Andy

Utilising Python’s Matplotlib to Create Advanced Data VisualisationsExample Gantt chart created using matplotlib — image by the author.Often matplotlib has a bit of a reputation for creating boring figures and being awkward to use. However, with some patience, research and extra lines of python code, we can create some unique and very visually appealing figures.When learning python, matplotlib is often the first data visualisation library that people come across. With a few lines of code, you may end up generating a…

This recent round of layoffs will affect departments like Amazon Web Services, human resources, advertising, and Twitch live streaming.Image: David Ryder (Getty Images)In an email to staff this morning, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced another round of layoffs at the massive tech corporation—this time resulting in 9,000 Amazon employees losing their jobs. According to the memo, which was obtained by CNBC, the affected departments include Amazon Web Services, human resources, advertising, and Twitch live streaming.The move…

Two Great Python Options for Visualising Geospatial VariationPhoto by KOBU Agency on UnsplashHeatmaps, also known as Density Maps, are data visualizations that display the spatial distribution of a variable across a geographic area. They can be great tools for visualising and identifying trends, supporting decision-making, detecting outliers, and creating compelling visualisations for presentations.There are several mapping python libraries available, however, two very popular and easy to use libraries are Folium and…

Tools for Making it Easy to Select Colour Palettes for Data VisualisationsPhoto by Daniele Levis Pelusi on UnsplashSometimes the smallest of things can take a lot longer than we think. When building data visualisations, we will reach a point where we need to decide on a colour scheme — something that may seem simple but is very important and can either make your data visualisation flop or pop. At this stage we can often spend hours choosing the right shade of blue or checking whether we have enough contrast between…

In every argument, debate or article about the rise of the modern celebrity, one name always reappears: Andy Warhol. Do you know who first documented the minutiae of their life? Andy Warhol. Do you know who coined the phrase “In the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes”? Andy Warhol. How did it happen? He made it happen. Warhol, the original narcissist; Warhol, the genius; Warhol, the void. He is responsible for the TikTok dancers, the Instagram models hogging the infinity pools, the needy comedians, the intense…

Easily Create Visually Appealing Circular Bar Plots in PythonRadial bar chart created using matplotlib. Image by the author.Radial bar charts are a visually attractive alternative to traditional bar charts. Data are plotted on a polar coordinate system instead of the conventional cartesian coordinate system. This allows the bars to be represented by rings rather than as vertical bars.Radial bar charts can make a great and visually appealing graphic to include in a presentation or poster if you are looking to catch the…

An Introduction to the PyGWalker Library for Easy Data VisualisationPyGWalker showing multiple plots within the same view. Image by the author.Creating effective and compelling data visualisations quickly and efficiently is a key part of the data science workflow. There are several options available to do this ranging from commercial software like Tableau to free alternatives like dedicated python libraries. The amount of skill and time needed to generate plots can vary between the different options.Over the years,…

Using the Python Streamlit Library to Track and Monitor Medium StatisticsPhoto by Markus Winkler on UnsplashI have been a writer on Medium for a while and recently started tracking my statistics using Excel. But, more recently, I have been thinking of building an app using Streamlit to provide a better experience. So I thought why not give it a go and write an article as I build it?Within this article, we are going to go through the process of building a simple Streamlit dashboard and provide a way for the end user to…

At the age of 74, Andy Fairweather Low didn’t expect to see in 2023 as a viral sensation. He was on Jools’ Annual Hootenanny, performing his new song Got Me a Party and his old band Amen Corner’s 1969 chart-topper (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice. His appearance was so well received that he trended on Twitter. On New Year’s Day, his Wikipedia page was the second most trending in the UK.“I was oblivious,” he chuckles, “because I don’t do Twitter and all that.” The broadcast had been filmed in mid-December. Low had appeared on…

Creating Interactive Maps of UKCS Oil and Gas Field OutlinesPhoto by Aksonsat Uanthoeng, downloaded from Pexels.Folium is an excellent python library that makes it easy to visualise geospatial data on interactive maps using the power of Leaflet.js. In my previous article, I covered how to display individual markers on a folium map, but we can use folium also display data that has been stored within a GeoJSON file.GeoJSON is a commonly used file format for storing geospatial data and uses JavaScript Object Notation. These…