Graph visualization expert, Corey Lanum, explains the processes required to visualize NoSQL databases and datastores as networks or graphs.

1. Visualizing NoSQL Databases
Corey Lanum

2. Cambridge Intelligence
Founded in May 2011
We build toolkits for network visualization

3. Corey Lanum
General Manager –
Americas
Former Sales
Engineering Lead for i2

4. Outline
• What are networks?
• Why visualize networks?
• Visualization techniques
– Animation
– Color
– Interactivity
• What about dynamic networks?

5. What are networks?
• A network is a model of interconnected data where
the connections are just as important as the data
elements
• Networks are typically modeled as nodes, edges, and
properties – when done this way, can be called a
“graph”
• Many technologies exist to work with graphs
• Graph databases are useful for working with networks
but not required. Even key-value pairs can be modeled
as networks!

6. Botnet Tra"c

7. Twitter Connections

8. Email Communications

9. Healthcare Claims

10. Purpose of visualization
• To better understand the structure of
the data that you are collecting
• To better understand the relationships
contained in the data that you are
collecting

11. Why Visualize Networks?
• Graph data is inherently visual
• Accessible by non-scientists
• Convey a deeper understanding of data
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<graphml xmlns="http://graphml.graphdrawing.org/xmlns"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:schemaLocation="http://graphml.graphdrawing.org/xmlns
http://graphml.graphdrawing.org/xmlns/1.0/graphml.xsd">
<graph id="G" edgedefault="undirected">
<node id="n0"/>
<node id="n1"/>
<edge id="e1" source="n0" target="n1"/>
</graph>
</graphml>

12. Why uses graph visualization?
• Finance and Insurance
– Fraud discovery and investigation
– Regulatory compliance
• Information Technology
– Network Topology
– Risk Assessment
• Government
– Defense and Intelligence
– Law Enforcement
• Oil and Gas
– Physical Infrastructure

13. Creating visualizations
• Convey Information Through Visual
Properties
– Nodes
• Images or Icons
• Colors
• Sizes
• Glyphs
– Edges
• Colors
• Width

14. Add interactivity
• Query
• Animate - Changes to the chart should be animated so
that the user doesn’t lose track of nodes
• Layout - The user should be provided with multiple
layout options to see what best organizes the data
• Explore - The user needs to be able to inspect non-visual
properties of the nodes and edges
• Expand - The user needs to be able to add additional
data to the visualization
• Combine and Filter - Not every data element needs to be
drawn on the chart at once

15. Dynamic Networks demo

16. Thanks! Any questions?
info@cambridge-intelligence.com