See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/370593444

An Introduction to Data Visualization Tools and Techniques in Various Domains

Article in International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology · April 2023

DOI: 10.14445/22312803/IJCTT-V71I4P116

CITATIONS READS
2 5,994

1 author:

Deepmala Srivastava
University of Texas at Dallas
1 PUBLICATION 2 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Deepmala Srivastava on 08 May 2023.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology Volume 71 Issue 4, 125-130, April 2023
ISSN: 2231 – 2803 / https://doi.org/10.14445/22312803/IJCTT-V71I4P116 © 2023 Seventh Sense Research Group®

Original Article

An Introduction to Data Visualization Tools and

Techniques in Various Domains
Deepmala Srivastava
1
University of Texas at Dallas

Received: 09 March 2023 Revised: 10 April 2023 Accepted: 20 April 2023 Published: 30 April 2023

Abstract - This research paper introduces data visualization tools and techniques in various domains. The importance of
data visualization in enhancing the understanding and communication of complex data is discussed, along with the various
types of data visualization tools and techniques available. The paper also covers the use of data visualization in business,
social sciences, humanities, sports, environmental sciences, and healthcare. The paper concludes with a summary of the key
takeaways and the potential impact of data visualization tools and techniques in various domains. The paper aims to provide
a comprehensive overview of data visualization tools and techniques and to highlight their importance in various fields for
effective data communication and analysis.

Keywords - Data visualization, Patient data analysis, Clinical outcome analysis, Game analysis, Injury analysis,
Performance monitoring, Customer segmentation.

1. Introduction Data Visualization Software - Data visualization

Data visualization [1][2][3] is a powerful tool for
enhancing understanding and communication of complex
data. It involves representing data in a graphical or pictorial
form, making it easier to understand and interpret. With the
increasing availability of data in various domains, such as
business, social sciences, humanities, sports, environmental
sciences, and healthcare, the importance of data
visualization has never been greater. This research paper
provides a comprehensive overview of data visualization
tools and techniques and their applications in various
domains. This research aims to highlight the importance of
data visualization in effectively communicating and
analyzing data to provide insights into the various types of
data visualization tools and techniques available. Whether
you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this paper
will provide a valuable resource for improving your
understanding of data visualization and its applications.
software is a specialized tool designed for data visualization
and analysis. Examples of data visualization software
include Tableau, QlikView, and Power BI. These tools
provide advanced data visualization capabilities, including
interactive dashboards, heat maps, and network diagrams.
Programming Libraries - Programming libraries, such
as Matplotlib, ggplot2, and D3.js, are a type of data
visualization tool that can be used to create custom data
visualizations. They provide a more flexible and
customizable approach to data visualization but require a
higher level of technical expertise.

2. Overview of Data Visualization Tools

Data visualization tools [4][5] can be broadly classified
into three categories: spreadsheets, data visualization
software, and programming libraries.

Spreadsheets - Spreadsheets, such as Microsoft Excel

and Google Sheets, are one of the most common data
visualization tools used in various domains. They provide
basic data visualization capabilities, such as bar charts, line
graphs, and scatter plots.
Fig. 1 Data Visualization Tools

