1. Data Visualization Web Application
Fusion Tables
Data Visualization Web Application
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2. Fusion Tables: Learning Objectives
Introduction to Fusion tables
What are they?
How can you use them?
Pros and Cons
Practice using Fusion tables
Install
Import tables
Create and format maps
Making tables accessible

3. Required Resources A Google Drive Internet connection
Spreadsheet Application

4. Introduction to Fusion Tables
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5. What are Fusion Tables Free web service and Data management tool
an “experimental data visualization Web application”
processes imported data into visual maps, charts and graphs
Commonly imported data: CSV (comma-separated values), spreadsheets (.xls, .xslx, .ods and Google Spreadsheets) and KML files.

6. What are Fusion Tables (cont’d)
Totals storage quota 1GB
Upload file size limit to 250 MB of data per user.
Recommended data:
Contains less than a hundred columns
One row of information cannot be greater than 1MB.

7. Why Use Fusion Tables? Generate dynamic Infographics
Create visual representations that help study changes over time
Analyze data findings
Modify your approach

8. Fusion Tables: Pros & Cons
Free, simplified & easy to use
Familiar interface
Cons:
Experimental project. Features may have discontinued support.
(not unusual)

9. Get Started with Fusion Tables
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10. Getting Started: Installing Fusion Tables
To install Fusion Tables:
Log into your google drive account: drive.google.com
Google Drive window > click NEW button in red>
select More > choose connect more apps + >
Run a quick search for Fusion tables in the search bar OR
Scroll down until you find Fusion tables app Icon >
Click + Connect

11. Import Dataset into Fusion Tables
To import a dataset into Fusion tables
Click the NEW Button in google drive > Select more >
Select Google Fusion Tables.
In the Import new table prompt window you have the option to import from:
From this computer
Google Spreadsheets
Create empty table
4. Select From this computer > Click Choose File

12. Import Dataset into Fusion Tables (cont’d)
Navigate to the filename.csv > hit Next
A preview of your dataset file appears, click Next
Give your table a name > click Finish.

13. A Look into Fusion Tables
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14. Different Looks in Fusion Tables
New Look:
A new approach to exploring data
To switch from Classic look to New Look:
Click the Switch to new look link in the top right corner
Classic Look:
Currently has option unavailable in New Look
To switch to Classic Look:
Help > Select Back to classic look

15. Mapping Information using Fusion Tables
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16. Fusion Tables: Create a Map
Relies on Geocoding (Longitude and Latitude coordinates)
Equivalent to entering the address in google maps
Things to consider before Mapping:
Full address in one cell
Column type in Fusion tables
Edit menu > select Change columns
Set column Type to Location

17. Fusion Tables: What is Geocoding?
Geocoding: the process of converting an address to geographic coordinates
Fusion tables automatically geocode places within a set limit:
users with free access can submit 2400 requests/ 24 hour period
5 requests/second.
Manually run geocoding:
File > select Geocode
May have to visit the Map tab first before geocoding registers

18. Fusion Tables: Create a View
Create a view in Classic view:
Save New view
Add comments
Share it and collaborate with others
To Create a view:
File menu > Select Create view >
Uncheck columns you don’t want in your new view >
Give the view a name > Click Save view
***Note: New views are private but can be shared

19. Fusion Tables: Filtered View
Create a filtered view in Classic Look:
File menu > Select Create view again > Select Filter tab
Dropdown menus will appear
Select the column name
Select the operators/boolean expression
Set the condition that fits your research requirements.
To apply more conditions > click the Add condition link

20. Fusion Tables: Editing Data
Rows:
In the new look window, there are two ways of adding rows:
Edit > Select Add Row
File > Import more rows > In the preview window
(Option - not recommended - : Select the columns you would like to import by checking the boxes next to the column headings.
This will result in a shift to the left of all cell content)
***Note: When importing rows ensure the file contains the same number of
columns and in the same order as file in Fusion tables.

