Data Preparation

ISSS608 Visual Analytics and Applications

Introduction

Data Preparation

Dashboard

Dataset Explained

There are five types of sensors recording data [Gate-name]:

1. Entrances (0-4): All vehicles pass through an Entrance when entering or leaving the Preserve.
2. General-gates (0-7): All vehicles may pass through these gates. These sensors provide valuable information for the Preserve Rangers trying to understand the flow of traffic through the Preserve.
3. Gates (0-8): These are gates that prevent general traffic from passing. Preserve Ranger vehicles have tags that allow them to pass through these gates to inspect or perform work on the roadway beyond.
4. Ranger-stops (0-7): These sensors represent working areas for the Rangers, so you will often see a Ranger-stop sensor at the end of a road managed by a Gate. Some Ranger-stops are in other locations however, so these sensors record all traffic passing by.
5. Camping (0-8): These sensors record visitors to the Preserve camping areas. Visitors pass by these entering and exiting a campground.
   

These gates categorize vehicles as follows [Car-type]:

1. 2 axle car (or motorcycle)
2. 2 axle truck
3. 3 axle truck
4. 4 axle (and above) truck
5. 2 axle bus
6. 3 axle bus
   

Vehicles receiving a pass with a “P” appended to their category are park service vehicles that have access to all parts of the Preserve. Currently, the Preserve vehicles are only 2 axle trucks, so they are designated as “2P” vehicle type.

The Preserve Map

The contractors working with the Nature Preserve rangers have provided a map that presents the Preserve in terms of a 200x200 gridded area. The grid is oriented with north at the top of the map. Grid location (0,0) is at the lower left corner of the map (the SW corner). They have superimposed both the roadways and the sensor locations on this grid. The map shows an area 12 miles x 12 miles.
Roadways are indicated by white colored pixels on the map. Each sensor type has its own unique color: Entrances (green), General-gates (blue), Gates (red), Ranger-stops (yellow) and Camping (orange).

Other information about the dataset:

1. Traffic either passes through the Preserve, stay as day campers, or stay as extended campers.
2. Preserve Rangers stay at the ranger-base toward the southeast of the Preserve when they are not working in the Preserve.
3. The speed limit through the Preserve is 25 mph.
4. The Preserve area does not observe “Daylight Savings Time”.
5. The roadways traveling southward from Entrances 3 and 4 do continue to other roadways outside of the Preserve area, but these are not shown on the map. VeExhicle data will not reflect travel beyond the Preserve in this direction.
   

Data Snippet (.csv format)

Timestamp	car-id	car-type	gate-name
2015-05-01 00:15:13	20151501121513-39	2	entrance4
2015-05-01 00:32:47	20151501121513-39	2	entrance2
2015-05-01 01:12:42	20151201011242-330	5	entrance0
2015-05-01 01:14:22	20151201011242-330	5	general-gate1
2015-05-01 01:17:13	20151201011242-330	5	ranger-stop2
2015-05-01 01:20:36	20151201011242-330	5	ranger-stop0
2015-05-01 01:24:11	20151201011242-330	5	general-gate2
2015-05-01 01:46:16	20151201011242-330	5	entrance2
2015-05-01 01:55:25	20155501015525-264	1	entrance0
2015-05-01 01:56:53	20155501015525-264	1	general-gate1