| |
#GovHack Toolkit |
| Welcome to the GovHack toolkit. This page provides all the information you need to prepare hackfest entries. |
Welcome to the GovHack toolkit. This page provides all the information you need to prepare hackfest entries. |
| These tools can be used to make entries like: mobile apps, web apps, data visualisations/infographics |
These tools can be used to make entries like mobile apps, web apps and data visualisations/infographics. |
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|
| |
The text of this toolkit is open for reuse under a Creative Commons Attribution licence and improvements are encouraged via Git http://github.com/maxious/govhack-tools or via email patches to govhack@lambdacomplex.org |
| |
|
| # How to register and submit your entry |
# How to register and submit your entry |
| ## registering your team |
## Registering your team |
| TODO how to use website "Hacker Space" to register and find teams etc. |
Coming Soon: how to use the website "Hacker Space" to register and find teams. |
| |
|
| ## preparing your submission |
## Preparing your submission |
| |
|
| You should record a 3 minute speech and mix images/text to accompany. |
You should record a 3 minute speech and mix images/text to accompany. |
| http://www.screenr.com/ and other screencasting tools allow you to demo apps. |
http://www.screenr.com/ and other screencasting tools allow you to demo apps. |
| To mix together clips, you can use youtube video editor http://www.youtube.com/editor or local software like http://www.videolan.org/vlmc/ or http://www.lwks.com/ |
To mix together clips, you can use youtube video editor http://www.youtube.com/editor or local software like http://www.videolan.org/vlmc/ or http://www.lwks.com/ |
| |
|
| You also need to submit your "source material". For an application this may be source code, for another work it might be your notes or prototypes. |
You also need to submit your "source material". For an application this may be source code, for another work it might be your notes or prototypes. |
| The key thing here is that your source material demonstrates to the judges that some of the end result was your own work and that it is possible for another person to replicate that work. |
The key thing here is that your source material demonstrates to the judges that some of the end result was your own work and that it is possible for another person to replicate that work. |
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|
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|
| # General References {#general-data-hacking-and-programming-references} |
# General References |
| |
|
| ## Who can be a hack day participant |
|
| - roles; coder, designer UX/graphics |
|
| |
|
| ## Definitions |
|
| - definitions, open licence reuse permissive hacker hack data journalism data vis UX etc. |
|
| |
|
| ## The basics of being a data scientist |
## The basics of being a data scientist |
| |
|
| * Have a hypothesis - even if you're making a tool/api that helps people with their questions too, remember what the objective of that is. |
* Have a hypothesis - even if you're making a tool/api that helps people with their questions too, remember what the objective of that is. |
| * Find the people and tools you need to prove/show/find. This rest of this page will help with the latter. |
* Find the people and tools you need to prove/show/find. This rest of this page will help with the latter. |
| * Analyse and present results - were they what you expected? Do they help explain to others what you have found out? |
* Analyse and present results - were they what you expected? Do they help explain to others what you have found out? |
| Can present as a interactive data visualisation or a web/mobile application or just a infographic/motion graphics video that tells a story. |
Can present as a interactive data visualisation or a web/mobile application or just a infographic/motion graphics video that tells a story. |
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|
| |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_m6a65720f.gif)</dt> |
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_m6a65720f.gif)</dt> |
|
| Illustration from Data Journalism Handbook, CC BY-SA 3.0</dd> |
Illustration from Data Journalism Handbook, CC BY-SA 3.0</dd> |
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|
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|
| The best high level reference is the 'Understanding Data' and 'Delivering Data' chapters of the Data Journalism Handbook which is available online for free at |
The best high level reference is the 'Understanding Data' and 'Delivering Data' chapters of the Data Journalism Handbook which is available online for free at |
| |
|
| [datajournalismhandbook.org](http://datajournalismhandbook.org/) |
[datajournalismhandbook.org](http://datajournalismhandbook.org/) |
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|
| You can learn the technical skills from scratch in Visualize This: The FlowingData Guide to Design, Visualization, and Statistics by Nathan Yau or for more advanced |
You can learn the technical skills from scratch in Visualize This: The FlowingData Guide to Design, Visualization, and Statistics by Nathan Yau or for more advanced |
| |
|
| practical advice check out Data Analysis with Open Source Tools by Philipp K. Janert |
practical advice check out Data Analysis with Open Source Tools by Philipp K. Janert |
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|
| For further reading in this space |
For further reading in this space |
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|
| [http://flowingdata.com/2012/04/27/data-and-visualization-blogs-worth-following/](http://flowingdata.com/2012/04/27/data-and-visualization-blogs-worth-following/) |
[http://flowingdata.com/2012/04/27/data-and-visualization-blogs-worth-following/](http://flowingdata.com/2012/04/27/data-and-visualization-blogs-worth-following/) |
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|
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|
| **Statistics** |
**Statistics** |
| |
|
| [http://greenteapress.com/thinkstats/html/index.html](http://greenteapress.com/thinkstats/html/index.html) |
A great guide to statistics is |
| |
[Think Stats](http://greenteapress.com/thinkstats/html/index.html) |
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|
| **Programming** |
**Programming** |
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|
| Programming is valuable skill for manipulating and displaying data. |
Programming is valuable skill for manipulating and displaying data. |
| Basic tutorials for a variety of languages are available for free online or you can learn |
Basic tutorials for a variety of languages are available for free online or you can learn interactively with websites like [Codecademy for JavaScript](http://www.codecademy.com/#!/exercises/0), [Learn Python](http://www.learnpython.org/) or [Try Ruby](http://tryruby.org/) |
| |
|