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

 Deepmala Srivastava / IJCTT, 71(4), 125-130, 2023
Each type of data visualization tool [6][7] has its own
strengths and weaknesses, and the best tool for a particular
use case will depend on the user's specific requirements and
level of technical expertise. For example, spreadsheets may
be suitable for basic data visualization, while data
visualization software may be more appropriate for
advanced data visualization and analysis. Programming
libraries may be ideal for creating custom data
visualizations but may also require a higher level of
technical expertise. Ultimately, the choice of data
visualization tool will depend on the user's specific needs
and the type of data being analyzed.
3. Overview of Data Visualization Techniques
Data visualization techniques [27] are used to represent
data in a graphical or pictorial form, making it easier to
understand and interpret. There are several types [9] of data
visualization techniques, including:
Fig. 2 Data Visualization Techniques
Bar charts, line graphs, scatter plots, heat maps, and
network diagrams are all types of data visualizations that
can represent different data types.
Bar charts are useful for comparing data across
categories, where the length of each rectangular bar
represents the magnitude of a particular data point.
Line graphs are used to visualize trends over time, with
a series of points connected by lines where each point
represents a data point for a particular period.
Scatter plots, on the other hand, are used to visualize
the relationship between two variables. A series of points
represents a pair of values for two variables.
Heat maps are helpful in visualizing the distribution of
values in a matrix or table. The colour of each cell in a
coloured grid represents the magnitude of a particular data
126
point. Network diagrams are useful in visualizing
relationships between entities, consisting of nodes
representing entities and edges representing relationships,
where the size and colour of nodes and edges can represent
data attributes.
These are just a few examples of the various types of
data visualization techniques [10][11] available. The choice
of data visualization technique will depend on the data type
being analyzed, the insights being sought, and the target
audience. Effective data visualization involves choosing the
right technique for the data and the message being conveyed
and presenting the data clearly and visually appealingly.
4. Data Visualization Tools and Techniques in
Business
Data visualization is widely used in business to analyze
data, make informed decisions, and communicate insights.
Market analysis [12] involves analyzing data to understand
market trends, customer preferences, and competitor
activity. Data visualization tools and techniques used in the
market analysis include bar charts, line graphs, and scatter
plots to visualize sales data and customer demographics, and
heat maps to visualize customer preferences and market
segmentation. Customer segmentation [13] involves
dividing customers into groups based on shared
characteristics, such as demographics, behaviour, and
preferences. Data visualization tools and techniques used in
customer segmentation [14] include bar charts, line graphs,
scatter plots to visualize customer demographics and
behaviour, and network diagrams to visualize relationships
between customer segments. Performance monitoring
involves tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to
measure the success of business operations. Data
visualization tools and techniques used in performance
monitoring include bar charts, line graphs, and dashboard
software to visualize performance data and identify trends
and patterns. Effective data visualization in business
involves choosing the right tool and technique for the data
and the message being conveyed and presenting the data
clearly and visually appealingly to support informed
decision-making.
5. Data Visualization Tools and Techniques in
Social Sciences
Data visualization is widely used in the social sciences
[15] to analyze and communicate data and insights. Survey
analysis involves analyzing data from surveys to understand
attitudes, behaviours, and opinions and data visualization
tools used include bar charts, line graphs, scatter plots, and
heat maps. Trend analysis [16] involves analyzing data to
understand trends and patterns over time, and data
visualization tools used include line graphs, bar charts, and
dashboard software. Policy evaluation involves analyzing
data to understand the impact of policies on social and
 Deepmala Srivastava / IJCTT, 71(4), 125-130, 2023
economic outcomes, and data visualization tools used
include bar charts, line graphs, and scatter plots. Effective
data visualization in the social sciences involves choosing
the right tool and technique for the data and message being
conveyed and presenting the data in a clear and visually
appealing manner to support informed decision-making and
policy development.
Data visualization plays a crucial role in the social
sciences [17], helping researchers and policymakers to
analyze, understand, and communicate complex data. The
social sciences deal with a wide range of data types,
including demographic data, survey responses, and policy
outcomes, and data visualization tools and techniques allow
this data to be visualized and analyzed in a meaningful way.
Using the right data visualization tool and technique,
researchers and policymakers can gain insights into trends,
patterns, and relationships in the data and communicate
these insights to a wider audience clearly and compellingly.
Effective data visualization helps to support informed
decision-making and policy development and is an essential
tool for advancing knowledge and understanding in the
social sciences.
6. Data Visualization Tools and Techniques in
Humanities
Data visualization is a powerful tool used in the
humanities [18] to analyze and communicate data and
insights. Examples of data visualization tools and
techniques used in the humanities include literary analysis,
cultural trend analysis, and historical data analysis.
Literary analysis involves using data visualization tools
such as word clouds, network diagrams, and sentiment
analysis to analyze data from the literature, visualizing the
frequency and sentiment of words and phrases in literature
to identify patterns, trends, and relationships.
Cultural trend analysis involves analyzing cultural data
over time, using data visualization tools such as line graphs,
bar charts, and heat maps to visualize trends in areas such as
music, film, and fashion. Historical data analysis involves
analyzing historical data to identify patterns, trends, and
relationships, using data visualization tools such as
timelines, maps, and network diagrams to visualize
historical events, people, and relationships.
Effective data visualization in the humanities [19]
involves choosing the right tool and technique for the data
and the message being conveyed and presenting the data
clearly and visually appealing to support informed decision-
making and further understanding cultural and historical
trends and patterns.
127
7. Data Visualization Tools and Techniques in
Sports
Data visualization is an essential tool in the world of
sports [20], helping to provide insights into player
performance, game trends, and injury patterns. With the
