Biking at UIUC: the Creation of a StoryMap

The 651 total buildings owned by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign stretch across an area of 9.9 square miles, or 6,370 acres. With a campus as large as ours, it’s no wonder the students, faculty, and staff use so many different means of transportation. Cars, bikes, skateboards, public transit, scooters – you name it!

When the weather is even halfway decent, you can find me biking around campus. It’s quick, convenient, and provides a bit of exercise in the otherwise sedentary life of a grad student. However, biking on campus is not without its frustrations. Bike routes are not always obvious, and sometimes they’re blocked by pedestrians or poorly parked cars. Even though I’ve gained more confidence in using bike lanes, it’s always a little nerve-wracking when I need to merge into traffic to turn left, or when a bus drives by and I’m stuck between it and a row of parked cars, the doors of which could open at any moment.

biker avoiding an open car door
photo by Dominik Stallings

With these concerns in mind, I set out to learn more about the different kinds of bike routes on campus and the safety pros and cons of each. I read various research articles and made observations of potential features or issues while biking around campus. I took photos of campus bike routes, including common bike lane hazards, some of which were staged for the sake of photography, but still very real issues. I learned about resources related to getting around campus, and wanted to further share them.

In order to present my research, which relied heavily on maps, I used ArcGIS StoryMaps. This software was well-suited to the needs of this project. I was able to get data on bike routes and parking areas from campus facilities, which I used to create web maps with ArcMap and ArcGIS Online so that viewers could see each type of bike route in isolation. Continuity of bike routes has been found to be an important factor in whether people choose to bike, and certain people may feel more or less comfortable using different types of routes, so I wanted to demonstrate how these comfort limitations affect route continuity, possibly leading to fewer people choosing to bike.

Screenshot of shared-use paths map

These maps, photos, and narrative elements came together to tell a story about biking on campus. To learn more about the campus bike network, the safety pros and cons of different bike route types, and campus navigation tips, you can explore the StoryMap here.

Unreadable: Challenges and Critical Pedagogy to Optical Character Recognition Software 

In the 21st century, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software has fundamentally changed how we search for information. OCR is the process of taking images with text and making them searchable. The implications of OCR vary from allowing searchability on massive databases to promoting accessibility by making screen readers a possibility. While this is all incredibly helpful, it is not without fault, as there are still many challenges to the OCR process that create barriers for certain projects. There are also some natural limitations to using this software that especially have consequences for time-sensitive projects, but other factors within human control have negatively influenced the development of OCR technology in general. This blog post will explore two issues: the amount of human labor required on an OCR project and the Western biases of this kind of software. 

Some text in ABBYY FineReader. Not all of the appropriate text is contained within a box, indicating the human labor that needs to go in to correct this.
Public Domain Image

Human Labor Requirements 

While OCR can save an incredible amount of time, it is not a completely automated system. For printed documents from the 20th-21st century, most programs can guarantee a 95-99% accuracy rate. The same is not true, however, for older documents. OCR software works by recognizing pre-built characters the software was initially programmed to recognize. When a document does not follow that same pattern, the software cannot recognize it. Handwritten documents are a good example of this, in which the same letter may appear differently to the software, depending on how it was written. Some programs, such as ABBYY FineReader, have attempted to resolve this problem by incorporating a training program, which allows users to train the system to read specific types of handwriting. Even still, that training process requires human input, and there is still much work for individuals to put into ensuring that the processed document is accurate. As a result, OCR can be a time-consuming process that still requires plenty of human labor for a project.  

Western Biases  

Another key issue with the OCR process is the Western biases that went into the creation of the software. Many common OCR programs were designed to handle projects with Latinized scripts. While helpful for some projects, this left barriers to documents with non-Latinized scripts, particularly from languages commonly used outside the West. While advances have been made on this front, the advancements are still far behind that of Latinized scripts. For example, ABBYY FineReader is one of the few software programs that will scan in non-western languages, but it cannot incorporate its training program when those scripts aren’t Latinized. Adobe Acrobat can also scan documents with languages that use non-Latinized scripts, but its precision is less consistent than with those languages that do.  