| interactively with websites like [http://www.codecademy.com/](http://www.codecademy.com/#!/exercises/0). for JavaScript or [http://www.learnpython.org/ ](http://www.learnpython.org/)or [http://tryruby.org](http://tryruby.org/) |
For web applications and visualisations, you'll need a basic understanding of JavaScript in order to configure pre made libraries like jQuery. A good source for Javascript information is the [Mozilla Development Network Javascript Page](https://developer.mozilla.org/en/JavaScript) |
| |
|
| [https://developer.mozilla.org/en/JavaScript](https://developer.mozilla.org/en/JavaScript) - especially for web applications and visualisations, you'll need a basic understanding of JS. Common libraries like prototype or jQuery can help |
|
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|
| **Accessibility/User Experience** |
**Accessibility/User Experience** |
| |
|
| WCAG guidelines not only make a web app accessible but make it a better experience for all users! Even if not making an app, good to consider these things to do and not do: [http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG/](http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG/) |
Following accessibility guidelines not only make a application accessible but make it a better experience for all users! Even if not making an app, good to consider these things to do and not do when designing for humans: [http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG/](http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG/) |
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|
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|
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|
| ## examples |
# Developer Tools For Your Computer |
| |
No matter what kind of application you have for the data, there are many tools you can use to better collaborate and manage your project. |
| ## The Open Budget |
|
| |
|
| ## WeatherTree weather API |
|
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|
| ## PlanningAlerts |
|
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|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_2f0199ff1.png)Description: Planning Alerts takes data from local government development applications and sends alerts to users based on what applications are lodged in their area. |
|
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|
| Programming Language: Ruby |
|
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| Source Control: [Git](https://github.com/openaustralia/planningalerts-app) |
|
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|
| Issue Tracking: [Atlassian JIRA](http://tickets.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/browse/PA/) |
|
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|
| ## LobbyLens |
|
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|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/129-Screenshot-LobbyClue_-_Chromium.png) |
|
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|
| Description: Displays connections between government contracts, business details, politician responsibilities, lobbyists, clients of lobbyists, political donors and the location of these entities. |
|
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|
| Programing Language: PHP |
|
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|
| Source Control: SVN (Subversion) |
|
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|
| Issue Tracking: A whiteboard |
|
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|
| ## bus.lambdacomplex.org |
|
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_3789acae.jpg) |
|
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|
| Description: Online Canberra Bus Timetables and Trip Planner. |
|
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|
| Programing Language: PHP/Ruby |
|
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|
| Source Control: Git |
|
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|
| Issue Tracking: Github |
|
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|
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|
| ## Developer Tools For Your Computer {#developer-tools-for-your-computer} |
|
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|
| server admin / technical tools |
|
| many projects will require some kind of internet presence, webpage etc. |
|
| - css framework like bootstrap or zurb foundation |
|
| - css gauges http://www.larentis.eu/donuts/ |
|
| - bootstrap themes, web fonts, css sprites, icon fonts |
|
| - http://designmodo.com/flat-free/ http://designmodo.github.com/Flat-UI/ |
|
| |
|
| - http://ubuntu-tutorials.com/2008/11/11/relaying-postfix-smtp-via-smtpgmailcom/ |
|
| - amon |
|
| |
|
| ### Source Control |
### Source Control |
| Git / Subversion |
Using a version control system like Git or Subversion allows you to keep many different versions of what you have been working on so you can collaborate with others or simply back up your files so you don't lose them! |
| |
|
| [](http://progit.org/book/) |
[](http://progit.org/book/) |
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|
| [http://progit.org/book/](http://progit.org/book/) |
There are [tutorials on git](http://progit.org/book/) and GUIs to help you like [TortoiseGit for Windows](http://code.google.com/p/tortoisegit/) and [Atlassian SourceTree for Windows and OSX](http://sourcetreeapp.com/) |
| |
There is also a [manual for Subversion](http://svnbook.red-bean.com/) and a [similar GUI for Subversion](http://tortoisesvn.net/) |
| [http://svnbook.red-bean.com/](http://svnbook.red-bean.com/) |
|
| |
|
| [http://tortoisesvn.net/](http://tortoisesvn.net/) |
### Task Tracking |
| |
|
| [http://code.google.com/p/tortoisegit/](http://code.google.com/p/tortoisegit/) |
|
| |
|
| ### Task Tracking - |
|
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|
| Issue/task trackers allow you to outline the tasks required for your project and assign them to people to do. |
Issue/task trackers allow you to outline the tasks required for your project and assign them to people to do. |
| |
|
| [Trello](https://trello.com/) and [Workflowy](https://workflowy.com/) are free, lightweight project management tools suitable for a rapid project! |
[Trello](https://trello.com/) and [Workflowy](https://workflowy.com/) are free, lightweight project management tools suitable for a rapid project! |
| |
|
| ## Hosted Developer Tools {#hosted-developer-tools} |
## Virtual Servers |
| |
Many free services to try out virtual/cloud servers before scaling up: https://www.chunkhost.com/ or heroku or https://www.appfog.com/pricing/ |
| Can get many tools (source control, issue tracking) combined into one service cloud hosted so no setup required. |
|
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## Hosted Developer Tools |
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|
| |
Can get many tools (source control, issue tracking) combined into one service cloud hosted so there's no setup required. |
| |
|
| ### Github |
### Github |
| Git obviously but svn/hg interfaces are possible. Provide their own GUI for Windows/OSX or use the variety of Git capable tools |
