Initial Publication Date: February 3, 2005

Tools For Creating Visualizations

This section provides information on a large number of tools used to create vizualizations. This resource will help you if you are trying to decide what tool to use to build a visualization, or if you just want to know more about the wide array of tools available and how they differ.

Tools that Everybody Can Use:


  • QuickTime. QuickTime movies can display, edit, and manipulate many types of multimedia formats including video, images and audio. QuickTime movies may also consist of scenes created using 3-D applications like Bryce.
  • OpenDX. OpenDX allows users to freely create, distribute, and develop visualization solutions.
  • MicroDEM. MicroDEM is a microcomputer GIS mapping program geared toward geoscience instructors.

Tools for the 'Middle-Ground' User:


  • Director. Director is used to create and building rich content and applications for CDs, DVDs, kiosks, and the Internet.
  • Flash. Flash allows users to build rich, effective applications for e-commerce, corporate intranets and more.

Tools for the High-Level User:


  • IDV Unidata/UCAR. The UNIDATA Integrated Data Viewer (IDV) is a discipline specific visualization package for Meteorology