Effective Graphic Features for Multivariate Symbol Mapping

Abstract

Various patterns of cartographic multivariate symbols (MSs) have been developed to work efficiently with objective symbol mapping. One such MS pattern is composed of a graph that uses spatial data to represent statistical data. A preliminary study revealed major problems with users’ perceptions and understanding of the symbol. These problems present obstacles to the presentation objectives. We are therefore interested in studying the human factors that contribute to the visual perception of graph symbols. We predict that the graph symbols currently in use are too complex for viewers to fully understand what they are intended to represent. This research aims to study the mechanisms and behaviours of human visual perception that are necessary to understand cartography MSs and to determine a more effective prototype symbol that presents and conveys information to viewers more efficiently. The prototype design is based on a basic cartographic symbol and includes the characteristics and properties of the original patterns of graph symbols via a study of their pros and cons. Graphic structures and properties were modified to create a more effective symbol.     

一种利用空间布局构建统计制图符号的方法

统计制图符号是用来表达统计数据类型的专题符号,是制图者理解数据与用图者认识数据之间信息与传递的重要桥梁。通过对统计制图符号的分类、空间布局和内部构成元素的深入分析,提出了一种利用空间布局构建统计制图符号的方法。阐述了空间布局约束下统计制图符号的形式化描述和组织方式,设计了统计制图符号生成的基本流程,依次构建了视觉变量、布局约束下的图元及统计制图符号。实验表明,该方法能够突破传统统计制图符号对数据依赖性强且构建复杂的局限,丰富统计制图符号的种类,具有一定的实际应用价值。     

Assessing the Effectiveness of Dynamic Symbols in Cartographic Communication

Abstract

The age of the Internet poses new challenges to cartography. While cartographic animation has become a practical alternative, it is mostly used to depict both spatio-temporal and non-temporal changes. The paper concentrates on the use of dynamic symbols on a static base map. A visual test was carried out to obtain some perspectives about the cartographic communication of blinking point and line symbols. The results confirmed that dynamic symbols tended to attract the attention of the users in general and even in situations when the foreground–background contrasts were poor. Their effectiveness was more pronounced with symbols of a larger size but tended to diminish with an increasing number of blinking symbols. It was also observed that users were able to perceive differences in the frequency of flickering, particularly when the variation was large. The line animation method (marquee and grow-out) did not yield a substantial difference in visual responses in the case of blinking line symbols.     

Primitive-based Construction Theory for Diagrams in Thematic Maps

Abstract

To enhance the variety of map symbols and to develop new symbol types, a fundamental understanding of the map symbol construction process is mandatory. Current construction theories focus on diagrams without taking georeferencing or interactivity into account. This paper presents a new methodology for the creation of two-dimensional geometric symbols and diagrams for the application in thematic maps. In this context, 49 diagrams found in cartographic literature were analysed and classified regarding their construction properties. As a result of this research, diagrams can be defined using cartographic primitives which are arranged according to six arrangement principles. Since the variation of the primitive's size according to the data values follows a certain geometric direction, each diagram can be explicitly defined based on the three construction properties 'primitive', 'arrangement principle' and 'data direction'.     

现代地图语言

地图符号发展到今天,已经超越了其符号本身,应当把它当作一种语言来研究,即地图语言。地图语言使人们使用地图进行空间认识更加贴近现实,使地理空间信息的传输更加准确、生动和形象。文中主要对现代地图语言的形成,现代地图语言的主要表现形式即视觉符号、听觉符号和触觉符号,以及地图语言的本质即视觉变量、听觉变量和触觉变量进行了探讨。     

Deconstructing Galbraith: A Geostatistical Analysis of Cartographic Intent

Abstract

This study uses cartometric techniques to reveal cartographic design considerations operative in Frank H. Galbraith’s 1897 railway mail service training maps. Galbraith’s maps make extensive use of humorous cartouches intended to serve as mnemonic devices for learning railway mail service routes. Poisson and quadrat point pattern analyses are performed on all eight maps in the series to determine whether the mimetic symbols are clustered along the railway mail routes or dispersed throughout the mapped spaces to achieve better graphic balance. Evidence overwhelmingly indicates that the placement of the mnemonic symbols was primarily driven by design considerations. The study therefore proves that it is possible to use cartometric techniques to deconstruct the map document to determine the cartographic design principles operative during the map's construction.     

Stylistic Diversity in European State 1 : 50 000 Topographic Maps

Abstract

To what extent do European state topographic maps exhibit unique styles of cartography? This paper describes an investigation to classify and analyse stylistic diversity in the official 1 : 50 000 topographical mapping of 20 European countries. The method involves the construction of a typology of cartographic style, based upon the classification of distinct graphical legend symbols into mutually exclusive thematic categories. In order to identify stylistic similarities between national symbologies, hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to compare the relative proportions of symbols within each category. This was complemented by a qualitative analysis of various aspects of cartographic design: colour, 'white' space, visual hierarchy, and lettering. The results indicate a high degree of stylistic diversity throughout Europe, with the symbologies of Great Britain and Ireland demonstrating the strongest example of a supranational style. The typology of cartographic symbologies is shown to be an effective method for determining stylistic association among maps of differing geographical (and potentially historical) origins and it is suggested that the cartographic language paradigm should be revisited as a means for understanding why national differences persist in state cartography. A version of this paper was presented at the Twenty-third International Cartographic Conference in Moscow.     