increasing availability of performance data, data
visualization is becoming increasingly important for
coaches, analysts, and fans to make informed decisions and
understand the game. By visualizing performance data, it is
possible to identify patterns and trends, compare player and
team statistics, and gain insights into the strategies and
tactics used during games. Additionally, data visualization
can help understand the impact of injuries on player
performance, allowing teams to make informed decisions
about player management and injury prevention. Overall,
data visualization is a valuable tool for advancing
knowledge and understanding in the world of sports and is
widely used to support informed decision-making, player
development, and fan engagement.
Fig. 3 Example of Pragmatic Visualization
Player Performance Analysis [21] - Player performance
analysis involves analyzing data to understand the
performance of individual players. Data visualization tools
and techniques used in player performance analysis include
bar charts, line graphs, and scatter plots to visualize data
such as player statistics, performance trends, and head-to-
head comparisons.
Game Analysis - Game analysis involves analyzing
data to understand patterns, trends, and relationships in
games. Data visualization tools and techniques used in game
analysis include heat maps, network diagrams, and event
tracking to visualize data such as player movements, ball
trajectories, and scoring patterns.
Injury Analysis - Injury analysis involves analyzing
data to understand patterns and trends in sports injuries.
Data visualization tools and techniques used in injury
analysis include bar charts, line graphs, and heat maps to
visualize data such as the frequency, type, and location of
injuries and the impact of injuries on player performance.
 Deepmala Srivastava / IJCTT, 71(4), 125-130, 2023
Effective data visualization in sports involves choosing
the right tool and technique for the data and the message
being conveyed and presenting the data clearly and visually
appealing to support informed decision-making and further
understanding of player performance and game trends.
8. Data Visualization Tools and Techniques in
Environmental Sciences
Data visualization is crucial in the field of
environmental sciences [28], helping to monitor and analyze
complex environmental data and communicate scientific
findings to a wider audience. Environmental data comes
from a wide range of sources, including weather stations,
sensors, satellites, and more, and data visualization tools and
techniques help to make this data meaningful and
accessible. By visualizing environmental data, it is possible
to identify patterns and trends, understand the impact of
environmental factors on the planet, and communicate this
information to a wider audience. Effective data visualization
in the environmental sciences requires using the right tool
and technique for the data and message being conveyed and
presenting the data in a clear and visually appealing manner.
This helps to support informed decision-making and
promote public understanding of environmental issues,
which is crucial for addressing our planet's challenges.
Here are some examples of the types of data
visualization tools and techniques used in the environmental
sciences:
Monitoring and Analyzing Environmental Data -
Monitoring and analyzing environmental data involves
collecting and analyzing data from various sources, such as
weather stations, sensors, and satellites. Data visualization
tools and techniques used in monitoring and analyzing
environmental data include bar charts, line graphs, and heat
maps to visualize data such as temperature, precipitation,
and air quality.
Communicating Scientific Findings - Communicating
scientific findings [23] involves presenting research results
to a wider audience, including policymakers, the public, and
other stakeholders. Data visualization tools and techniques
used in communicating scientific findings include bar
charts, line graphs, heat maps to visualize data and trends,
and interactive dashboards and maps to present data in an
accessible and engaging manner.
Effective data visualization in the environmental
sciences involves choosing the right tool and technique for
the data and the message being conveyed and presenting the
data in a clear and visually appealing manner to support
informed decision-making and promote public
understanding of environmental issues.
128
9. Data Visualization Tools and Techniques in
Healthcare
Data visualization is a crucial tool in the healthcare
industry [24], helping healthcare professionals to make
informed decisions, understand patient data and trends, and
improve patient outcomes. By visualizing patient data from
electronic health records (EHRs), healthcare professionals
can gain insights into patient demographics, medical
histories, and treatment outcomes and identify patterns and
trends that may impact patient care. Clinical outcome
analysis helps to understand the effectiveness of medical
treatments and interventions, and healthcare trend analysis
helps to understand disease trends, treatment utilization, and
resource utilization. Effective data visualization in
healthcare requires choosing the right tool and technique for
the data and message being conveyed and presenting the
data in a clear and visually appealing manner. This helps to
support informed decision-making, improve patient
outcomes, and advance knowledge and understanding in the
field of healthcare. Additionally, data visualization can also
play a role in communicating healthcare information to the
public and other stakeholders, promoting transparency, and
understanding of healthcare trends and issues.
Here are some examples of the types of data
visualization tools and techniques used in healthcare:
Patient Outcome Analysis - Data analysis and
visualization can work hand in hand to improve patient
outcomes in healthcare. Data analysis provides insights into
patient demographics, medical histories, and treatment
outcomes, while data visualization [25] can simplify
complex medical data and make it more accessible to
patients. One way to leverage data analysis and visualization
to improve patient outcomes is by developing dashboards
that visualize patient data in real-time. Dashboards can
provide healthcare providers with up-to-date information on
patient health metrics, such as blood pressure or glucose
levels, allowing them to intervene quickly if a patient's
health deteriorates. Another way to use data analysis and
visualization is to identify patients at high risk of
developing certain conditions or complications. Predictive
models can be used to identify patients who are at risk of
developing conditions such as diabetes or heart disease
based on their medical history and demographic data. Data
visualization can then be used to present this information in
a way that is easy for patients to understand, such as a
simple risk score or chart. Data visualization can also be
used to help patients understand the impact of their lifestyle
choices on their health. For example, a visualization might
show how exercise or diet changes can improve health
outcomes over time. This can help patients make more
informed decisions about their care and stay motivated to
make healthy choices.
 Deepmala Srivastava / IJCTT, 71(4), 125-130, 2023

