Paul Rowe (Vernon Systems) - See the forest, not the trees: free data visualisation tools
Channel: NDF - National Digital Forum
Date: 2016-12-07

Lightning talks
3:30 - 4.30pm Tuesday 22 November, Main Stage (Soundings)

Cultural heritage collections often total in the tens of thousands of items. As the volumes of data increase it can become harder to spot trends and gaps in the information. The options for visualising your data have never been better. Tools available include the chart features built in Microsoft Excel, interactive options for graphing data in Watson Analytics and Tableau, and map generators such as Google Earth. This presentation shows how you can use free tools to interpret your data. This presentation will use real examples of collection data from organisations across Australia and New Zealand.
Working with collections data can be challenging. Reporting on collections data can be complicated by factors such as inconsistent record keeping, evolving data standards, and multiple eras of cataloguing staff. Data visualisation can help you see your data clearly and put the key facts at your fingertips. Is your organisation collecting different types of items over time? Are particular keywords only sparsely used? Do specimen records show up in unexpected locations on a map, indicating problems with the original data? Data visualisations can be used to guide project decisions, improve the presentation of annual reports, and share knowledge with the heritage community.

Paul Rowe is CEO of Vernon Systems, an Auckland-based collections management software company. Vernon Systems develops software that helps organisations record, interpret and share their collections. Paul is particularly interested in the use of web-based systems within museums and increasing public access to museum collection information. He is occasionally seen caving.