The Warn Notice Toolbox: Open-source geovisualization of large layoff events data

Developed using the Python object-oriented scripting language, Warn Notice Toolbox is an open-source package designed for the exploratory visualization of unemployment events recorded by the PDF files of warn-notices. The goal is the visual representation of large-scale collections of both non-numerical and numerical information in a GIS environment. This article presents an outline of the design and structure of Warn Notice Toolbox, its implementation, functionality, and future plans. A group of its visualization capabilities are also illustrated, which highlight the power and flexibility of the toolbox through a case study of downloaded WARN Notices from 1996 to 2010. These notices are provided by employers to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Bureau of WIA, Rapid Response Section. This toolbox demonstrates its potentials by identifying the patterns and trends of economic downturn in Ohio.