Abstract

On behalf of Thomas Schulz, Head of the Publishing and Dissemination Section, Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
Strand 3 - Delivering Value: Statistics for an Informed and Digital Society

As we can all see, today, more and more statistical data is offered to a wide range of users in the form of visualisations. In fact, data visualisations are the medium of the moment in dissemination. They are effectively generating quickly comprehensible and clear information from large sets of numbers for a normally broad target audience. They can be used and distributed in almost all channels and media – from classic publications to websites and social media. The Swiss Federal Statistical Office has a long tradition in using data visualisations for its official information mandate. Over time, the number of visualisations (from simple to complex charts, from maps to infographics) used in various means of dissemination, grew from a few hundred every year to now 10,000 assets per annum.

Since there is genuine demand here and we want to meet it, it was clear to us that we could no longer provide so many graphics using the same semi-automatic and manual processes as we did 5 or 10 years ago. Over the past three years, FSO has therefore invested in a new, integrated data visualisation framework that not only consists of a new team and new tools, but provides also completely new processes and, above all, aids and rules for publishing so many visualisations efficiently and effectively. While working with the framework, one will not only learn all methods of graphical representation, but also how to prepare the statistical data for the process. With an interactive chart chooser incorporated, authors will be guided to the best method of transforming their statistical data into effective, data-based, open, timely, and user-friendly information objects. At the same time, a lot of sensitivity is given to accessible visualisations and special target groups.