Git obviously but svn/hg interfaces are also available. Provide their own GUI for Windows/OSX or use a variety of Git capable tools |
| |
|
| ### Sourceforge |
### Sourceforge |
| |
|
| Subversion, Git, Mercurial, Bazaar, CVS, issue tracker, wiki, release file downloads. Unlimited free use for open source projects. |
Subversion, Git, Mercurial, Bazaar, CVS, issue tracker, wiki, release file downloads. Unlimited free use for open source projects. |
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|
| You can create your own Sourceforge project at [http://sourceforge.net/](http://sourceforge.net/) |
You can create your own Sourceforge project at [http://sourceforge.net/](http://sourceforge.net/) |
| |
|
| ### Google Code Project Hosting |
### Google Code Project Hosting |
| |
|
| Git, Mercurial, and Subversion code. Issue tracker, wiki, release file downloads. Unlimited free use for open source projects. |
Git, Mercurial, and Subversion code. Issue tracker, wiki, release file downloads. Unlimited free use for open source projects. |
| |
|
| You can host your Google Code project and get access to developer tools, APIs and documentation at [http://code.google.com/](http://code.google.com/) |
You can host your Google Code project and get access to developer tools, APIs and documentation at [http://code.google.com/](http://code.google.com/) |
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|
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|
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# Applications of data hacking |
| # API Development {#api-development} |
|
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## API Development |
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|
| So an API isn't just an XML file  |
|
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So an API isn't just an XML file! |
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|
| A good web based data API: |
A good web based data API: |
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|
| * Is logically organised |
* Is logically organised |
| * Can filter returned data |
* Can filter returned data |
| * Can return results in different open formats (CSV/JSON etc.) |
* Can return results in different open formats (CSV/JSON etc.) |
| * Is efficient and responsive by using caching and databases appropriately |
* Is efficient and responsive by using caching and databases appropriately |
| * Handles errors gracefully |
* Handles errors gracefully |
| * Monitors and controls access (to show benefit realised of API and prevent abuse) |
* Monitors and controls access (to show benefit realised of API and prevent abuse) |
| * Provides appropriate documentation with examples |
* Provides appropriate documentation with examples |
| |
|
| Some people like sensis [http://](http://developers.sensis.com.au/)[developers.sensis.com.<wbr>au</wbr>](http://developers.sensis.com.au/)[/](http://developers.sensis.com.au/) use a provider like[http://](http://mashery.com/)[mashery.com](http://mashery.com/)[/](http://mashery.com/) or [https](https://apigee.com/)[://](https://apigee.com/)[apigee.com](https://apigee.com/) or [http://](http://apiaxle.com/)[apiaxle.com](http://apiaxle.com/)[/](http://apiaxle.com/) or [http://www.3scale.net/](http://www.3scale.net/) which handles making a good API for them. |
Some people like sensis [http://](http://developers.sensis.com.au/)[developers.sensis.com.<wbr>au</wbr>](http://developers.sensis.com.au/)[/](http://developers.sensis.com.au/) use a provider like[http://](http://mashery.com/)[mashery.com](http://mashery.com/)[/](http://mashery.com/) or [https](https://apigee.com/)[://](https://apigee.com/)[apigee.com](https://apigee.com/) or [http://](http://apiaxle.com/)[apiaxle.com](http://apiaxle.com/)[/](http://apiaxle.com/) or [http://www.3scale.net/](http://www.3scale.net/) which handles making a good API for them. |
| |
|
| Atlassian have a great page on what makes a good API https://developer.atlassian.com/display/REST/Atlassian+REST+API+Design+Guidelines+version+1) |
Atlassian have a great page on what makes a good API https://developer.atlassian.com/display/REST/Atlassian+REST+API+Design+Guidelines+version+1) |
| |
|
| API |
HowTo.gov has a bunch of api resources about choosing SOAP vs. REST etc. http://www.howto.gov/mobile/apis-in-government |
| - howto.gov api tutorial |
|
| - http://shancarter.com/data_converter/ |
API documentation is important too! Traditionally for SOAP APIs, you use WSDL but for REST try [Swagger](http://swagger.wordnik.com/) or [iodocs](https://github.com/mashery/iodocs) |
| - http://training.sunlightfoundation.com/module/data-visualizations-google-docs/ |
Many web app frameworks can generate the documentation for you. For example Symfony for PHP http://symfony.com/ https://github.com/FriendsOfSymfony/FOSRestBundle http://williamdurand.fr/2012/08/02/rest-apis-with-symfony2-the-right-way/ https://github.com/nelmio/NelmioApiDocBundle https://github.com/liip/LiipHelloBundle |
| - api documentation |
Or for Ruby on Rails there is is https://github.com/elc/rapi_doc https://github.com/Pajk/apipie-rails |
| - WSDL or http://swagger.wordnik.com/ or https://github.com/mashery/iodocs |
|
| - http://symfony.com/ https://github.com/FriendsOfSymfony/FOSRestBundle http://williamdurand.fr/2012/08/02/rest-apis-with-symfony2-the-right-way/ https://github.com/nelmio/NelmioApiDocBundle better apis https://github.com/liip/LiipHelloBundle |
For example [Stripe's API](http://amberonrails.com/building-stripes-api/) or previous GovHack entrant [WeatheredOak](http://www.govhack.org/2012/06/02/weatheredoak/) |
| - https://github.com/elc/rapi_doc https://github.com/Pajk/apipie-rails |
|
| - |
|
| http://amberonrails.com/building-stripes-api/ |
## Infographics and Data Visualisation |
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|
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|
| # Infographics and Data Visualisation {#data-visualisation} |
|
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|
| Infographics try to contextualise charts and graphs to tell a story. Data vis builds on this to find new ways to design insight. |
Infographics try to contextualise charts and graphs to tell a story. Data vis builds on this to find new ways to design insight. |
| |
|
| Most of the categories to follow have visualisation tools specific to their purpose. |
Most of the categories to follow have visualisation tools specific to their purpose. |
| |
|
| You can find some data visualisation tools below: |
You can find some data visualisation tools below: |
| |
|
| [http://www.visualisingdata.com/index.php/2011/07/part-6-the-essential-collection-of-visualisation-resources/](http://www.visualisingdata.com/index.php/2011/07/part-6-the-essential-collection-of-visualisation-resources/) |
[Essential Colletion](http://www.visualisingdata.com/index.php/2011/07/part-6-the-essential-collection-of-visualisation-resources/) |
| |
[Drawing By Numbers Tools and Resources](http://drawingbynumbers.org/toolsandresources) |
