Data Visualization for Planners: Using Tableau

In the hands of planners, data visualization is a powerful tool for urban visualization, traffic data visualization, housing data visualization, and geolocation data visualization, among many other forms of visualization. As the name suggests, data visualization software allows users to visualize information in an organized and informative fashion. This track teaches the general principles of data visualization in Tableau, a popular data visualization software. Course instructor Sean Maguire, a respected and recognized planning and economic development professional based in New York’s Capital Region, begins by teaching the foundations of Tableau, including the principles of a relational database an overview of the Tableau dashboard. The second course builds on data visualization tools developed in the introductory course and gives students an understanding of how to build effective worksheets specifically for planners. The track concludes with a deep dive into Tableau dashboards, covering the use of Tableau for building multi-worksheet dashboards with interactive controls like filtering and publishing data to Tableau Public, including embedding Tableau dashboards on websites and in social media. Each course in this track is approved for AICP CM credit.