An old version of ABBYY FineReader. The text scanned on the left is a language with a non-Latinized script. The right side shows a variety of errors due to the system's lack of knowledge of that language.
Photo Credit: Paul Tafford 

Addressing the Issues with OCR 

Although OCR has performed many amazing tasks, there is still much development needed when it comes to projects related to this aspect of scholarly research. One crucial component when considering taking on an OCR project is to recognize the limitations of the software and to account for that when determining the scope of your project. At this stage, OCR technology is certainly a time-saver and fundamentally changing the possibilities of scholarship, but without human input, these projects fail to make an impact. Likewise, recognizing the inequality of processing for non-western languages in some of the more prevalent OCR software (which several developers have looked to offset by creating OCR programs specifically catered to specific non-Latinized languages). Acknowledging these issues can help us consider the scope of various projects and also allow us to address these issues to make OCR a more accessible field.

Explore the Possibilities with ArcGIS StoryMaps

ArcGIS StoryMaps is a handy tool for combining narrative, images, and maps to present information in an engaging way. Organizations have used StoryMaps for everything from celebrating their conservation achievements on their 25th anniversary to exploring urban diversity in Prague. The possibilities are vast, which can be both exciting and intimidating for people who are just getting started. I want to share some of my favorite StoryMap examples, which will demonstrate how certain StoryMap tools can be used and hopefully provide inspiration for your project.

A Homecoming for Gonarezhou’s Black Rhinos

Screenshot of a storymap with text about and an image of rhinos.

If GIS and map creation are a bit outside your wheel-house, no worries! A Homecoming for Gonarezhou’s Black Rhinos is a StoryMap created by the Rhino Recovery Fund that is a great example of how a StoryMap can be made without using any maps. It’s also a good example of the timeline feature as well as making great use of a custom theme by incorporating the nonprofit’s signature pink into the story’s design.

Sounds of the Wild West

Screenshot of a storymap with text about and an image of the Yellowstone River.

Sounds of the Wild West is a StoryMap created by Acoustic Atlas that takes you on an audio tour of four different Montana ecosystems. This StoryMap is a lovely example of how powerful images and audio can immerse people in a location, enhancing their understanding of the information presented. The authors also made great use of the StoryMap sidecar, layering text, images, and audio to create their tour.

California’s Superbloom

Header of the California's Superbloom StoryMap

Speaking of beautiful photos, this StoryMap about California’s Superbloom is full of them! It’s a great example of the StoryMap image gallery and “swipe” tools. The StoryMap swipe tool allows you to juxtapose different maps or images, revealing the difference between, for example, historical and modern photos, or satellite imagery during different times of year in the same region.

The Surprising State of Africa’s Giraffes

Screenshot of The Surprising State of Africa’s Giraffes StoryMap with a map highlighting the habitat of the Northern Giraffe

The Surprising State of Africa’s Giraffes is a StoryMap created by ESRI’s StoryMaps team that demonstrates another great use for the sidecar. As users scroll through the sidecar pictured above, different regions of the map are highlighted in an almost animated effect. This not only provides geographic context to the information, but does so in a dynamic way. This StoryMap also includes a great example of an express map, which is an easy way to make an interactive map without any GIS experience or complicated software.

Map Tour Examples

StoryMaps also features a tool that allows you to take users on a tour around the world – or just around your hometown. The map tour comes in two forms: a guided tour, like the one exemplified in Crowded Skies, Expanding Airports; and an explorer tour, such as The Things that Stay with Us.

StoryMaps Gallery

There are so many different forms a StoryMap can take! To see even more possibilities, check out the StoryMaps Gallery to explore nearly a hundred different examples. If you’re ready to get your feet wet but want a bit more support, keep an eye on the Savvy Researcher calendar for upcoming StoryMap workshops at the UIUC Main Library.

The University of Illinois Privacy Conference 2023

The Privacy Office, a team housed in the University of Illinois’s Technology Services geared towards data security and privacy for students, faculty, and staff, partnered with the Big Ten Academic Alliance to host their third annual Privacy Everywhere Conference and their first hybrid event. This conference, hosted at the Beckman Institute and conveyed over Zoom, focused on “Building Digital Trust,” diving into issues like understanding privacy issues as a layperson, higher education privacy initiatives, and digital surveillance.

