Information Aesthetics points out a new graphic on the New York Times that their tipster describes as “the least informative graphic of 2010”.  While I’m not sure it’s the least informative, I have to admit I can’t get much use of it.

In short, the infographic titled “A Year in Iraq and Afghanistan” (PDF, 7.5MB!) [nytimes.com] accompanies an “Op-Chart”, meaning that it was designed outside of the NYTimes Infographics Department. Based on data from icasualties.org and the Pentagon, the chart shows how the death toll in Afghanistan is up by 40 percent from last year, and that most of the deaths are occurring on the battlefield, unlike in Iraq, where half the fatalities were not related to combat. In addition, while many see the war in Afghanistan as an American effort, the colors on the chart show the extent to which the Western allies are sharing the deadly burden.

So, a synopsis of what you’re looking at (Hit the PDF for the full-resolution graphic with all the parts):

  • Guns Up = American Forces, guns down = Coalition
  • Color maps to country, with Black being the US
  • The icon in the upper left of each block indicates means of death (bomb, fire, noncombat, etc)
  • Each block has the Date of the death at the top
  • Each “group” has a line back to where the death occured

There’s just way too much going on in this graph to see much other than the US is losing alot of people.  I don’t see any details on if each figure indicates 1 person, or 10 people?

via A Year in Iraq and Afghanistan – information aesthetics.

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