: the where of graph visualization 180

10.1 Working with geographical data 180

Graphs with location data 181

How to model locations in a graph 181

Limitations to representing location as a property on a node 182

10.2 Overlaying graphs on maps 183

Filtering to subsets of the data 185

Combinations or grouping 187

10.3 Building graphs on maps 189

Storing the data in the KeyLines object model 189

Building an example from the Hubway data 191

10.4 Summary 193

Appendix: A tutorial on D3.js 195

Index 205