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APPLES Reflection II

The purpose of our project does not change. After we discussed with our client about our project along the development, we had a better understanding of why our client needed an integrative tool and how we can implement this to help our client to reach her goal. We are more excited about their mission because if our dashboard can be displayed on the website of UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, more people can see the Gillings’ outreach to many countries and its global impact. Our product has three parts–the python code for data processing, the tableau dashboard for data visualization, and the website for information integration. Previously, there were a lot of map data and project information on Gillings’ website but it was difficult for the users to have a holistic view of the works of the Gillings directly and thoroughly. First, we identified incomplete, incorrect, inaccurate or irrelevant parts of the data by replacing, modifying or deleting the dirty data, so we can keep the most useful attributes we want for visualization. Then, tableau has a mature and organized system to generate powerful visualization of the data. It can simplify all these location information into filters and a map, which gives a more user-friendly interaction than texts or numbers alone. The map with filters is the most important feature since it shows straightforwardly the global impact of the Gillings School on research. Before, our client did not want a map, because she thought it might look redundant on the website, but later we found out and persuaded her that this map would indeed be the best way to display the influence of the Gillings School. It has a filter interaction for people to use, so that they can see the project by the location. The map not only gathered all the information but also exhibited the information to the users in an organized and compelling way.