Overview
To uncover the hidden trends or reveal insights you will need help from data visualization software. There are hundreds of options available these days; even other data related software include the ability to create visualizations. The software vary in terms of ease, accessibility, and functions. We have categorized the most commonly used software based on their main purpose. Below we have brief descriptions and locations of the software that UNLV supports. For more in depth information use the "Visualization Software" dropdown bar and choose software based on the main function you need.
If you don't see a software you have a question about, please feel free to send an email to our data visualization specialist since they still may be able to help: alyssa.renteria@unlv.edu
What is data visualization?
Data visualization is the representation of data through graphics such as charts, graphs, infographics, animations, and maps.
Perform visualizations and calculations using Tableau, an interactive data visualization software. Tableau offers free one-year licenses to students at accredited academic insitutions.
Gephi is an open-source network analysis and visualization software package written in Java.
Power BI is an interactive data visualization software developed by Microsoft predominantly focused on business intelligence.
VisIt is an open source, interactive, scalable, visualization, animation and analysis tool. VisIt contains a rich set of visualization features to enable users to view a wide variety of data including scalar and vector fields defined on two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) structured, adaptive and unstructured meshes.
ParaView is an open source post-processing visualization engine that utilizes the Visualization Toolkit to analyze large datasets.
What is data manipulation?
Data manipulation is the process of changing or modifying data in a database to make it more readable and organized. It is sometimes referred to as data cleaning, data cleansing, or data scrubbing. To learn more about data manipulation visit our guide on data cleaning. Below are commonly used data manipulation software.
Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications.
OpenRefine is an open-source desktop application for data cleanup and transformation to other formats, an activity commonly known as data wrangling. It is similar to spreadsheet applications, and can handle spreadsheet file formats such as CSV, but it behaves more like a database.
What is statistical analysis?
Statistical analysis is the process of analyzing collected data to identify patterns and trends while also taking uncertainty into account. There are a few types of statistical analysis: descriptive, inferential, predictive, prescriptive, exploratory, and casual. Below are popular statistical analysis choices.
From traditional statistical analysis of variance and predictive modeling to exact methods and statistical visualization techniques, SAS software is designed for both specialized and enterprise level analytical needs.
Through IBM, SPSS is a statistical analytics software package.
A statistical software package.
R is a programming language and environment for statistical computing and graphics.
What is GIS? What is spatial analysis?
GIS is a computer system that creates, manages, analyzes, and displays geospatial data. Spatial analysis or spatial statistics is the process of examining entities based on their locations, attributes, and relations to other entities. To learn more about this subject please visit our GIS LibGuide.
ArcGIS is an integrated collection of GIS software products for spatial analysis, data management, and mapping.
QGIS is a free and open-source professional GIS application. It's licensed under the GNU General Public License and is an official project of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo).
GeoDa is a free and open source software that supports spatial analysis research infrastructure such as geovisualization and spatial modeling.
Google Earth is a computer program that projects satellite imagery and aerial photography onto a 3D globe.
Open Space is an open source interactive data visualization software designed to visualize the entire known universe and portray our ongoing efforts to investigate the cosmos.
ATLAS.ti is a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software that facilitates analysis of qualitative data for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research. ATLAS.ti is available for graduate students in the GPSA student computer lab at Lied Library
ATLASti offers free introductory software training.
ArcGIS Pro is the ArcGIS Desktop product which can be found in any of the labs listed below. ArcGIS Pro requires a paid AGOL or UNLV ArcGIS account to access the software.
Available in these computer labs:
R Statistical Computing available in these computer labs:
RStudio Desktop available in these computer labs:
From traditional statistical analysis of variance and predictive modeling to exact methods and statistical visualization techniques, SAS software is designed for both specialized and enterprise level analytical needs.
Available in these computer labs:
Available in these computer labs: