Data Vases: 2D and 3D Plots for Visualizing Multiple Time Series

One challenge associated with the visualization of time-dependent data is to develop graphical representations that are effective for exploring multiple time-varying quantities. Many existing solutions are limited either because they are primarily applicable for visualizing non-negative values or because they sacrifice the display of overall trends in favor of value-based comparisons. We present a two-dimensional representation we call Data Vases that yields a compact pictorial display of a large number of numeric values varying over time. Our method is based on an intuitive and flexible but less widely-used display technique called a "kite diagram." We show how our interactive two-dimensional method, whole not limited to time-dependent problems, effectively uses shape and color for investigating temporal data. In addition, we extended our method to three dimensions for visualizing time-dependent data on cartographic maps.