Challenge Summary
Welcome to the Indian Railway - Train Network Dynamic Visualization Design Challenge. In this challenge, we are looking for your help in creating and designing visualization solutions for the Indian Railways that helps users understand the dynamics of the Indian Railways by exploring the density, movement and location of trains with respect to their stations using the provided data.
We are looking for the Topcoder Design community to help make sense of a complex issue through data and design!
Round 1
Submit your initial visualization for Checkpoint Feedback
Notes.jpg: Please note any comments about your design for the Client
Please number your visualization screens (00, 01, 02, 03) in the order of click path!
Round 2
Your Final visualization design with all Checkpoint Feedback implemented.
Notes.jpg: Please note any comments about your design for the Client
Please number your visualization screens (00, 01, 02, 03) in the order of click path!
Challenge Details
Indian Railways is an Indian state-owned enterprise, owned and operated by the Government of India through the Ministry of Railways. It is one of the world's largest railway networks comprising 115,000 km (71,000 mi) of track over a route of 65,436 km (40,660 mi) and 7,172 stations.In 2013–14, Indian Railways carried 8.425 billion passengers annually or more than 23 million passengers daily (roughly half of which were suburban passengers) and 1050.18 million tons of freight in the year. (source: wikipedia)
Data visualization
Data visualization is the presentation of data in a pictorial or graphical format. For centuries, people have depended on visual representations such as charts and maps to understand information more easily and quickly. Make sure to do your design research (and review the listed references)
Design Problem:
The present form of visualizing the Indian Railways doesn't capture the detail in terms of density, dynamics and doesn’t provide comprehensive spatial information of trains with respect to stations at both state and national level.
- Hand built Indian Railways map example: http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/india/india-railway-map.htm
Challenge Design Goals:
We are looking for you to provide a solution that visualizes the Indian Railway Network in an interactive and dynamic manner
- Use the provided data to dynamically visualize the Indian Railways
- Help a viewer understand they dynamics of the Indian Railways by exploring the density, movement and location of trains with respect to their stations using the provided data
- Use modern graphic design techniques to help convey the data better (modern, flat design techniques)
- Browser screen size: 1366 x 768px.
- When planning your visualization we would like to avoid scrolling
- AcSIR Branding (Colors are open to the designers!)
Provided Data (see attachment)
- The Data matrix is composed of data provided in the form of a Train-Station Matrix (trainStationMat.xlsx).
- The first column in the Excel sheet represents all the trains (3690) and the corresponding columns to each train represent the journey of train in a forward direction while passing through listed stations.
- While the names of trains are in complete detail, a station ID code, however is utilized for naming all the stations.
Disclosure: Data provided as part of the challenge is publicly available data and in no ways represent Indian Railways data.
Visualization Requirements:
We are looking for a dynamic visualization based on the given Train Station Matrix.
- You might need to include filters/search options as applicable to simplify traversing visualization.
- Your visualization will be implemented as a dynamic/interactive visualization where user will click and dive deep to find more information!
Your visualizations need to address the provided questions:
1) What is the dynamics between two train stations (i.e. total number of trains starting from one station and ending at another station)?
2) What is the dynamics and density of trains that run once a week, twice a week and daily?
3) Your visualization needs to show a station specific interactive visualization (show specific station of interest and its corresponding connectivity to the entire country)?
4) Which is the highest/least connected station?
5) State wise highly connected station and its corresponding links?
6) Visualize shortest paths between any given two station amongst all the paths?
7) Visualize the actual distance between any give two stations for a given train from its source to destination?
8) How many such trains are there that have same route of forward and backward journey?
9) What is the best possible way to visualize cross sections among trains passing through common stations?
10) What else, you think can be addressed through this visualization?
Interactive Data Visualization References:
Below are some inspirational dynamic/interactive data visualization: (DO NOT COPY)
- http://visual.ly/vizbox/startup-universe/
- http://www.concerthotels.com/100-years-of-rock/
- http://www.cssdesignawards.com/articles/interactive-data-visualization-examples-tools/58/
Target Audience:
- Policy makers, public users, logistics company and trip advisor like organization
Judging Criteria:
Visualizations will be judged on the following criteria:
- Understanding: How effectively does the visualization communicate?
- How well does it help the viewer make sense of this issue?
- Originality: Are the approach and design innovative?
- Style: Is the visualization aesthetically compelling and informative?
Mentorship
- This AcSIR project is done under mentorship of Dr. Samir K Brahmachari
Submission & Source Files:
Preview Image
Please create your preview image as one (1) 1366x768 px JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place a screenshot of your submission within it.
Submission File
Submit JPG/PNG for your submission files.
Source Files
All original source files of the submitted design. Files should be created in Adobe Photoshop and saved as layered PSD file, or Adobe Illustrator as a layered AI file.
Final Fixes
As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to modify your graphics (sizes or colors) or modify overall colors. We may ask you to update your design or graphics based on checkpoint feedback.
Please read the challenge specification carefully and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this challenge. It is important that you monitor any updates provided by the client or Studio Admins in the forums. Please post any questions you might have for the client in the forums.