DiVisa is a multi-dimensional information visualization tool that en ables researchers to understand the behavior of network data.

A snapshot of the DiVisa user interface from an animated visualization of a simulation of the “Abilene” network. On the left panel, the innermost nodes are the backbone routers, the next ring represents the subnet routers, and the outermost ring shows the leaf routers. On the right panel, the time series curves of the routers (one is currently selected) are displayed. On the right side, different options are available — numeric data display (top), superposed time series curves (middle), and diagram view (bottom).

From raw data, the user can interact with the visualization in order to obtain different points of view, and thus extract more information from the data. Geo-metrical forms such as squares, ellipses, or lines are associated with data, and visual attributes such as position, size, shape, color, and stroke are used to represent different dimensions. Researchers can easily modify the associations between data items and visual attributes; apply mathematical functions on and between items; subset and zoom in on areas, data ranges, or times of interest; superpose curves with transparency to compare them; and animate the visualization to show time series data.

DiVisa can read any kind of data (simulation, statistics, text, numeric, etc.), and converters have been implemented to read several data formats without the need for reformatting. The program can read .csv (Comma-Separated Values) files in which the first line contains the names of the variables, and the other lines contain the values of the variables. For the variables values, lines can be added in any order, and values can be numerical or literal.

Options include a Navigation Panel that provides a small view of the entire left view, and a Separating Lens — when more than one element is displayed at the same position in the left view, passing the separating lens on them will separate them. A Bar Diagram displays elements as diagrams (long bars instead of ellipses or squares).

For more information, contact the NIST Technology Partnerships Office at 301-975-6478 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..