My Blog Posts
Understanding Data Ontology
Data ontology is a systematic approach to representing data concepts and their interrelationships. It serves as a formal framework that applies philosophical principles to structure, manage, and interpret data. By guiding data organization, data ontology facilitates its reuse and sharing across different systems. In search engines, Data Ontology helps understand the meaning of a search term and its connection to user intent.
A prime example of data ontology can be found in healthcare systems, where "Patients, Diagnoses, Treatments, and Medications" are defined as classes. This structure enables the organized analysis of patient data across various platforms, creating a map of medical concepts and their interrelations. As a result, querying and interpreting complex medical information becomes much easier and more efficient.
Data ontology also plays a crucial role in building knowledge graphs. When constructing a knowledge graph, data ontology provides the foundational framework by defining key concepts, properties, and relationships within a specific domain. This allows the knowledge graph to represent real-world entities and their connections as a network of nodes and edges. In essence, ontologies serve as the backbone of knowledge graphs, offering a structured representation of domain knowledge and enabling meaningful data organization and analysis.
Below are a few knowledge graphs I have developed after studying big data and data ontology. These knowledge graphs have taken data sets that I have studied and created a more simplified version of the data collected.
Knowledge Maps
Typography Choices in Data Visualization
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Typography is crucial in data visualizations because it directly impacts the readability, clarity, and overall effectiveness of the visual representation. This is done by establishing a visual hierarchy, guiding the viewer's attention to key information, and ensuring the data is easily understood through appropriate font choices, sizes, and weights. By doing this you are ultimately enhancing the overall comprehension of the presented data. Different font sizes and weights help differentiate between titles, labels, data points, and annotations, guiding the viewer's eyes to the most important information first. Also, Choosing legible font families, like sans-serif fonts, is essential for easy reading, especially on digital screens.
For my infographic on replanting coral reefs, I used san serif fonts with different levels of boldness. I used more bold fonts and larger font sizes for the more crucial information, and smaller sized fonts and weights for the less important information. By using fonts like these, I can grab the reader's attention easily. I tried to avoid serif fonts so that fewer distractions would be brought to what people were looking at. My typographical choices contribute to effective storytelling in my infographic because of the simplicity of the fonts. My infographic has a lot going on with the colors and pictures used, so a simple San serif font helps to easily balance out the design and information given on the infographic. I have also made sure to give a reasonable amount of space between my statistics so that the words don't make the infographic too busy. After completing my infographic I am happy with my font choices, and I believe that my typographical choices help to tell the story easily without any confusion.
Planning a Data Narrative: Goals, Audience, and Mock-Up
For our group project, we chose to focus on the increasingly urgent issue of wildfires and their significant impact on climate change. As a team, we were driven by the desire to not only raise awareness but also inspire meaningful action in response to the growing devastation caused by forest fires across the United States and around the world. Our main deliverable was a website designed as part of a larger social initiative—an interactive and informative platform that educates and empowers individuals to take action.
The website we created contains a variety of features, each designed with a specific purpose to support those affected by wildfires and to encourage preventative efforts. One of our most innovative features is an interactive ZIP code tool that allows users to check the wildfire risk in their area. Furthermore, we’ve included a donation portal for those who wish to contribute financially without participating in the auction. To build empathy and create a stronger emotional connection to the issue, we also included a collection of personal survivor stories. These narratives are first-hand accounts from individuals who have experienced the terror and loss brought on by wildfires.
Throughout our website, users will also find practical tips, prevention methods, and educational facts about wildfires. We emphasize how the vast majority of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by human actions, often unintentional but sometimes deliberate. Our statistics page provides visual data to underscore the frequency, severity, and human impact of wildfires. It reinforces the urgency of the issue and the importance of individual and collective responsibility.
Our target audience is essentially anyone living in the United States but we especially hope to reach those who are in a position to contribute, whether financially or through volunteering with rescue and relief organizations.
The content and design of our website were carefully tailored to appeal to a wide demographic, while still providing actionable resources for those who want to make a difference. We also integrated a marketing section showcasing our efforts to spread awareness through social media campaigns and zines. These tools help us reach a wider audience and create a community around our initiative. Our social channels serve as ongoing touch points for updates, calls to action, and educational content, making it easier for people to stay informed and engaged.
After presenting our project to the class, it was encouraging to see our peers show increased interest in the topic. Many expressed that they had learned something new or felt more compelled to learn about and contribute to wildfire prevention efforts. While most of the comments were positive, the constructive critiques we did receive helped guide our next steps. They allowed us to see our work from new perspectives and make refinements that enhanced the professionalism and clarity of our site.
In the end, this project not only deepened our understanding of wildfires and their devastating consequences but also gave us the tools to communicate that knowledge effectively to others. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished and hopeful that our initiative can inspire more people to get involved in protecting our forests.
Engaging Data: Goals, Audience, and Mock-Up Design.
