MethodsIgloo-Plot: A tool for visualization of multidimensional datasets

•New graphical layout for visualizing multivariate data•Interactive tool for visual data mining•Detects class-specific marker features•Identifies data-specific feature representation patterns

Advances in science and technology have resulted in an exponential growth of multivariate (or multi-dimensional) datasets which are being generated from various research areas especially in the domain of biological sciences. Visualization and analysis of such data (with the objective of uncovering the hidden patterns therein) is an important and challenging task.We present a tool, called Igloo-Plot, for efficient visualization of multidimensional datasets. The tool addresses some of the key limitations of contemporary multivariate visualization and analysis tools. The visualization layout, not only facilitates an easy identification of clusters of data-points having similar feature compositions, but also the 'marker features' specific to each of these clusters. The applicability of the various functionalities implemented herein is demonstrated using several well studied multi-dimensional datasets. Igloo-Plot is expected to be a valuable resource for researchers working in multivariate data mining studies.Igloo-Plot is available for download from: http://metagenomics.atc.tcs.com/IglooPlot/.