**4. Big data as an alternative visualization tool for GIS**

Can big data be an alternative tool for visualizing GIS and mapping works? Does big data plus location data equal to GIS data? Does big data visualization have any hidden card that surpasses GIS visualization and mapping? I will find answers to these questions in writing this section. Big data's potential for an alternative visualization tool for GIS is to be drawn from several examples in big data technology.

In the visualization and demonstration technology, big data and GIS share together in some aspects. However, there is each field's original aspect that cannot be shared or come together (see **Figure 8**). In **Figure 8**, there are three areas defined: (A) as a GIS visualization's exclusive area, (C) as a big data visualization's exclusive area, and (B) as an overlapping area between two technologies.

GIS visualization's exclusive area (A) indicates that visualization takes places based on location or map with geographic coordinates. Meanwhile, big data visualization's exclusive area (C) means a visualization demonstration without a location or map, which denotes no spatial context are provided. Many big data visualization outcomes do not have any geographic traits or variables and belong to this exclusive area.

**Figure 9** is an exemplary map of the area (A), while **Figure 10** is an instance of the area (C). **Figure 9** shows US cities by their elevation in which larger bubble implies higher the city location. I can create this figure using US city and state shape (.shp) files with ArcView GIS software. **Figure 10** shows a gender and ethnicity in tech companies with online Tableau public. In this visualization, there is no evidence of location or mapping technology. This is a pure big data visualization area that is not related with a spatial context or geographic coordinates.

What is the overlapping area (B) that both GIS and big data work together or cooperate? In the (B) area, locations or geographic coordinates are important factor, and big data visualization technologies are also playing a crucial role in demonstration. In **Figure 11**, I provide an example of area (B) with the Chernoff face and US map, in which the Chernoff face denotes multivariate big data visualization using human facelike variables with SAS or R programming. There are many other visualization examples available if any big data expressions are embedded in maps or spatial context. **Figure 11** is also a good example of area (B) because it is clearly telling the location although it does not use a map. **Figure 12** shows how much population is moving from a continent to another with big data visualization technology of Tableau software.

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**Figure 10.**

*GIS and Big Data Visualization*

**Figure 9.**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82052*

*GIS visualization example: US cities by their elevation with ArcView GIS.*

*Big data visualization example: gender and ethnicity in tech companies with online Tableau public [12].*

**Figure 8.** *GIS visualization and big data visualization Venn diagram.*

#### **Figure 9.**

*Geographic Information Systems and Science*

windows with GeoDa desktop software.

spatial context or geographic coordinates.

**4. Big data as an alternative visualization tool for GIS**

exclusive area, and (B) as an overlapping area between two technologies.

actively adapted to big data based software or systems to build up location oriented systems as well as more persuasive graphic works. **Figure 7** shows visualization

Can big data be an alternative tool for visualizing GIS and mapping works? Does big data plus location data equal to GIS data? Does big data visualization have any hidden card that surpasses GIS visualization and mapping? I will find answers to these questions in writing this section. Big data's potential for an alternative visualization tool for GIS is to be drawn from several examples in big data technology. In the visualization and demonstration technology, big data and GIS share together in some aspects. However, there is each field's original aspect that cannot be shared or come together (see **Figure 8**). In **Figure 8**, there are three areas defined: (A) as a GIS visualization's exclusive area, (C) as a big data visualization's

GIS visualization's exclusive area (A) indicates that visualization takes places based on location or map with geographic coordinates. Meanwhile, big data visualization's exclusive area (C) means a visualization demonstration without a location or map, which denotes no spatial context are provided. Many big data visualization outcomes do not have any geographic traits or variables and belong to this exclusive area.

**Figure 9** is an exemplary map of the area (A), while **Figure 10** is an instance of the area (C). **Figure 9** shows US cities by their elevation in which larger bubble implies higher the city location. I can create this figure using US city and state shape (.shp) files with ArcView GIS software. **Figure 10** shows a gender and ethnicity in tech companies with online Tableau public. In this visualization, there is no evidence of location or mapping technology. This is a pure big data visualization area that is not related with a

What is the overlapping area (B) that both GIS and big data work together or cooperate? In the (B) area, locations or geographic coordinates are important factor, and big data visualization technologies are also playing a crucial role in demonstration. In **Figure 11**, I provide an example of area (B) with the Chernoff face and US map, in which the Chernoff face denotes multivariate big data visualization using human facelike variables with SAS or R programming. There are many other visualization examples available if any big data expressions are embedded in maps or spatial context. **Figure 11** is also a good example of area (B) because it is clearly telling the location although it does not use a map. **Figure 12** shows how much population is moving from a continent to another with big data visualization technology of Tableau software.

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**Figure 8.**

*GIS visualization and big data visualization Venn diagram.*

*GIS visualization example: US cities by their elevation with ArcView GIS.*

#### **Figure 10.**

*Big data visualization example: gender and ethnicity in tech companies with online Tableau public [12].*

#### **Figure 11.**

*US states' death penalty executions since 1976 [13].*

#### **Figure 12.**

*The flow of human migration with online Tableau public [12].*

Does big data visualization overcome GIS and its limitation? About this issue, I describe some insights in the following section.
