Section 06 - Metadata & Data Protocol
This section analyzes the leading aviation hub from each continent — specifically, the busiest airport in the most connected country of each region. The visualization allows users to interactively explore and compare these six global gateways that shape international travel patterns.
Passenger data for 2024 was compiled from official airport authority reports and verified government statistics:
| Airport | Passengers | Flights | Countries | Data Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL (Atlanta) | 108.1M | 796,224 | 92 | Official |
| DXB (Dubai) | 92.3M | ~440,300 | 91 | Official |
| CDG (Paris) | 70.3M | 466,543 | 115+ | Official |
| GRU (São Paulo) | 43.6M | ~267,000 | 33 | Estimated |
| SYD (Sydney) | 41.4M | 348,904 | 34 | Official |
| CMN (Casablanca) | ~10M | ~67,000 | 48 | Estimated |
Note: Flight counts for some airports are estimated based on passenger-per-flight ratios. Countries connected data reflects direct international routes.
Each hub was selected as the busiest airport in the #1 most connected country within its continent, based on our connectivity analysis:
| Continent | Top Connected Country | Busiest Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | France (115 countries) | Paris CDG |
| North America | USA (92 countries) | Atlanta ATL |
| Asia | UAE (91 countries) | Dubai DXB |
| South America | Brazil (33 countries) | São Paulo GRU |
| Africa | Morocco (48 countries) | Casablanca CMN |
| Oceania | Australia (34 countries) | Sydney SYD |
The section features a tab-based selector allowing users to switch between continental hubs. Each tab displays:
A Flourish line/stream chart will be embedded showing monthly passenger trends for 2024, allowing comparison across all six hubs. This visualization is being developed by teammate Rafaela Dos Santos Molina Farina.
| File | Format | Description |
|---|---|---|
continental_hubs_2024.json |
JSON | Complete hub data with metadata |
continental_hubs_summary.csv |
CSV | Summary statistics for all hubs |
hub_airports_by_continent.json |
JSON | Mapping of continents to hub airports |
ATL handles the most passengers (108M) but CDG connects to more countries (115+). This highlights the difference between domestic hub dominance (ATL serves primarily US domestic routes) versus international reach (CDG leverages Air France's global network).
Dubai (DXB) exemplifies the "super-connector" model — positioned between Europe, Africa, and Asia, it serves as a layover hub for long-haul routes, driving its 92.3M passengers despite UAE's relatively small domestic market.
The gap between top hubs (ATL: 108M) and smaller regional leaders (CMN: 10M) reveals significant infrastructure inequality in global aviation.
Tab buttons include proper focus states and keyboard navigation support. Content transitions use CSS animations for smooth visual feedback.
Data Collection & Analysis: Alan Dominguez
Visualization Development: Rafaela Dos Santos Farina (Flourish chart)
Project Coordination: Team collaboration
Course: SUPSI Data Visualization, December 2025
Professor: Giovanni Profeta