Interactive data driven exploration of COVID-19

Journal article

We present two experimental interactive dashboards that combine OWID (Our World in Data) case data with OxCGRT (Oxford Coronavirus Government Response Tracker) policy indices for multiscale analysis of COVID-19 which is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities in our global systems. Data regarding COVID-19 was gathered and made available for open access. These data sources offer invaluable information for tracking, monitoring, raising awareness and understanding of COVID-19, recognizing its impact, as well as informing the general public, health authorities, policy makers, situation managers, and decision makers. However, COVID-19 data in its raw form is complex and difficult to understand and analyze. The application of visualization together with human factor design principles in a complex systems framework provides an effective means for exploiting these big and complex datasets. These visualization techniques can transform such inherently non-visual data into intuitive visual forms that enable users to gain insight into, and understanding of, information contained within the data – which is essential for a co-ordinated response. This paper discusses the application of visualization and development of interactive dashboards, set in a complex systems framework, to provide an effective means for the users to explore, analyze and gain awareness of the situation, thus enabling informed decision making.

Authors: Varga, M; Panganiban, AR; Ndoni, A; Lavigne, V; Traeber-Burdin, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Journal: Information Visualization
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 429-445
• Publication date: 2025-09-11
• DOI: 10.1177/14738716251365892
• EISSN: 1473-8724
• ISSN: 1473-8716
• Language: English
• Keywords: user interaction; complex systems; exploratory visualization; visual analytics; COVID-19; human factors