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- http://selection.datavisualization.ch/ data viz tools catalog |
| Also check out [http://thejit.org](http://thejit.org/) & [http://www.senchalabs.org/<wbr>philogl/</wbr>](http://www.senchalabs.org/philogl/) (contributed by Matt Adcock) |
Also check out [http://thejit.org](http://thejit.org/) & [http://www.senchalabs.org/<wbr>philogl/</wbr>](http://www.senchalabs.org/philogl/) (contributed by Matt Adcock) |
| |
|
| Have to use visual art concepts, good color schemes http://www.r-bloggers.com/the-paul-tol-21-color-salute/ |
A good infographic should use visual art concepts and [good color schemes](http://www.r-bloggers.com/the-paul-tol-21-color-salute/). See the [data visualisation guidelines from the international journalism festival](http://schoolofdata.org/2013/04/26/data-visualization-guidelines-by-gregor-aisch-international-journalism-festival/) |
| |
For more information on the theory of data visualisation check out the [Stanford CS448B notes](https://graphics.stanford.edu/wikis/cs448b-12-fall/) or [The Ultimate Collection of Data Storytelling Resources](http://www.juiceanalytics.com/writing/the-ultimate-collection-of-data-storytelling-resources/) |
| |
|
| - https://graphics.stanford.edu/wikis/cs448b-12-fall/ data viz theory |
Some examples of data visualisation can be seen on [the Sunlight Foundation tumblr](http://sunfoundation.tumblr.com/) or at the GovHack alumn [The Open Budget](http://www/.theopenbudget.org) |
| - http://drawingbynumbers.org/toolsandresources |
|
| |
|
| examples - http://sunfoundation.tumblr.com/ |
## Web Applications |
| tools - http://selection.datavisualization.ch/ data viz tools catalog |
|
| |
With the rise of HTML5 technologies it is easier than ever to make a web application for engaging use of data. |
| |
It's easy to quickly make a good looking and accessible webpage if you use a CSS framework like Bootstrap or Zurb Foundation. |
| |
There are a variety of bootstrap themes like [Flat-UI](http://designmodo.com/flat-free/) |
| # Mobile |
|
| bom water, nz gov budget |
Check out the visualisation tools listed in the data sections for web application tools like these [CSS Dashboard gauges](http://www.larentis.eu/donuts/) |
| html5 jquery mobile like directory.gov.au |
|
| - android datviz |
### Examples |
| - http://code.google.com/p/afreechart/ http://code.google.com/p/snowdon/ http://code.google.com/p/chartdroid/ http://androidplot.com/ http://code.google.com/p/achartengine/ |
|
| |
|
| |
#### PlanningAlerts |
| |
|
| # Geographical Data Tools {#geographical-data-tools} |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_2f0199ff1.png)Description: Planning Alerts takes data from local government development applications and sends alerts to users based on what applications are lodged in their area. |
| |
|
| Check out the[ GeoRabble Boundary Mapper's Cookbook](http://georabble.org/2012/05/31/the-boundary-mappers-cookbook/) to see how you can tie all these things together! |
Programming Language: Ruby |
| |
|
| |
Source Control: [Git](https://github.com/openaustralia/planningalerts-app) |
| |
|
| |
Issue Tracking: [Atlassian JIRA](http://tickets.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/browse/PA/) |
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|
| |
#### LobbyLens |
| |
|
| |
[](img/129-Screenshot-LobbyClue_-_Chromium.png) |
| |
|
| |
Description: Displays connections between government contracts, business details, politician responsibilities, lobbyists, clients of lobbyists, political donors and the location of these entities. |
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|
| |
Programing Language: PHP |
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|
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Source Control: SVN (Subversion) |
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|
| |
Issue Tracking: A whiteboard |
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|
| |
#### bus.lambdacomplex.org |
| |
|
| |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_3789acae.jpg) |
| |
|
| |
Description: Online Canberra Bus Timetables and Trip Planner. |
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|
| |
Programing Language: PHP/Ruby |
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|
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Source Control: Git |
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|
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Issue Tracking: Github |
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|
| |
## Mobile |
| |
|
| |
If you want to get stared quickly with mobile application development, it's worth considering cross platform frameworks like http://www.sencha.com/products/touch http://phonegap.com/ http://cordova.apache.org/ |
| |
|
| |
For a simple mobile app, a web application with a framewrok like jQuery Mobile can work quite well (as used on directory.gov.au) |
| |
|
| |
For data visualisation, there are a variety of graph widgets http://code.google.com/p/afreechart/ http://code.google.com/p/snowdon/ http://code.google.com/p/chartdroid/ http://androidplot.com/ http://code.google.com/p/achartengine/ |
| |
|
| |
You may wish to consider backend frameworks like http://helios.io/ or https://www.parse.com/ |
| |
|
| |
### Examples |
| |
|
| |
Bureau of Meteorology Water Storage App http://icelab.com.au/work/bureau-of-meteorology/ |
| |
|
| |
NZ Gov budget http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/app |
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|
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|
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# Geographical Data Tools |
| |
|
| |
Check out the [GeoRabble Boundary Mapper's Cookbook](http://georabble.org/2012/05/31/the-boundary-mappers-cookbook/) to see how you can tie all these things together! |
| |
|
| |
|
| ## Key datasets |
## Key datasets |
| - base layers like agri http://agri.openstreetmap.org/, http://irs.gis-lab.info/ wms or http://www.gdal.org/frmt_wms_openstreetmap_tms.xml |
There are a variety of base layers like AGRI aerial imagery of Australia http://agri.openstreetmap.org/ or WMS services like http://irs.gis-lab.info/ wms or http://www.gdal.org/frmt_wms_openstreetmap_tms.xml |
| ASGS including suburbs/postcodes |
|
| - andrewharvey4.wordpress.com postgis/asgs tutorial |
ASGS from ABS including suburbs/postcodes andrewharvey4.wordpress.com postgis/asgs tutorial |
| |
You can also get KML layers for various statistical measures on the ABS TableBuilder tool. |
| |
|
| ## Wrangling |
## Wrangling |
| |
|
| ### Converting |
### Converting |
| There are many spatial data formats and often the one your tool requires is not the one the dataset is provided in |
There are many spatial data formats and often the one your tool requires is not the one the dataset is provided in. |
| Online |
You can convert spatial datasets online with http://converter.mygeodata.eu/vector or locally using GDAL (which better for >10 megabyte datasets) |
| - http://converter.mygeodata.eu/vector kml exporter for shp |
|
| or locally using GDAL |
### Geocoding |
| |
|
| ### geocoding |
See this [introduction to geocoding](http://schoolofdata.org/2013/02/19/geocoding-part-i-introduction-to-geocoding/) |
| cloudmade, google (but you must display on a Google Map). |
|
| |
Google Maps APIs allow you to convert an address to map co-ordinates (geocoding) but you must display on a Google Map. The easiest way to do is with a Google Spreadsheet/Fusion Table http://schoolofdata.org/2013/02/19/geocoding-part-ii-geocoding-data-in-a-google-docs-spreadsheet/ |
| Easiest way to do is with a Google Spreadsheet/Fusion Table http://williamparry.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/putting-data-into-google-fusion-tables.htm http://support.google.com/fusiontables/answer/1012281?hl=en&ref_topic=2592806 |
|
| |
If you need geocoding for more than display (working out the distance between points etc) or you don't want to use Google Maps, Cloudmade offers free OpenStreetMap based geocoding http://developers.cloudmade.com/projects/show/geocoding-http-api |
| |
|
| ## Analysis |
## Analysis |
| |
|
| |
|
| ### PostGIS |
### PostGIS |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/postgisexample.jpg)PostGIS is an extension for the PostgreSQL database server that allows you to store and manipulate geospatial data on a large scale. For example finding which points are in an area or what points are closest . It is also very useful for storing geospatial data because it can convert between all major formats including ESRI Shape files and Google Earth/Maps KML. |
[](img/postgisexample.jpg)PostGIS is an extension for the PostgreSQL database server that allows you to store and manipulate geospatial data on a large scale. For example finding which points are in an area or what points are closest . It is also very useful for storing geospatial data because it can convert between all major formats including ESRI Shape files and Google Earth/Maps KML. |
| |
|
| ### Quantum GIS |
### Quantum GIS |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_m50afbe88.jpg)QGIS is a graphical desktop application that allows viewing and editing of geospatial data. Some good base maps are available by adding the WMS layer/server [http://irs.gis-lab.info/](http://irs.gis-lab.info/) |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_m50afbe88.jpg)QGIS is a graphical desktop application that allows viewing and editing of geospatial data. Some good base maps are available by adding the WMS layer/server [http://irs.gis-lab.info/](http://irs.gis-lab.info/) |
| |
|
| |
See this [Creating a Map in QGIS tutorial](http://schoolofdata.org/2013/04/27/creating-a-map-using-qgis/) |
| |
|
| ## Visualisation |
## Visualisation |
| |
|
| ### Layar and other augmented reality tools |
### Layar and other augmented reality tools |
| |
[Layar](http://www.layar.com/) provides a platform for exploring a dataset by travelling to the actual locations of the data and looking through a smartphone. Custom markers (2D or 3D) seem to float in the air and can be clicked on for more information. You can even trigger an event like playing music when within a certain range of a location. |
| |
|
| ### Google Fusion Tables/ChartsBin/[OpenHeatMap](http://www.openheatmap.com/) |
### Google Fusion Tables/ChartsBin/[OpenHeatMap](http://www.openheatmap.com/) |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/fusiontablesscreenshot.jpg)Input numerical values and areas to a spreadsheet and maps are produced where the areas are colored on a scale of the values |
[](img/fusiontablesscreenshot.jpg)Input numerical values and areas to a spreadsheet and maps are produced where the areas are colored on a scale of the values |
| |
|
| http://www.peteraldhous.com/CAR/Making_maps_with_Google_Fusion_Tables.pdf tutorial or http://support.google.com/fusiontables/topic/2592754?hl=en&ref_topic=27020 for google help files |
http://www.peteraldhous.com/CAR/Making_maps_with_Google_Fusion_Tables.pdf tutorial or http://support.google.com/fusiontables/topic/2592754?hl=en&ref_topic=27020 for google help files |
| |
|
| ### [Cartographer.js](http://cartographer.visualmotive.com/) |
### [Cartographer.js](http://cartographer.visualmotive.com/) |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/cartographerjs.png)Input data as JSON and maps are produced. |
[](img/cartographerjs.png)Input data as JSON and interactive maps are produced. |
| See also d3 maps. |
You can also try d3 maps: http://bost.ocks.org/mike/map/ |
| - http://bost.ocks.org/mike/map/ |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| ### OpenLayers/Google Maps/[Leaflet](http://leaflet.cloudmade.com/) |
### OpenLayers/Google Maps/[Leaflet](http://leaflet.cloudmade.com/) |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_512fcbe1.jpg)Display points and different layers. Leaflet is the easiest to use if you just want to show points with popups when clicked on. |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_512fcbe1.jpg)Display points and different layers. Leaflet is the easiest to use if you just want to show points with popups when clicked on. |
| There are wrappers for Google maps like http://hpneo.github.com/gmaps/examples.html and Mapstraction that can make it easier to use too. |
There are wrappers for Google maps like http://hpneo.github.com/gmaps/examples.html and Mapstraction that can make it easier to use too. |
| |
|
| |
If you need to customise the base map, try TileMill. See the [THE INSANELY ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO YOUR FIRST DATA-DRIVEN TILEMILL MAP](http://dataforradicals.com/the-insanely-illustrated-guide-to-your-first-tile-mill-map/) |
| |
|
| ### NASA World Wind/Google Earth |
### NASA World Wind/Google Earth |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_4dda24a4.jpg)Google Earth provides 3\. viewing of KML/GML files which represent points and shapes, both through a desktop application and a web plugin. These can be extended with interactive features that allow you to view by timeline or have animated tours between different points. You can also develop and customise your own viewer with the open source [NASA World Wind toolkit.](http://goworldwind.org/demos/) |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_4dda24a4.jpg)Google Earth provides 3\. viewing of KML/GML files which represent points and shapes, both through a desktop application and a web plugin. These can be extended with interactive features that allow you to view by timeline or have animated tours between different points. You can also develop and customise your own viewer with the open source [NASA World Wind toolkit.](http://goworldwind.org/demos/) |
| |
|
| ### |
### |
| |
|
| # Tabular Data Tools {#tabular-data-tools} |
# Tabular Data Tools |
| |
|
| ## Wrangling |
## Wrangling |
| |
|
| |
### data access |
| |
#### Relational IO platform |
| |
|
| |
- Datasets from the new data.gov.au CKAN repository |
| |
- Datasets from data.act.gov.au Socrata repository |
| |
- Access to NLAs Trove API |
| |
- Select data from data.nsw.gov.au (csv based) |
| |
- Datasets from data.vic.gov.au (csv based) |
| |
- Datasets from data.qld.gov.au (csv based) |