For our project, our group focused on analyzing data related to wildfires and exploring how these increasingly frequent events contribute to climate change. In order to communicate our findings and message in an engaging and impactful way, we created a website titled “Forest Fires: Effects on Climate Change.” Alongside this, we launched a social justice initiative called Rise From the Ashes, which centers on the growing devastation caused by wildfires in the United States and their clear link to climate change, particularly as a result of human activity.
Our mission is to educate, engage, and inspire action. Through the use of interactive tools, emotionally resonant storytelling, and accessible, data-driven resources, we aim to raise awareness about the true impact of wildfires. Too often, wildfires are seen as isolated incidents or natural disasters with minimal long-term consequences. Our goal is to challenge this perception by showing that wildfires are a significant and escalating environmental threat—one that is exacerbated by human negligence and climate inaction.
We emphasize the importance of understanding that many wildfires are preventable. By showcasing the real-life stories of those affected and providing clear, actionable insights, we hope to foster a sense of urgency and responsibility in our audience. Wildfires are not just distant environmental events; they are deeply personal tragedies for countless families and communities and have far-reaching implications for air quality, biodiversity, and global carbon emissions.
Our primary target audience is young adults aged 18 to 35. This group is highly engaged on digital platforms, making them more likely to interact with online educational tools, share content, and participate in advocacy. Additionally, this age range is often at the forefront of volunteerism and grassroots activism. By reaching this demographic, we believe we can help build a movement of informed and motivated individuals ready to take action.
To engage and educate this audience, we incorporated two key interactive components into our campaign: a wildfire awareness quiz and our original board game, Escape the Wildfire, both of which are available in the marketing section of our website.
The quiz offers an interactive way to test and improve knowledge of wildfire facts, fostering learning through participation.
The board game immerses players in high-pressure scenarios modeled after real wildfire emergencies. Players begin in designated safe zones and must reach evacuation areas before the fire spreads uncontrollably. Each turn presents new challenges through event cards, which can either aid or hinder progress—such as resource shortages, fire acceleration, or community support. Movement is determined by dice rolls, but players must also work cooperatively and strategically to survive and protect their communities. The game is designed to simulate the emotional and tactical decisions faced by those in real-life wildfire situations, encouraging empathy, awareness, and problem-solving.
In conclusion, we believe our project provides a meaningful platform for raising awareness about the dangers of wildfires and their connection to climate change. By combining data, storytelling, and interactive engagement, we aim to inspire individuals to take practical steps—whether through volunteering, donations, or everyday environmental responsibility—to reduce wildfire risks and support affected communities. Our hope is to not only inform but also to mobilize a generation that understands the urgency of the climate crisis and is willing to act on it.
Project Focus
As I return to the topic of coral reef restoration, it becomes increasingly clear how critical and urgent this issue is becoming to our planet. Despite being a vital environmental concern, the degradation of coral reefs remains underrepresented in mainstream discussions surrounding climate change. The decline of these ecosystems is largely driven by human activity, including pollution, overfishing, and the ongoing rise in ocean temperatures. Without immediate action to the rising issue, the damage may become irreversible.
Throughout the semester, I have been thoroughly researching the decline of coral reefs, with a specific focus on the data and restoration efforts led by organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). According to NOAA, we have already lost between 30% and 50% of the world’s coral reefs—a statistic that continues to worsen with each passing year. These ecosystems are not just biodiverse marine habitats; they play a critical role in protecting coastlines from storms and erosion, supporting local economies through tourism and fishing, and serving as a source of food, income, and even new medicines for over half a billion people globally.
Through this project, I was able to explore a range of data sets and create knowledge maps that helped me identify and visualize the complex causes behind coral reef degradation. These included rising ocean temperatures, increased frequency of coral bleaching events, and various forms of human-induced stress. I also analyzed maps and satellite imagery that track ocean temperature fluctuations and highlight regions most affected by bleaching. These tools allowed me to make meaningful connections between environmental trends and their direct impact on reef ecosystems. Eventually, I also gathered this information to create an infographic on reef restoration.
My primary goal in choosing this topic was to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis affecting coral reefs and to encourage others to explore how they can contribute to conservation efforts. While joining a reef restoration organization or participating in hands-on marine conservation is an impactful step, there are also many smaller, accessible actions individuals can take. These include reducing plastic waste, participating in local clean-up events, being mindful of purchasing products made from coral or other marine life, and spreading awareness about ocean conservation within their own communities.
I selected this topic because I believe it does not receive the attention it deserves. For many people, the ocean may feel distant and disconnected from their everyday lives. However, it is home to a vast array of marine species, and its health is deeply intertwined with the overall well-being of our planet. Ignoring the deterioration of our oceans is not only a disservice to marine life but also to future generations who will inherit the consequences of inaction.
Through this project, I hope to have not only deepened my own understanding of coral reef restoration but also inspired others to take this issue seriously. Even small changes, when multiplied by many, can have a significant impact. If we act now, there is still hope for our reefs and the countless lives that depend on them.