Plot data interactively

Johannes Krietsch

This article shows different ways on how to plot WATLAS data interactively using mapview. This is useful when manually checking specific data. Check for more details the mapview website. Note that one can change the base map by clicking in the layer symbol, to for example a satellite image. Each chunk of code only requires this chunk with loading the data to be run before and is otherwise independent.

Load packages

# packages
library(tools4watlas)
library(mapview)

Interactive plot for one individual

Subset the individual of choice and transform it into a sf with the additional columns of your choice (can be seen when clicking on the point). Colour the track by selecting the desired parameter as zcol.

# load example data from one tide
data <- data_example[tideID == "2023513"]

# subset data
data_subset <- data[tag == "3063"]

# make data spatial
d_sf <- atl_as_sf(
  data_subset,
  additional_cols = c("species", "datetime", "speed_in", "nbs", "waterlevel")
)

# add track
d_sf_lines <- atl_as_sf(
  data_subset,
  additional_cols = c("species", "datetime", "speed_in", "nbs", "waterlevel"),
  option = "lines"
)

# plot interactive map
mapview(d_sf_lines, zcol = "speed_in", legend = FALSE) +
  mapview(d_sf, zcol = "speed_in")

Interactive plot for multiple individuals

If one wants to plot a lot of data, it is recommended to thin the data first.

# load example data
data <- data_example

# thin the data by subsampling with a 60-second interval
data <- atl_thin_data(
  data = data,
  interval = 60,
  id_columns = c("tag", "species"),
  method = "subsample"
)

# make data spatial
d_sf <- atl_as_sf(data, additional_cols = c("datetime", "species"))

# add track
d_sf_lines <- atl_as_sf(
  data,
  additional_cols = c("species"),
  option = "lines"
)

# plot interactive map
mapview(d_sf_lines, zcol = "tag", legend = FALSE) +
  mapview(d_sf, zcol = "tag")

Interactive plot for multiple species

# load example data from one tide
data <- data_example[tideID == "2023513"]

# thin the data by subsampling with a 60-second interval
data <- atl_thin_data(
  data = data,
  interval = 60,
  id_columns = c("tag", "species"),
  method = "subsample"
)

# make data spatial
d_sf <- atl_as_sf(data, additional_cols = c("datetime", "species"))

# add track
d_sf_lines <- atl_as_sf(
  data,
  additional_cols = c("species"),
  option = "lines"
)

# plot interactive map
mapview(d_sf_lines, zcol = "species", legend = FALSE) +
  mapview(d_sf, zcol = "species")