| |
- Access to web services such as Flickr image search, Twitter Search API, Bing search API, Google Search API, Google geocoding, Textrazor language analysis. |
| |
|
| |
Teams will get their own read-only SQL-powered workspace that will give them access to all the above datasets / services allowing them to join and mashup data quickly and easily. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
### conversion |
| |
Converting between formats like json/xml or csv can be done online with http://shancarter.com/data_converter/ |
| |
|
| |
### correction |
| Tabular data may have duplicate entries or incorrect formats (varying ways to enter dates/phonenumbers etc.). There are tools to quickly fix common problems |
Tabular data may have duplicate entries or incorrect formats (varying ways to enter dates/phonenumbers etc.). There are tools to quickly fix common problems |
| |
|
| [DataWrangler](http://vis.stanford.edu/wrangler/)/[Google Refine](http://code.google.com/p/google-refine/) |
[DataWrangler](http://vis.stanford.edu/wrangler/)/[Google Refine](http://code.google.com/p/google-refine/) |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/google_refine_interface.png)Clean up duplicate or inconsistent data entries. |
[](img/google_refine_interface.png)Clean up duplicate or inconsistent data entries. |
| |
|
| Can also use general purpose tools; grep/awk/sed |
You can also use general purpose file manipulation tools like grep/awk/sed. These work best when you instruct them what search/change you need using Regular Expressions (RegEx) which you can learn more about at http://www.regexper.com/ and http://www.debuggex.com/?re=&str= |
| regex http://www.regexper.com/ http://www.debuggex.com/?re=&str= |
|
| |
|
| ## Analysis |
## Analysis |
| |
|
| ### Excel / Calc |
### Excel / Google Docs |
| |
|
| Great basic analysis and viewing. Older versions can be limited to 6500\. or so rows. Eg [http://www.tcij.org/training-material/car/data-mining/3474](http://www.tcij.org/training-material/car/data-mining/3474) |
Great basic analysis and viewing but older versions can be limited to 6500 rows. Eg [http://www.tcij.org/training-material/car/data-mining/3474](http://www.tcij.org/training-material/car/data-mining/3474) or [http://training.sunlightfoundation.com/module/data-visualizations-google-docs/](http://training.sunlightfoundation.com/module/data-visualizations-google-docs/) |
| |
|
| |
See this [Excel Data Journalism tutorial](http://schoolofdata.org/2013/04/24/using-excel-to-do-precision-journalism-an-update-from-the-school-of-data-journalism-in-perugia/) |
| |
|
| ### PostgreSQL/MySQL |
### PostgreSQL/MySQL |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_209ee972.jpg)Next step up, large datasets can be manipulated/extracted efficiently for example [http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.4/static/tutorial-window.html](http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.4/static/tutorial-window.html) , no built-in data visualisation though. |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_209ee972.jpg)Next step up, large datasets can be manipulated/extracted efficiently for example [http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.4/static/tutorial-window.html](http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.4/static/tutorial-window.html) , no built-in data visualisation though. |
| |
|
| ### [Miso Dataset](http://misoproject.com/dataset/) |
See this [SQL for lightweight data analysis tutorial](http://schoolofdata.org/2013/03/26/using-sql-for-lightweight-data-analysis/) |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_m53b7ee38.png)Javascript data transformation library - especially good if you want to use the output for javascript interactive visualisations because the transformations can be done on-the-fly by users. |
|
| |
|
| ### R Statistical Language |
### R Statistical Language |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/rstudio-windows.png)Advanced data analysis, can find and visualise trends in large datasets. Some reference resources to learn the language [http://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/R-intro.html ](http://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/R-intro.html)There are also some addons that provide graphical interfaces that make it easier to use such as Rattle [http://rattle.togaware.com/](http://rattle.togaware.com/) , RStudio [http://rstudio.org/](http://rstudio.org/) or Deducer [http://www.deducer.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.DeducerManual](http://www.deducer.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.DeducerManual) |
[](img/rstudio-windows.png) |
| |
R provides a platform for advanced data analysis which can find and visualise trends even in large datasets. Some reference resources to learn the language [http://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/R-intro.html ](http://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/R-intro.html)There are also some addons that provide graphical interfaces that make it easier to use such as Rattle [http://rattle.togaware.com/](http://rattle.togaware.com/) , RStudio [http://rstudio.org/](http://rstudio.org/) or Deducer [http://www.deducer.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.DeducerManual](http://www.deducer.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.DeducerManual) |
| - http://blog.yhathq.com/posts/10-R-packages-I-wish-I-knew-about-earlier.html |
|
| - excel -> R/rattle/ deducer? http://www.r-bloggers.com/updates-to-the-deducer-family-of-packages/ |
R's value lies in the wide array of libraries and addons you can use. For example [BigVis](http://blog.revolutionanalytics.com/2013/04/visualize-large-data-sets-with-the-bigvis-package.html) lets you visualise 10 Million data points in 5 seconds on an ordinary computer. |
| - http://www.twotorials.com/ for R |
Be sure to checkout the list of ["10 R packages I wish I knew about earlier"](http://blog.yhathq.com/puosts/10-R-packages-I-wish-I-knew-about-earlier.html) |
| - http://www.r-bloggers.com/gradient-word-clouds/ http://www.rstudio.com/shiny/ http://blog.ouseful.info/2012/11/28/quick-shiny-demo-exploring-nhs-winter-sit-rep-data/ https://github.com/timelyportfolio/shiny-d3-plot https://github.com/trestletech/shiny-sandbox/tree/master/grn |
|
| - http://www.r-bloggers.com/video-simpler-tricks-and-tools-help-debugging-git-latex-and-workflow-with-r-by-prof-rob-hyndman/ |
ggplot2 is the typical graphical output of R and is very powerful. See these tutorials for instructions: http://chartsnthings.tumblr.com/post/36978271916/r-tutorial-simple-charts http://flowingdata.com/2012/12/17/getting-started-with-charts-in-r/ |
| - http://yihui.name/knitr/ makes reports including google widgets/charts/maps via http://www.r-bloggers.com/googlevis-0-3-2-is-released-better-integration-with-knitr/ |
You can do some very creative plotting for example [putting pictures of Pokemon where their power level is on an X/Y axis](http://www.r-bloggers.com/to-plot-them-is-my-real-test/) or [a 2D plot with histograms for each dimension](http://www.r-bloggers.com/2d-plot-with-histograms-for-each-dimension-2013-edition/) |
