Narrative Cartography: From Mapping Stories to the Narrative of Maps and Mapping

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the multiple ways of envisioning the relationships between maps and narratives. This is approached from a map making perspective. Throughout the process of editing this special issue, we have identified two main types of relationships. Firstly, maps have been used to represent the spatio-temporal structures of stories and their relationships with places. Oral, written and audio-visual stories have been mapped extensively. They raise some common cartographic challenges, such as improving the spatial expression of time, emotions, ambiguity, connotation, as well as the mixing of personal and global scales, real and fictional places, dream and reality, joy and pain. Secondly, the potential of maps as narratives and the importance of connecting the map with the complete mapping process through narratives is addressed. Although the potential of maps to tell stories has already been widely acknowledged, we emphasize the increasing recognition of the importance of developing narratives that critically describe the cartographic process and context in which maps unfold - the core idea of post-representational cartography. Telling the story about how maps are created and how they come to life in a broad social context and in the hands of their users has become a new challenge for mapmakers.     

Elements of viral cartography

ABSTRACT

Making and sharing maps is easier than ever, and social media platforms make it possible for maps to rapidly attain widespread visibility and engagement. Such maps can be considered examples of viral cartography – maps that reach rapid popularity via social media dissemination. In this research we propose a framework for evaluating the design and social dissemination characteristics of viral maps. We apply this framework in two case studies using maps that reached wide audiences on Twitter. We then analyze collections of maps derived from and inspired by viral maps using image analysis and machine learning to characterize their design elements. Based on our initial work to conceptualize and analyze virality in cartography, we propose a set of new research challenges to better understand viral mapmaking and leverage its social affordances.     

How to Enhance Cartographic Visualisations of Natural Hazards Assessment Results

Abstract

Cartographic visualisations are important tools for the communication of hazard related data among stakeholders. Although these representations are essential for various hazard management tasks, an analysis of existing hazard visualisations showed that they often disregard cartographic principles. This leads to confusion on the part of users through poor representations and consequently to an impairment of the information flow. The objective of this research is to offer suggestions for enhanced hazard visualisations to facilitate hazard management tasks and decision making. Existing cartographic shortcomings are identified based on an extensive analysis of hazard visualisations and an expert survey. These shortcomings are discussed and improvements for important cartographic elements are presented.     

The Potential of the Lenticular Foil Technique for Thematic Cartography

Abstract

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Lenticular visualisation methods are innovative advancements of modern presentation media in cartography. Owing to the mainly three-dimensional perception of people, this technique, in print as well as on screen, offers the possibility to introduce autostereoscopic, i.e. three-dimensional views in cartography. On the basis of true 3D, it has already found its way into the visualisation of relief relations. Moreover, it also opens perspectives for the more widespread products of thematic cartography (thematic maps). Multi-layered representation becomes possible on the basis of three-dimensional or sequentially differentiated depictions of spatial phenomena. Thus, several parameters or dimensions of cartographic content can be displayed at the same time. This essay discusses some potential applications of the lenticular foil technique for thematic cartography on a theoretical basis.     

Toward green cartography & visualization: a semantically-enriched method of generating energy-aware color schemes for digital maps

ABSTRACT

We introduce a semantically-enriched method of generating color schemes for various types of digital maps that reduces the energy consumption of the display device while preserving the quality of the original design. Energy-aware design intersects two important trends in cartography. First, as more maps are viewed today on mobile, battery life has become a central constraint influencing design. Second, there is increasing need for green computing, which encourages the efficient use of energy to limit environmental impacts. This paper focuses on one important aspect of energy-aware cartography: color design. Existing research on energy-aware color adjustment methods apply broadly to images or websites. However, the colors used in maps have more structured semantic relationships than most documents viewed on mobile devices, and efforts to account for these relationships while reducing energy consumption are limited. To fill this gap, we mathematically formalize energy-aware map-color adjustment as a constrained optimization problem: we define energy consumption as the objective function and model the preservation of semantic relationships as the search constraints. We evaluate our proposed method against a common color dimming method using four maps with different semantic relationships. The evaluation suggests that our proposed method better preserves the original color semantics.     

