gsoc-report.Rmd

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# My GSoC 2024 Project

Nathan Yang

8/23/2024

## Introduction

Glyph maps offer a novel way to visualize spatio-temporal data on a map. Single curve or line plot glpyhs as implemented in the [cubble](https://github.com/huizezhang-sherry/cubble) package can offer unique insights into both seasonal and geographic trends of a single variable across different datasets. My project was set to extend ggplot to include more unique types of glyphs that would expand the options for multivariate spatio-temporal visualization.

## Preliminary Work

I had research a lot of background information about general R package development, writing an extension to ggplot2, as well as the fundamental linear algebra behind displaying glyphs on a map.

Here are the primary resources I used throughout the project to guide construction of the stglyphs package.

-   [ggproto objects](https://ggplot2.tidyverse.org/reference/ggproto.html)

-   [Extending ggplot2](https://ggplot2-book.org/extensions)

-   [r-pkgs](https://r-pkgs.org/whole-game.html)

-   [cubble](https://github.com/huizezhang-sherry/cubble)

-   [Glyph-maps for visually exploring temporal patterns in climate data and models](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/env.2152)

## Final Submission

The primary goals of my project were to develop extensions for ggplot2 that implemented different kinds of glyphs as well as create detailed tests, documentation, and vignettes for my code.

The package I created successfully implements geom_segment_glyph which adds line segment plots as a new glyph option for mapping. This geom was tested with two different datasets that are also included in this package. The `stations` dataset is a compilation of weather data from 10 different weather stations across the US. The `flights` dataset is a list of canceled flights than originated from the top 10 airports wit the most canceled flights.

Additionally rescaling functions for `geom_segment_glyph` (and future glyphs) were also created and documented in this package.

## Future Plans

I plan to work with my mentors through a merger with another similar project. Additionally, there are various aesthetics and parameters that still need to be ironed out for `geom_segment_glyph`. There will also always be more glyphs to be created!

## Reflection

I would like to thank my mentors Sherry Zhang and Dianne Cook for their incredible and thoughtful guidance throughout this project. With their support, I was able to make steady progress on this project week by week and gather feedback/suggestions for future development.

There is still a lot of work to be done and different glyph ideas to explore and flesh out, but I am really happy with the work I have put in and the current functionality of the stglyphs package.

Lastly, thank you to Google for organizing and funding this project as part of Google Summer of Code.

Repo Link: <https://github.com/Knicey/stglyphs>

Website: <https://knicey.github.io/stglyphs/>

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