| - http://chartsnthings.tumblr.com/post/36978271916/r-tutorial-simple-charts http://flowingdata.com/2012/12/17/getting-started-with-charts-in-r/ |
|
| |
To share your analysis with the world you can use [KnittR](http://yihui.name/knitr/) which to make reports. These can include google widgets/charts/maps with the [googlevis](http://www.r-bloggers.com/googlevis-0-3-2-is-released-better-integration-with-knitr/) package. |
| |
|
| |
For advanced interactive visualisation you can use [Shiny](http://www.rstudio.com/shiny/) which allows visitors to you page to adjust the R charts. |
| |
Examples of Shiny use include: |
| |
http://blog.ouseful.info/2012/11/28/quick-shiny-demo-exploring-nhs-winter-sit-rep-data/ https://github.com/timelyportfolio/shiny-d3-plot https://github.com/trestletech/shiny-sandbox/tree/master/grn |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| ## Visualisation |
## Visualisation |
| |
|
| ### [Tableau Desktop](http://www.tableausoftware.com/) |
### [Tableau Desktop](http://www.tableausoftware.com/) |
| |
|
| Create visualisations from various data formats by dragging and dropping. Free trial available on website. [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/Tableau-Screenshot.jpg) |
Create visualisations from various data formats by dragging and dropping. Free trial available on website. [](img/Tableau-Screenshot.jpg) |
| |
|
| ### [Flotr2](http://www.humblesoftware.com/flotr2/)/[Google Chart Tools](https://developers.google.com/chart/) |
See this [Tableau Desktop Tutorial](http://schoolofdata.org/2013/04/27/ddjschool-tutorial-analysing-datasets-with-tableau-public/) |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_m11006fce.jpg)Javascript based charts for webpages. |
### Web page (Javascript) graphs |
| |
[Flotr2](http://www.humblesoftware.com/flotr2/)/[Google Chart Tools](https://developers.google.com/chart/) |
| |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_m11006fce.jpg)Javascript based charts for webpages. |
| |
http://www.polychartjs.com/ Allows facetting and easy use of JSON data sets. |
| |
|
| ### D3.js (Data-Driven Documents) |
### D3.js (Data-Driven Documents) |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_m90d8020.jpg)Javascript visualisations that are more interactive or intricate than charts. Can be hard to learn but there are examples and easier to use premade visualisations such as [word clouds](http://www.jasondavies.com/wordcloud/), [realtime filtering of barcharts](http://square.github.com/crossfilter/), or [bubble trees for comparing amount sizes](https://github.com/okfn/bubbletree). |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_m90d8020.jpg)Javascript visualisations that are more interactive or intricate than charts. Can be hard to learn but there are examples and easier to use premade visualisations such as [word clouds](http://www.jasondavies.com/wordcloud/), [realtime filtering of barcharts](http://square.github.com/crossfilter/), or [bubble trees for comparing amount sizes](https://github.com/okfn/bubbletree). |
| d3 |
See these tutorials to get started: http://datadrivenjournalism.net/resources/data_driven_documents_defined http://bost.ocks.org/mike/chart/ |
| - http://datadrivenjournalism.net/resources/data_driven_documents_defined |
|
| - http://www.benmcmahen.com/blog/posts/50eb57d55a94d35262000001 d3 svg |
|
| - d3 tools and tutorial http://enjalot.com/ http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4608440 |
# Unstructured (Text) Data Tools |
| - Why d3 is the way it is and how to make charts http://bost.ocks.org/mike/chart/ |
Most of the world's data isn't structured because it is contained in documents (webpages, tweets etc.). Sometimes it is possible to structure it, sometimes there are tools that are better suited it unstructured data. |
| - how to make an xkcd chart http://bl.ocks.org/3914862 |
## Wrangling |
| |
For extracting data from webpages, checkout Scraperwiki pytemplate scrapy |
| ### Processing.js |
|
| |
PDFs - http://source.mozillaopennews.org/en-US/articles/introducing-tabula/ for text PDFs or http://www.reporterslab.org/dochive/ for images (common in scanned document PDFs) |
| # Unstructured (text documents, webpages, metadata, tweets etc) Data Tools |
|
| |
If there is no way to form a table structure to be able to apply tabular data techniques , you need a more sophisticated analysis as detailed below. |
| ## wrangling |
|
| Scraperwiki pytemplate scrapy |
## Analysing |
| regex |
Natural Language Processing libraries like OpenNLP for Java or NLTK / [Pattern](https://github.com/clips/pattern) for Python allow you to extract information from text. |
| |
One of the most useful techniques found in these libraries is Named entity recognition which extracts the subjects named in a piece of text. |
| #analysing |
|
| - opennlp/nltk / https://github.com/clips/pattern |
A search engine just for your dataset can also help. Tools like Apache Lucene/Solr or ElasticSearch can help you index and search large datasets in new ways. |
| - lucene/solr |
|
| - http://www.r-bloggers.com/simple-text-mining-with-r/ |
For light weight analysis, try R or Ruby: http://www.r-bloggers.com/simple-text-mining-with-r/ http://blog.josephwilk.net/ruby/latent-semantic-analysis-in-ruby.html |
| - http://blog.josephwilk.net/ruby/latent-semantic-analysis-in-ruby.html similar terms usually found together |
|
| |
## Visualising |
| #visualising |
|
| |
You can make word trees of blocks of text, webpages or twitter account and share them http://www.jasondavies.com/wordtree/ |
| Overviewer/ Jigsaw |
|
| http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/ii/jigsaw/ |
"Overview automatically sorts thousands of documents into topics and sub-topics, by reading the full text of each one." Simply make a CSV file with two columns, id and text. 10,000 documents is a good limit for the current state of the system. https://www.overviewproject.org/ |
| |
|
| http://www.jasondavies.com/wordtree/ |
For larger document sets or for alternative visualisations, try Jigsaw a desktop based application. http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/ii/jigsaw/ |
| |
|
| # Graph (relationships and networks) Data Tools {#graph-relationships-and-networks-data-tools} |
|
| |
|
| - http://www.slideshare.net/OReillyStrata/visualizing-networks-beyond-the-hairball |
# Graph (relationships and networks) Data Tools |
| - http://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-554179-622011.html SNA tools catalog |
Graph data can be very valuable for finding communities, hubs and connections between entities (the 6 degrees of separation). This is through the techniques of Social Network Analysis. |
| - https://github.com/jacomyal/osdc2012-sigmajs-demo sigmajs filtering/searching |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| ## Analysis |
## Analysis |
| |
|
| ### R |
### R |
| |
http://www.slideshare.net/ianmcook/social-network-analysis-in-r |
| - http://is-r.tumblr.com/post/38240018815/making-prettier-network-graphs-with-sna-and-igraph |
