Documenting the WildvizR Journey

Creating the .Rmd file for the wildvizR project was one of the most rewarding experiences in my R learning journey so far. The assignment focused on documenting and showcasing the core functions I plan to use in my final project, using real wildfire data from California. Through functions like summarize_wildfire_damage() and flag_major_incidents(), I learned how to structure reusable, well-commented code that transforms raw data into clear, actionable insights.

The project originally carried a placeholder package name, “Friedman,” but following my professor’s feedback, I renamed it to wildvizR—a name that better aligns with the function and style of the project. I also updated the DESCRIPTION file and committed the final Module_12_R_Markdown.Rmd file and the HTML output to GitHub. Along the way, I encountered challenges like YAML errors, data mapping issues, and visual design adjustments—but I learned so much about Markdown, visualization, and data storytelling.

Looking ahead, I hope to turn this documented experience into a complete R package, adding interactivity with a leaflet, deeper analytics, and a dashboard-style presentation. This Markdown document represents not just my current progress but also a strong starting point for the wildfire visualization toolkit I hope to fully develop by the course’s end.

References:

https://rmarkdown.rstudio.com/authoring_basics.html

https://rmarkdown.rstudio.com/

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