Clinical outcome analysis involves analyzing data to identify patterns and trends, and communicate insights to a
understand the effectiveness of medical treatments and wider audience. Effective data visualization requires
interventions. Data visualization tools and techniques used choosing the right tool and technique for the data and
in clinical outcome analysis include bar charts, line graphs, message being conveyed and presenting the data in a clear
and scatter plots to visualize data such as patient outcomes, and visually appealing manner. Data visualisation helps
treatment effectiveness, and patient satisfaction in and support informed decision-making, improve outcomes, and
visually appealing manner to support informed decision- advance knowledge and understanding in various fields. The
making and improve patient outcomes. importance of data visualization cannot be overstated, and it
is likely to continue to play an increasingly important role in
Healthcare trend analysis [26] involves analyzing data various domains in the future. In addition to the benefits
to understand trends and patterns in healthcare, such as outlined above, data visualization also has the potential to
disease trends, treatment utilization, and resource utilization. democratize information and make it accessible to a wider
Data visualization tools and techniques used in healthcare audience. By presenting data in a clear and visually
trend analysis include bar charts, line graphs, and heat maps appealing manner, data visualization can help to
to visualize data such as disease prevalence, treatment communicate complex information and insights to the
utilization, and resource utilization. public, promoting transparency and understanding. This is
especially important in fields such as healthcare, where
Effective data visualization in healthcare involves understanding and communicating data is essential for
choosing the right tool and technique for the data and the promoting public health and well-being. Data visualization
message being conveyed and presenting the data in a clear is crucial for analyzing and communicating data in various
and visually appealing manner to support informed domains. Whether it's used to understand patient data in
decision-making and improve patient outcomes. healthcare, player performance in sports, cultural trends in
the humanities, environmental data in environmental
10. Conclusion sciences, or any other type of data, data visualization has the
In conclusion, data visualization is a powerful tool that potential to support informed decision-making, improve
plays a crucial role in various domains, including outcomes, and advance knowledge and understanding. As
healthcare, sports, the humanities, environmental sciences, technology continues to evolve, the possibilities for data
and more. Using data visualization tools and techniques visualization will continue to expand, and it will remain an
makes it possible to analyze and understand complex data, important tool for data analysis and communication for
years to come.
References
[1] Matthew N. O. Sadiku et al., "Data Visualization," International Journal of Engineering Research and Advanced Technology (IJERAT),
vol. 2, no. 12, pp. 11-16, 2016. [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[2] Zezhong Wang et al., "Cheat Sheets for Data Visualization Techniques," Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in
Computing Systems, pp. 1-13, 2020. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[3] Matthew O. Ward, Georges Grinstein, and Daniel Keim, “Interactive Data Visualization: Foundations, Techniques, and Applications,”
CRC Press, 2015. [Google Scholar]
[4] D.A. Keim, and H.-P. Kriegel, "Visualization Techniques for Mining Large Databases: A Comparison," IEEE Transactions on
Knowledge and Data Engineering, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 923-938, 1996. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[5] Rameshsharma Ramloll et al., "Gaze Data Visualization Tools: Opportunities and Challenges," Proceedings, Eighth International
Conference on Information Visualisation, pp. 173-180, 2004. [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[6] Georgios A Pavlopoulos, Anna-Lynn Wegener, and Reinhard Schneider, "A Survey of Visualization Tools for Biological Network
Analysis," Biodata Mining, vol. 1, pp. 1-11, 2008. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[7] Bhawana Parbat A.K. Dwivedi, and O. P. Vyas, "Data Visualization Tools for WSNS: A Glimpse," International Journal of Computer
Applications, vol. 2 no. 1, pp. 14-20, 2010. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[8] Venkateswarlu Pynam, R Roje Spanadna, and Kolli Srikanth, "An Extensive Study of Data Analysis Tools (Rapid Miner, Weka, R
Tool, Knime, Orange)," SSRG International Journal of Computer Science and Engineering, vol. 5, no. 9, pp. 4-11, 2018. [CrossRef]
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[9] Li, Qi, and Qi Li, "Overview of Data Visualization," Embodying Data: Chinese Aesthetics, Interactive Visualization and Gaming
Technologies, pp. 17-47, 2020. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [PublisherLink]
[10] Nan Cao, and Weiwei Cui, "Overview of Text Visualization Techniques," Introduction to Text Visualization , pp. 11-40, 2016. [Google
Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[11] Katarina Furmanova et al., "Taggle: Combining Overview and Details in Tabular Data Visualizations," Information Visualization, vol.
19, no. 2, pp. 114-136, 2020. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