In our current societal climate, internet use is ubiquitous and impossible to avoid if you want to be a part of social life. The Privacy Conference provided the opportunity for attendees to learn how “decisions about privacy affect our professional, educational, and personal lives.” I attended this event to educate myself on how data practices, policies, and ethics affect my autonomy and what I can do to protect my privacy.

Privacy Everywhere Logo
© Technology Services, Privacy & Cybersecurity

Conference points that stayed with me:

  • Data Minimization Principle – minimizing data collection and deleting data instead of storing, sharing, and selling it.  
  • Patron Burden – we are expected as service users to know all the proper steps and practices to protect our data, even when “Terms and Conditions” and service systems are purposely opaque.
  • Digital Surveillance & Legislation –  state legislation is focused on protecting children, leaving a loophole for law enforcement and companies to share and retain information
  • Awareness – as a layperson, there is a lot I don’t know about protecting my data, but I attended this conference to learn. Look into your state legislation on data protection and privacy and share the information you’ve learned with your circle.

If you missed the conference, you can watch the recording of each session via MediaSpace, if you’re affiliated with the University of Illinois. Be on the lookout for the 2024 conference. The conference welcomes university students, faculty, and staff!

Data Storytelling with Scholarly Commons

What is Data Storytelling? 

Oftentimes data is presented in a manner that is dry or incomprehensible to a general audience. Data storytelling is a more interactive and compelling way to present information. Data storytelling is defined as using visualizations to tell a narrative that communicates insights about data to a wider audience.  

Venn diagram with three circles which are narrative, visuals and data. Where visuals and narrative overlap says engage. Where visuals and data overlap says enlighten. Where narrative and data overlap says explain. In the intersection of all three circles says change.  
Brent Dykes, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons 
 

When writing a data story, start by collecting your data. Look for the most interesting trends and determine the main points you want to get across in your data story. A data story should have a complete narrative rather than being a series of barely connected data visualizations. Make sure the story you are telling is appropriate for your audience.  

Resources for Creating a Data Story: 

The Scholarly Commons Collection is located in the UIUC Main Stacks. Books in this collection are available to check out. The collection includes books that provide introductory information to data storytelling. 

  1. Effective data storytelling : how to drive change with data, narrative and visuals 

This resource is available to UIUC faculty, staff, and students online. It focuses especially on the narrative aspects of data storytelling rather than the visualization aspect. This book explains the psychology of why storytelling is such an effective communication tool.  

  1. Storytelling with data : a data visualization guide for business professionals 

This resource is only available as a physical book. Data storytelling is a method often used by business professionals to impart information in a more meaningful and persuasive way. This book speaks specifically to business professionals and explains how to consider context, determine the appropriate format for the story, and speak to an audience in a compelling way.  

  1. Storytelling with data : let’s practice! 

This book is also available online with an active illinois.edu email address. It provides over 100 hands-on exercises to help you to gain practice in choosing effective visuals, keeping your visualizations clean, and telling a story.  

Scholarly Commons also provides access to various software that can be accessed on the computers in Main Library room 220. These tools can also be accessed through UIUC Anyware. Useful software for data storytelling includes: 

  1. Tableau Public

Tableau is a popular data visualization tool with many features useful for making many types of visualizations, such as histograms, pie charts, and boxplots. Tableau also allows users to create dashboards which create a comprehensive story by combining visuals and data.  

 Dashboard created in Tableau
Marissa-anna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

  1. ArcGIS 

ArcGIS software allows you to create maps and add data to them. This tool would be especially useful if your data is geographically focused. ArcGIS StoryMaps is an additional tool that allows you to create a story using images, texts, maps, lists, videos and other forms of media.  

Map of Covid cases created in ArcGIS

Dennis Sylvester Hurd, CC-BY 2.0, via Flickr 

If you have data you need to share with an audience, consider sharing it through a data story. Data stories are often more visually appealing and engaging than other methods of sharing data. The Scholarly Commons has lots of useful tools to help you create a data story!