Creating practical applications for data is a real challenge given the huge increase in data production. How to move from data to knowledge dissemination and raising public awareness? The challenge is to implement data visualisation/computer graphics/3D/data journalism techniques so as to graphically represent data and indicators. The data can then be regularly disseminated and contextualised via digital social networks to engage a community of interest.
25 September 2020
Extract from a weir animation video

Extract from a weir animation video (2019). 

© Vincent Godard - BRGM

The need

The project is based on computer graphics techniques for digital media and is intended to enhance the value of environmental data from the French Office for Biodiversity, available in several information systems mainly intended for professional users and stakeholders of the water, biodiversity and marine environments information systems. It aims to stimulate interest by facilitating the use and understanding of these data, and thus improve dissemination to the general public, through data visualisation techniques (new ways of representing data).

This "democratisation of data through image and video" via 2.0 formats aims to improve the distribution of computer graphics content via digital social networks and thus to engage a community of interest around data produced by public stakeholders.

Interactive dashboard

Interactive dashboard for visualising and cross-referencing the indicators in the repository of flow obstacles.

© BRGM

The results

As an example, two types of format, based on a single piece of source data, in the flow obstacle repository, were produced in 2019:

  • An interactive dashboard allowing users to visualise and cross-reference indicators in the repository of flow obstacles,
  • A video featuring these figures, illustrated with 3D animations.

Using the results

These multimedia productions are mainly aimed at the general public (mass media) and a wider audience (citizens, schools, etc.), as well as those involved in scientific mediation (NGOs, associations, teachers, journalists, etc.) who, as communicators themselves, are encouraged to take up this content and share it in their own productions.

The partners

  • OFB