/quakeQuery

Primary LanguageJavaScript

quakeQuery

  • quakeQuery is a single-page application, built with Node.js and D3.js, and consuming the USGS Earthquake Catalog API, which allows users to visualize the location, magnitude, and depth of selected earthquakes on a rotating and/or manipulatable globe.

  • Users can search the earthquake catalog for a selected range of dates and range of magnitudes. A depth gradient is provided which defines the relationship between earthquake depth and color. Tectonic plate boundaries are overlaid on to the globe.

  • A mouseover on a single earthquake point will reveal a text box with detailed information about that earthquake, and a click will bring the user to the earthquake event page on the USGS website.
  • A timelapse feature allows the user to observe the sequential progression of earthquakes over the course of the selected date range. More fine-tuned control is provided by a manipulatable slider and buttons for play, pause, slow fast-forward and reverse, and jump to the beginning or end.
  • Version 1.1 provides a list of earthquakes that have occurred in the last day, parsed from the USGS XML feed, which is automatically updated every 5 minutes.
  • Future versions will include additional statistical breakdowns of earthquakes by region and magnitude, will allow users to customize visualizations, and will provide more information on tectonic plates/boundaries and historical earthquakes.

#url

http://quakequery.herokuapp.com/

#Technologies

  • Node.js
  • Express.js
  • D3.js

##User Stories

  1. As a user, I want to be able to view a representation of the earth with tectonic plate boundaries, so that I can get a more realistic sense of the geography of earthquakes.
  2. As a user, I want to be able to start or stop the rotation of the globe, so that I can have more control over the visualizations of the application.
  3. As a user, I want to be able to search by date range and magnitude, so that I can view only the earthquakes in which I am interested.
  4. As a user, I want to be able to see a visual representation of the size and depth of each earthquake, along with the location, so that I can get a sense of the earthquake patterns at different parts of the globe.
  5. As a user, I want to be able to get more information about each quake when I mouseover it, so that I can limit my search to a single quake.
  6. As a user, I want to be able to see a time-lapse of the earthquakes as they occur over the selected date range, so that I can get a better understanding of the timing and location of the earthquakes.