- http://is-r.tumblr.com/post/38240018815/making-prettier-network-graphs-with-sna-and-igraph |
| |
|
| |
|
| ### Neo4j / OrientDB |
### Graph Databases |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/webadmin-data.png)Help understand relationships - how is X connected to Y and via what other entities they both are connected to. Imports and exports |
[](img/webadmin-data.png)Help understand relationships - how is X connected to Y and via what other entities they both are connected to. |
| |
Imports and exports can be done by [writing a java program](http://www.slideshare.net/maxdemarzi/etl-into-neo4j) or [spreadsheet](http://blog.neo4j.org/2013/03/importing-data-into-neo4j-spreadsheet.html) (for example, [Gmail contacts](http://blog.neo4j.org/2013/04/gmail-email-analysis-with-neo4j-and_24.html)). The fastest way to import data into Neo4j is the [REST batch import API](http://docs.neo4j.org/chunked/milestone/rest-api-batch-ops.html) |
| - http://www.slideshare.net/maxdemarzi/etl-into-neo4j |
|
| http://blog.neo4j.org/2013/03/importing-data-into-neo4j-spreadsheet.html |
There are other graph databases worth considering like [OrientDB](http://www.orientdb.org/) or [Titan](http://thinkaurelius.github.com/titan/) |
| |
Major graph databases like these can be accessed using a common syntax called Gremlin or by writing a simple Java/Python/Ruby application. Queries can be tested in the built in data browser. |
| http://www.orientdb.org/ |
|
| |
|
| Both can be accessed using a preexisting tool like Gremlin or by writing a simple Java/Python/Ruby application. Queries can be tested in the built in data browser. |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| ### [NetworkX](http://networkx.lanl.gov/index.html) |
### [NetworkX](http://networkx.lanl.gov/index.html) |
| |
|
| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/chess_masters.png) |
[](img/chess_masters.png) |
| |
|
| NetworkX is a social network analysis library for python. Many advanced analyses built in like finding communities within a graph. Also good for converting data into graphs. |
NetworkX is a social network analysis library for python. Many advanced analyses built in like finding communities within a graph. Also good for converting data into graphs. |
| |
|
| |
See this [introduction to Social Network Analysis with NetworkX](http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~cm542/teaching/2011/stna-pdfs/stna-lecture11.pdf) |
| |
|
| |
|
| ## Visualisation |
## Visualisation |
| |
|
| |
Proper visualisation of networks can be hard as described in this presentation [Visualising Networks: Beyond the Hairball](http://www.slideshare.net/OReillyStrata/visualizing-networks-beyond-the-hairball) |
| |
|
| ### Tree/Hierarchy visualisation |
### Tree/Hierarchy visualisation |
| Sometimes what you actually have is a tree/hierarchy with no interconnections. |
Sometimes when you analyse a network what you actually have is a tree/hierarchy with no interconnections. |
| http://www.randelshofer.ch/treeviz/ http://thejit.org/demos/ http://mbostock.github.com/protovis/ex/treemap.html http://blog.pixelingene.com/2011/07/building-a-tree-diagram-in-d3-js/d3 for Trees and Hierarchies |
In these cases, it's faster and more visually effective to use a Tree visualisation. |
| http://mbostock.github.com/d3/ex/pack.html http://mbostock.github.com/d3/ex/tree.html |
You can run [TreeViz](http://www.randelshofer.ch/treeviz/) locally or use [d3 on a website](http://bl.ocks.org/mbostock/4063550), [step by step instructions for creating tree data for d3](http://blog.pixelingene.com/2011/07/building-a-tree-diagram-in-d3-js/) |
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d3 also includes [treemaps - bubbles inside bubbles](http://bl.ocks.org/mbostock/4063530) |
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### Flow Visualisations |
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Sometimes it's more about the magnitude (money? amount of communication?) of the connections between nodes. |
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A sankey diagram can easily visualise this http://bost.ocks.org/mike/sankey/ |
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| ### NodeXL for Microsoft Excel |
### NodeXL for Microsoft Excel |
| - http://nodexl.codeplex.com/ network graphs for excel |
[](img/ExcelWindow.png) |
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[NodeXL](http://nodexl.codeplex.com/) allows you to visualise networks/graphs quickly inside Excel. |
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| ### [Graphviz](http://www.graphviz.org/) |
### [Graphviz](http://www.graphviz.org/) |
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| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_7579906d.png)Classic directed graph visualisation tool, can even [generate images online without installing](http://ashitani.jp/gv/) or use in webpages with [javascript port of software](http://code.google.com/p/canviz/). File format ["dot" very easy to learn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_language) |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_7579906d.png)Classic directed graph visualisation tool, can even [generate images online without installing](http://ashitani.jp/gv/) or use in webpages with [javascript port of software](http://code.google.com/p/canviz/). File format ["dot" very easy to learn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_language) |
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| ### Gephi |
### Gephi |
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| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_74d01d05.jpg)Desktop graph editor and renderer. Many good automatic layout algorithms even for very large graphs. |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_74d01d05.jpg)Desktop graph editor and renderer. Many good automatic layout algorithms even for very large graphs. |
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Many tools can produce input files for Gephi including Graph Databases and [a Excel Spreadsheet to map twitter social networks](http://dfreelon.org/2013/04/26/spreadsheet-converts-tweets-for-social-network-analysis-in-gephi/) |
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| ### [sigma.js](http://sigmajs.org/) |
### [sigma.js](http://sigmajs.org/) |
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| [](http://www.govhack.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_m6006eaf3.jpg)Javascript graph viewer, can use GEXF files exported from tools like neo4j, gephi and NetworkX. |
[](img/How-to-participate-in-GovHack_html_m6006eaf3.jpg)Javascript graph viewer for displaying graphs on webpages without any other plugins/applications required. It can use GEXF files exported from tools like neo4j, gephi or NetworkX. |
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It's also possible to [filter/search the displayed network in sigma.js](https://github.com/jacomyal/osdc2012-sigmajs-demo) |
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