Interactive Information Interactive Information Visualization in Visualization in

the Digital Flora of Texasthe Digital Flora of TexasJohn J. Leggett John J. Leggett

Center for the Study of Digital Libraries Center for the Study of Digital Libraries

Texas A&M University Texas A&M University

IntroductionIntroduction Digital Flora of Texas Digital Flora of Texas

collaborative research effort collaborative research effort web-accessible collectionsweb-accessible collections botanists and botanically-interested non-botanists and botanically-interested non-

specialistsspecialists Herbarium Specimen Browser (HSB) Herbarium Specimen Browser (HSB)

main portal to the collectionsmain portal to the collections ~ 300,000 specimen records~ 300,000 specimen records 13 herbaria13 herbaria

Herbarium Specimen Herbarium Specimen BrowserBrowser

Hierarchical taxonomic browserHierarchical taxonomic browser expansion in contextexpansion in context

Detailed specimen listingsDetailed specimen listings Specimen and species distribution mapsSpecimen and species distribution maps Full-text querying on specimen recordsFull-text querying on specimen records Stackable bar graph displays showing Stackable bar graph displays showing

temporal aspects of the specimenstemporal aspects of the specimens

HSB Main PageHSB Main Page

Specimen Distribution Specimen Distribution MapsMaps

Full-text QueryingFull-text Querying

Visualizing Temporal Visualizing Temporal Specimen DataSpecimen Data

Herbarium bar graphs provide numerical Herbarium bar graphs provide numerical summary of individual collectionssummary of individual collections

Stackable herbaria bar graphs provide Stackable herbaria bar graphs provide collective numerical summary and collective numerical summary and comparative analysiscomparative analysis

Daily and Weekly bar graphs Daily and Weekly bar graphs flowering periodsflowering periods collection activitiescollection activities

Yearly bar graphsYearly bar graphs historical analysis of herbariahistorical analysis of herbaria influence of curator or individual collectorinfluence of curator or individual collector

Herbarium Bar GraphsHerbarium Bar Graphs

Daily Bar GraphsDaily Bar Graphs

Weekly Bar GraphWeekly Bar Graph

Yearly Bar GraphYearly Bar Graph

ExampleExample

Objective: Learn about collection Objective: Learn about collection activities of the Brassicaceae familyactivities of the Brassicaceae family browse or query for Brassicaceae browse or query for Brassicaceae see species and specimen counts and see species and specimen counts and

listinglisting map density and distributionmap density and distribution graph by herbaria, daily, weekly, yearlygraph by herbaria, daily, weekly, yearly use distribution maps or bar graphs to use distribution maps or bar graphs to

find collectors, locations, dates, etc.find collectors, locations, dates, etc.

SummarySummary Digital libraries supporting/changing scientific Digital libraries supporting/changing scientific

practicepractice Collaborative research driven by needs of Collaborative research driven by needs of

biologists (botanists, ecologists)biologists (botanists, ecologists) Interactive information visualizations in support Interactive information visualizations in support

of daily scientific practice and educationof daily scientific practice and education Many benefitsMany benefits

cleaner data, comparative analyses, data miningcleaner data, comparative analyses, data mining generate collection activities/educational generate collection activities/educational

opportunitiesopportunities wide audience wide audience endangered and protected speciesendangered and protected species

URLsURLs

Digital Flora of Texas:Digital Flora of Texas: http://www.http://www.texasfloratexasflora.org.org

Herbarium Specimen Browser:Herbarium Specimen Browser: http://http://

www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/tracy2/main1.htmlwww.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/tracy2/main1.html