Visualization

Challenge

The tool I would like to choose is visualization. For me, a fishery scholar, what I need

to do for environmental protection companies and agencies is to design various fishery

management and restoration proposals based on different water environments and

requests from clients which can help my clients to solve some problems, e.g., water

pollution, decline of fish resources.

Selection

In order to make my clients better understand what I intend to express, I usually use

the software, PowerPoint (PPT) and R language, to draw a few sketches (the most

important), flow charts, and timetables. The software can visualize almost all my

thoughts, e.g., mapping, analyzing data, so it’s very helpful for me to meet challenges.

Application

First, I will go through all the relevant documents and materials about the project I

undertake. For example, I need to purify the water quality and increase the fish

resources in a lake. What I should do is to collect all documents and materials of the

lake, then I must go to the lake to collect water, aquatic plant, and fish samples and

analyze them. What’s more, I have to communicate with the managers and local

workers to get first-hand information on the lake conditions.

Second, after acquiring all the information I need and detailed requests from my

clients, I will draft a construction project for the management and restoration of the lake.

Then, I will draw some sketches and flow charts based on the construction project using

PPT application and R language. I will also discuss the proposal with at least 3 experts

using the sketches, flow charts, and timetables. They will give me some comments,

such as: 1) whether the proposal is feasible? 2) Can the means of restoration and

management be more simplified? 3) Is the cost reasonable? According to the

suggestions from the experts, I will revise the proposal and draw new sketches, flow

charts, and timetables. More importantly, I will show the sketches, flow charts, and

timetables to my clients, listen to their comments and suggestions, and reply to their

questions. At last, I will revise my proposal and draw new sketches, flow charts, and

timetables and show them to my clients again.

Insight and Approach

I found that it is very helpful for someone to understand something when we visualize

our thoughts. No matter which visualization software we choose, we will express our

thoughts clearly if we convert the redundant text into pictures. In addition, I think a

picture is worth a thousand words and it is very convenient for us to share our ideas

with others and add new ideas.

Last but not least, I will convert the redundant text into videos to show my clients in

the near future. Because I think it will be more interesting and comprehensible than just

some pictures and flow charts.

