Authoring of Data Visualizations and Maps

A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method of providing a visualization of data in association with a computer-generated map, comprising:

• receiving one or more data items on a computer-generated visualization surface;
• determining a location for each of the one or more data items;
• generating an electronic map on the visualization surface having a geographical area representation associated with the location of the one or more received data items;
• locating a position on the electronic map corresponding to a location of each of the one or more received data items;
• displaying the electronic map on the visualization surface and displaying a graphical indication for each of the one or more data items at the position on the electronic map corresponding to the location of each of the one or more received data items;
• obtaining information about each of the one or more data items and storing the obtained information in association with each of the one or more data items;
• and
• displaying on the visualization surface information obtained about the one or more data items adjacent to each corresponding graphical indication for each of the one or more data items.

A system for providing a visualization of data in association with a computer-generated map, comprising:

• a data visualization application coupled with a computing device, the data visualization application operative to:
• receive one or more data items on a computer-generated visualization surface;
• determine a location for each of the one or more data items;
• generate an electronic map on the visualization surface having a geographical area representation associated with the location of the one or more received data items;
• locate a position on the electronic map corresponding to a location of each of the one or more received data items;
• display the electronic map on the visualization surface and displaying a graphical indication for each of the one or more data items at the position on the electronic map corresponding to the location of each of the one or more received data items;
• filter the one or more data items according to a prescribed filtering parameter such that one or more of the one or more data items are removed from the visualization surface;
• automatically modify the generated electronic map on the visualization surface such that the geographical area representation is modified to include an area sufficient to display graphical indications for each of the one or more data items remaining on the visualization surface;
• and
• automatically remove from the electronic map one or more graphical indications associated with any of the one or more data items removed from the visualization surface.