129
 Deepmala Srivastava / IJCTT, 71(4), 125-130, 2023

[12] Samuel Soma Ajibade, and Anthonia Adediran, "An Overview of Big Data Visualization Techniques in Data Mining," International
Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology Research, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 105-113, 2016. [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[13] S M Kumar, and Meena Belwal, "Performance Dashboard: Cutting-Edge Business Intelligence and Data Visualization," 2017
International Conference on Smart Technologies for Smart Nation (SmartRechCon), 2017. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher
Link]
[14] A. S. Syed Fiaz et al., "Data Visualization: Enhancing Big Data More Adaptable and Valuable," International Journal of Applied
Engineering Research, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 2801-2804, 2016. [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[15] Ilene R. Berson, and Michael J. Berso, "Making Sense of Social Studies With Visualization Tools," Social Education, vol. 73, no. 3, pp.
124-126, 2009. [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[16] Ryan Womack, "Data Visualization and Information Literacy," IASSIST Quarterly, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 12-17, 2014. [CrossRef] [Google
Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[17] Prosser, Jon, and Andrew Loxley, "Introducing Visual Methods," 2008. [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[18] Elyse Graham, "Introduction: Data Visualisation and the Humanities," English Studies, vol. 98, no. 5, pp. 449-458, 2017. [CrossRef]
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[19] Adam James Bradley et al., "Visualization and the Digital Humanities," IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, vol. 38, no. 6, pp.
26-38, 2018.[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[20] C. Perin et al., "State of the Art of Sports Data Visualization,” Computer Graphics Forum, vol. 37, no. 3. 2018. [CrossRef] [Google
Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[21] Rahul C. Basole, and Dietmar Saupe, "Sports Data Visualization [Guest Editors' Introduction],” IEEE Computer Graphics and
Applications, vol. 36, no. 5, pp. 24-26, 2016. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[22] Selvin Diana, Yulastri Arif, and Esthika Ariany Maisa, "The Relationship of the Role of Supervision Model 4S with the Assessment
Element of Patient Prevention of Fall Risk Mediated by the Competence of the Nurse," SSRG International Journal of Nursing and
Health Science, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 33-39, 2022. [CrossRef] [Publisher Link]
[23] Bujack, Roxana, and Ariane Middel, "State of the Art in Flow Visualization in the Environmental Sciences,” Environmental Earth
Sciences, vol. 79, no. 2, p. 65, 2020. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[24] Ben Shneiderman, Catherine Plaisant, and Bradford W. Hesse, "Improving Healthcare with Interactive Visualization,” Computer, vol.
46, no. 5, pp. 58-66, 2013. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[25] Sameer Shukla "Unlocking the Power of Data: An Introduction to Data Analysis in Healthcare,” International Journal of Computer
Sciences and Engineering, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 1-9, 2023. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[26] Mary K Obenshain et al., "Application of Data Mining Techniques to Healthcare Data,” Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology,
vol. 25, no. 8, pp. 690-695, 2004. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[27] Wolfgang Müller, and Heidrun Schumann, "Visualization for Modeling and Simulation: Visualization Methods for Time-Dependent
Data-An Overview,” Proceedings of the 35th Conference on Winter Simulation: Driving Innovation, pp. 737–745, 2003. [Google
Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[28] Sam Grainger, Feng Mao, and Wouter Buytaert, "Environmental Data Visualisation for Non-Scientific Contexts: Literature Review and
Design Framework,” Environmental Modelling & Software, vol. 85, pp. 299-318, 2016. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]

130

View publication stats