A Greener Australia

Introduction

Yesterday we did something different by doing the Design Challenge. It was really fun because I was always interested in great design and layout. Today, we are back to data analysis. I also decided that I should push myself further by finding three big personal challenges to solve along the way. For the fourth day of Dashboard Week, here is my approach on how I created my Greener Australia dashboard.

The Dataset

We are given rooftop solar panel datasets. There are three options to choose from. The first one is small-scale photovoltaic (PV) system installations by postcode per month. Next dataset is large-scale PV systems in Australia. Last but not the least is power generation data from an individual small-scale system. All are based in Australia. I chose the first one which consists of only four fields: postcode, number of installations, rated output and month/year of installation. That’s my first big challenge.

Additional Challenges

To add spice on the challenge, we have to add at least one external source of data to enrich our dashboards. Also, we are not allowed to use Alteryx. All data cleansing and blending must be done using Tableau products only. As an big Alteryx fan, unable to use Alteryx is my second big challenge.

External Datasets

Since the dataset I chose only got four fields, I used plenty of external datasets. I downloaded the population and annual income census data, and spatial shapes. To challenge myself further, I decided to go for a Local Government Area (LGA) granularity instead of a postcode level for my third big challenge.

Tableau Prep

My Tableau Prep flow is simple but a lot many due to many datasets I used. Here is what it looks like:

Charts Used in Tableau

I used a bar chart to show rankings of either the states or LGAs based on the measure selected. A scatter plot was added so I can check who are installing solar panels based on annual income. My favourite map drill down is present to quickly visualize which area are producing large energy output. Finally, a line chart for both installation and rated output over time to see if there is a trend.

Colour Theme

Since solar panels are good for the environment, I decided to use green all over my dashboard. It’s based in Australia so I added a touch of gold.

The Final Product

Here’s a preview on my dashboard and you can always view it in Tableau Public:

Author: JB Reyes

JB hails from the Philippines where he was an anti-malware engineer for 5 years. After moving to Australia in 2017, he worked his way up in a school supply company starting with a role as a despatcher and then taking on roles in IT support and bookkeeping. His passion for data is so deep that he can spend hours exploring and analysing data without tiring or getting bored. When JB is not all over data, he spends his time playing basketball, Pokémon cards with his daughter and building robot plastic models. If there is one dish that he would have to eat for the rest of his life, it would be Lechon, a Filipino delicacy (roasted pig) that reminds him of home.