International Business Machines Corporation
VISUALIZING SPARSE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL DATA

Abstract:

A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for visualizing sparse multi-dimensional data. A multi-dimensional dataset ("dataset") is converted into a three-dimensional architecture and the remaining dimensions, if any, are arranged into one or more planes. The sparse numeric data of the dataset is converted into multiple planes based on partitioning the three-dimensional architecture by the most sparse dimension and aligning the remaining two-dimensions as two-dimensional planes. Colors or shades of colors are assigned to these planes based on the density quantum of the data present in the planes. Furthermore, planes of the dataset are constructed using the assigned colors or shades of color and the defined opacity values of the planes. The constructed planes are mapped to the dataset in the form of a cube(s) and possibly two-dimensional planes, where the darkest color and the least translucent section(s) of the dataset are positioned in the center of the cube(s).