Maps > Representation

Abstract

Colour is considered a key means of expression for use in cartographic works. This is because colours and the relations among them influence not only the aesthetic impression a map creates but also its overall utility. In addition to Newton’s spectral colour theory, today theories with origins in artistic technique are gaining ground in cartography. This article introduces J. Itten’s colour theory (first published in 1961 in The Art of Colour [Kunst der Farbe]) with special attention given to his concept of seven colour contrasts. The article also discusses the suitability and unsuitability of their application in practical cartography, and it contributes original examples employing thematic maps, a discipline with broad possibilities for the application of these inventive methods by today’s mapmakers.     

Eye-tracking Study on Different Perception of 2D and 3D Terrain Visualisation

Abstract

The use of computer-generated perspective views, often named as three-dimensional (3D) maps, is growing. These terrain visualisations should be more understandable for users without cartographic education, which are not familiar with contour lines. Within the study, two eye-tracking experiments and online questionnaire were used for investigating the difference between user cognition of classical two-dimensional (2D) visualisation with contour lines and perspective 3D view. Questionnaire was focused on maps understandability, suitability and aesthetics. Results of the questionnaire shows, that the majority of participants prefer 3D visualisation. First eye-tracking experiment was designed as a pair of maps in one stimulus. One shows 2D visualisation, the other 3D visualisation. No significant differences between user preferences of 2D and 3D visualisation were found, but the results were influenced with the order of the maps in the stimuli. Because of that another experiment was designed. In this case stimuli contained only one of two possible visualisations (2D and 3D). ScanPath comparison of this experiment results confirmed that users have different strategies for cognition of 2D and 3D visualisation, although statistically significant difference between both types of visualisation was found in the ScanPath length metric only.     

Editorial

Abstract

In different scientific fields, the abbreviation ‘3D’ is used in a multitude of ways. Hence, one might easily lose track of what 3D means in a particular context. 3D is just a generic term which the authors are trying to classify into different groups. An overview of the technical status of 3D technologies serves to explain the importance of the three-dimensionality in cartography. Solid landscape embodiments as well as pseudo-three-dimensional and truly three-dimensional autostereoscopic visualisations on planar displays are treated. Starting with the reasons for the advantages and the necessities for true-3D representations the article deals with the classification and explanation of the different true-3D visualisation techniques so far materialized for geodata, in particular at the Institute for Cartography of the Dresden University of Technology.     

The Present State of Perceptual Research in Cartography

Abstract

This paper discusses the current state of perceptual research concerning cartographic symbols. Initial discussion treats the theories and reasons behind the present popularity of perceptual studies in cartography. It is followed by a summary of the printed materials on this topic appearing in several prominent English language cartographic publications. A person who is newly entering the area of perceptual research in cartography may use this paper as a quick source for obtaining background in the area and thereby save valuable time from sifting through individual sources for information regarding what has already been done. Additional convenience is provided for the reader by the grouping of references according to the subject matter which they concern.     

A heuristic multi-criteria classification approach incorporating data quality information for choropleth mapping

ABSTRACT

Despite conceptual and technology advancements in cartography over the decades, choropleth map design and classification fail to address a fundamental issue: estimates that are statistically indifferent may be assigned to different classes on maps or vice versa. Recently, the class separability concept was introduced as a map classification criterion to evaluate the likelihood that estimates in two classes are statistical different. Unfortunately, choropleth maps created according to the separability criterion usually have highly unbalanced classes. To produce reasonably separable but more balanced classes, we propose a heuristic classification approach to consider not just the class separability criterion but also other classification criteria such as evenness and intra-class variability. A geovisual-analytic package was developed to support the heuristic mapping process to evaluate the trade-off between relevant criteria and to select the most preferable classification. Class break values can be adjusted to improve the performance of a classification.     

Observations Italian Composite Atlases and a Belgian Undescribed Copy

Abstract

Although Italian composite atlases of the 16th century are seldom mentioned in the literature on historical cartography, these collections are very important for preserving a large number of maps that might otherwise be lost forever. With this paper we want to realize a few things: bringing those atlases back into the spotlight, focusing attention on the need for more research and collaboration on this subject, and last but not least we will reveal the story and the content of a composite atlas not known yet to most authors who are trusted with the subject.     

John Keates and Recreation Mapping: Personal Recollections

Abstract

John Keates is very well known for his numerous scholarly contributions to cartography as an academic discipline and science. However, throughout his career, he was also very actively involved in the design and production of maps. Mostly these were specialized thematic maps produced as the result of scientific research in the field sciences, especially in geology, glaciology and vegetation studies. However, during the 1970s he was much involved in the design and production of a considerable number of maps for recreation purposes, including maps for orienteering. Many of these maps were regarded at that time as being extremely innovative in terms of their cartographic design and layout. The article outlines the development of what became known as the 'Glasgow' style of map design John Keates' involvement with recreation maps in the 1970s.     