21. Fusion Tables: Editing Data (cont’d)
Columns:
Adding columns is ONLY done in the classic look
In classic Look:
Click Edit menu > Select Add column >
Provide a column name and type (text, number location) >
Click Save

22. Fusion Tables: Column Types
Each column is identified by a type:
Text: default type
Number: integers/decimals.
date/time: Dates and times
Location: Addresses and geographical coordinates
Fusion tables can automatically detect column types. But they can be changed manually:
In the new look: Click the dropdown triangle menu next to the column heading > select Change.
In the classic look:
Edit menu > Select modify columns

23. Fusion Tables: Changing Placemark Icons
Placemark Icons display location point on a map using the default red dot.
Placemark Icons can be changed:
Classic look: Visualize menu > Select Map > Configure styles >
New look: select the Map tab > Select Change feature styles under Feature map
There are options:
Fixed: Applies the same marker to every location
Column: Customize markers by adding marker information
Buckets: Applies marker depending on whether the item falls within the set condition

24. Fusion Tables: Fixed Placemark Icons
In New look:
Click Map tab > Select Configure Map
Under the Feature map > click Change feature style... button
Under Points > Marker Icon >
In Classic look:
Click Visualize menu > Select Map > Click configure styles > select points > Marker icons
In the fixed tab > Select your placemark icon

25. Fusion Tables: Column Placemark Icons
Fusion tables recognizes 200 icon names.
A full display of these icons is found:
The list of these icons’ names:
To use these icons:
Create a separate column with the icon names in
your table
Go to Configure styles > select points >
Marker icons > Select Column tab >
Choose the column name from the dropdown menu >
Click Save.

26. Fusion Tables: Buckets Placemark Icons
Adds a specific placemarker if the set condition is met
To Accomplish this:
Go to Configure styles > select points >
Marker icons > Select Column tab >
Click the Buckets tab > select the Divide into… >
Choose the column that contain the data for which you will set the conditions >
Modify the number of buckets using the + or - buttons
***Note: Fusion tables automatically detects the lowest and highest range in a column.

27. Fusion Tables: Delete Rows & Tables
Delete a Row in New look:
Select the row first
A trash Icon will appear, just click the trash icon
Delete a Row in Classic look:
Click the trash icon that appears to the right of the row.
Delete a Fusion table:
In your google drive window right click
Select Remove.

28. Fusion Tables: Merge Tables
New look
File > Merge…
Select the table to merge
Click Next
Identify a column in each table to match up the values
Click Merge
Hit View table
Classic Look
Merge Menu
Select a table from the dropdown menu
Identify a column in each table to match up the values
Enter a name for the merged tables
Click Merge tables

29. Fusion Tables: Merging (cont’d)
A merged table is indicated by a different background colour for its columns
To review which tables have been merged by:
Click File > About
Merged tables are saved automatically

30. Fusion Tables: Merging Limitations
Cannot:
Add or Import Rows
Add Columns
Delete Rows & Columns
Make a copy of the table
***Workaround: Download table from the file menu.***

31. Sharing Data Using Fusion Tables

32. Fusion Tables: Types of Access
There are 3 types of access:
Private: Only people assigned permission can view it upon signing into their account
Public: Anybody can access the table. It is also indexed for research. No need to sign in.
Anyone with the link: Anyone who has a link to your table can access it without signing in.

33. Fusion Tables: Roles & Permissions
As Viewer:
sort, query and visualize the data
Leave comments
Merge tables to compare data
As Editor:
Create, edit, & delete rows
Add, change and delete columns
Create, change and delete tabs
Delete comments.
Geocode data
Change table metadata

34. Additional Features of Fusion Tables

35. Fusion Tables: Publishing
There are a number of ways to Publish parts of a Fusion table:
As links or embedded tables or charts
As a Browser URL
As a map…
To Publish:
Click Tools menu > Select Publish

36. Additional Resources Fusion Tables Help site & tutorials:
Visualization examples:

37. In Participation with:
This research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada:

38. Fusion Tables DPI Workshop Module by Mona Elayyan for the Digital Pedagogy Institute: Improving the Student Experience is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.