Visualisation of Flows of Information

Abstract

Flows are records of data related to movement of subjects or objects, which have a direction, an origin and a destination point. This dissertation focuses on the development of scientific visualization methods for representing flows and usage patterns on the wireless networks of four Portuguese universities. The research has a theoretical and a practical part. The theoretical part analyses and synthesizes the theory of information visualization, referencing distinct types of graphic layouts known from the early days to the present. The graphic semiology and the interaction principles for visualization are explained and illustrated with examples based on different topologies and approaches to visualization of flows. The practical part presents the developed techniques for visualizing flows within wireless networks, based on examples studied during this research. Four interactive visualizations displaying the patterns of flow and usage in wireless networks are constructed. The available data is presented with four different approaches, each one showing particular features of networks, such as connectivity, transitionality and flow, and focusing on specific aspects of the data.