中国地图学发展的回顾与展望

本文分3部分:第1部分是中国古代和近代地图学发展历史的简要回顾,阐明中国是世界上地图出现最早的国家之一,在世界地图学发展史上占有重要地位,对世界地图学的发展作出过重要贡献,直至15世纪的中国明代,中国地图和地图学始终领先于西方国家,只是清代以后,才落后于西方发达国家;第2部分阐述新中国成立后中国地图事业和地图学飞速发展,在全国地形图的测绘与编制、专题地图与地图集编制、遥感制图、计算机制图、多媒体电子地图、移动通信地图、互联网地图、地图学理论研究等方面取得了巨大成就,赶上了世界先进水平;第3部分提出新世纪中国地图与地图学方向与任务的调整,分析了大数据、互联网和人工智能时代地图学的机遇、挑战与展望。大数据通过三维动态地图可视化,能够显示事物和现象的空间格局与区域分异及时空动态变化,进而作出分析评价、预测预报、区划布局、规划设计、管理调控。因此地图学在大数据时代能够发挥重要作用。今后互联网将成为地图编制与应用的主要平台,地图会更加大众化、个性化、智能化与实用化。     

Maps for the Reluctant

Abstract

This paper describes the design and development of two trial 1:100 000 scale Ordnance Survey maps targeted specifically at the inexperienced and reluctant map users in the touring and holiday market. These are two maps which depart from the very high map specification designs normally offered by Ordnance Survey. The use of extensive consumer market research and the objective analysis of existing touring type maps on sale have enabled Ordnance Survey to publish two experimental maps, which will succeed or fail by consumer reaction alone.     

一种面向多应用的大比例地形图数据模型

提出了一种新型的面向对象的大比例地形图数据模型 ,并给出了相应的数据结构与软件实现方法。实验证明 ,该模型能很好地满足传统制图与GIS的双重需求 ,实现数据一次采集便能同时进入地图数据库与地理数据库 ,具有较好的应用价值     

Reasserting Design Relevance in Cartography: Some Concepts

Abstract

Cartographers have always been concerned about the appearance of maps and how the display marries form with function. An appreciation of map design and the aesthetic underpins our fascination with how each and every mark works to create a display with a specific purpose. Yet debates about what constitutes design and what value it has in map-making persist. This is particularly acute in the modern map-making era as new tools, technology, data and approaches make map-making a simpler process in some respects, yet make designing high-quality maps difficult to master in others. In the first part of a two-part paper, we explore what we mean by map design and how we might evaluate it and apply it in a practical sense. We consider the value of aesthetics and also discuss the role of art in cartography taking account of some recent debates that we feel bring meaning to how we think about design. Our intent here is to reassert some of the key ideas about map design in cartography and to provide a reference for the second part of the paper where we present the results of a survey of cartographers. The survey was used to identify a collection of maps that exhibit excellence in design which we will showcase as examplars.     

3D visualisations in simulations of future land use: exploring the possibilities of new,standard visualisation tools

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) visualisations are an interesting method for representing model outcomes. Most visualisation techniques require expensive software and a lot of time to create them. When the visualisations need to be adapted frequently, a faster and more flexible method is needed. The first step of the proposed model is to create the 3D elements. These elements are combined with the base map, and distributed to the public using Google Earth. Both freely available and commercial software are used in this process.     

网络地图的研究现状与发展趋势

随着信息技术、网络技术和多媒体技术在数字地图学领域的不断渗透,网络地图已经成为地图产品的重要组成部分。通过分析研究现有的网络地图产品,总结了网络地图的特点和存在的问题,分析了其发展趋势,并提出了相应的一些设想。     

地图的信息表达与美学思维

长期以来人们偏重于地图的技术研究,导致地图的艺术研究进程落后于技术研究进程。近几年这种情况虽有改善,但对于地图的美学问题研究还是相对偏少。本文从地图的信息表达与美学思维角度出发,从地图的语言、技术、文化及创新4个方面探讨了地图与美学思维融合的问题,并提出了地图学与美学相结合的地图美学论,以期得到适合地图的美学设计。