AN EXPERIMENT IN SYSTEMATIZING THE CARTOGRAPHIC IMAGES OF GEOMORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES

The authors attempt to identify and standardize the cartographic symbols (“images”) used to represent a variety of specific geomorphological features. A large number of cartographic representations of landform features found on geological-geomorphological maps are classified in terms of their basic pattern/configuration and the level of complexity within each major pattern type. It is argued that the pattern or configuration of a cartographic symbol used to represent a geomorphological feature should represent the spatial structure of that feature with sufficient reliability to serve as a key to an understanding of its genesis. Translated from: Geomorfologiya, 1987, No. 2, pp. 62-66.     

地图符号的认知语义分析与动态生成

面向位置服务背景下地图符号按需和动态表达的需求,提出了一种基于认知语义分析的地图符号结构化描述模型,以及建立在此基础上的地图符号动态生成方法。结构化描述模型立足"现实—认知—符号"的认知语义原理,以地图符号语素为基本单元、以语义结构为描述框架,侧重描写符号图形和语义之间的关联映射机制。动态生成方法的核心是一种规则控制语素组合构造符号的上下文无关文法模型,通过对图形语素、形态结构语素以及符号生成规则系统进行建模,重构了地图符号动态生成的文法编译器。以个性化导航路径符号为例,通过面向不同情境和语义结构的符号动态生成试验,验证了本文方法的可行性。本文研究将有助于进一步理解地图符号的认知和结构原理,并促进相关行业和应用领域地图符号化的按需和动态表达的水平。     

电子地图符号构图规律的研究

根据电子地图屏幕显示与阅读的特点,应用地图视觉感受理论及地图符号学理论对电子地图符号的构图规律进行研究,是有效地改进电子地图设计所必需的。本文从电子地图符号构图规律研究的必要性入手,根据对电子地图视觉变量的理解,应用地图视觉感受理论和地图符号学理论,对电子地形图符号体系进行研究,同时根据符号库建库的需要,将所有符号分解为最小图元,提出了点状、线状及面状符号的构图规律。     

Reality in time-scale systems and cartographic representation

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to provide a view point for the formalisation of knowledge in cartographic representation. What is supposed to be reality in the world is dependent on time and scale. So, there are different levels of reality, from low to high. Cartographic representation is a graphical record of reality at a particular location in the time-scale system. The problem of the transformation of reality in both scale and time dimensions in this time-scale system is also briefly discussed.     

Semantic Visual Variables for Augmented Geovisualization

ABSTRACT

The human–cyber–physical world produces a considerable volume of multi-modal spatio-temporal data, thus leading to information overload. Visual variables are used to transform information into visual forms that are perceived by the powerful human vision system. However, previous studies of visual variables focused on methods of ‘drawing information’ without considering ‘intelligence’ derived from balancing ‘importance’ and ‘unimportance’. This paper proposes semantic visual variables to support an augmented geovisualization that aims to avoid exposing users to unnecessary information by highlighting goal-oriented content over redundant details. In this work, we first give definitions of several concepts and then design a semiotic model for depicting the mechanisms of augmented geovisualization. We also provide an in-depth discussion of semantic visual variables based on a hierarchical organization of the original visual variables, and we analyse the critical influencing factors that affect the choice of visualization forms and visual variables. Finally, a typical application is used to illustrate the relevance of this study.     

移动增强现实在纸质地图中的应用

纸质地图曾是人类进行空间认知的重要工具。随着信息时代的科技发展,电子地图、网络地图等地图产品迅速崛起,而纸质地图存在较多固有缺陷,如一经出版便无法再更改、实时性差、信息量有限、呈现方式静态、缺乏动态效果和交互性等,因此受到较大冲击。移动增强现实技术给纸质地图的多样化表达提供了新的方向,有着广阔的应用前景。本文在对移动增强现实关键技术进行分析的基础上,通过实验开发了一个基于纸质地图的移动增强现实系统,将视频、三维地形模型等数字媒体与纸质地图相结合,实现了纸质地图的增强表达。     

Reflection on the development of the tool kits of Bertin’s methods

ABSTRACT

Bertin’s first book, Semiology of Graphics, was published in 1967. His second book, Graphics and Graphic Information Processing, was subsequently published in 1977. The word “processing” in the title of the second book is interesting because in those days there were no personal computers with an interactive display system. But in Bertin’s laboratory there were many kinds of tool kits – basically manually developed thematic maps and data analysis. Bertin’s methods were concerned with making a thematic map and data visualization. Maps, and more generally graphics, were represented by sets of cartographic symbols. Thus, they are abstractions that demand both theoretical and technical literacy to represent and understand them. If the representation is systematic, a sort of tool kit might be necessary, because the representation demands consistency based on the theory. Otherwise a cartographer faces the risk of an unstable and unintelligible representation. In this paper, we discuss the discrimination between tool kits intended either for an automated system or a process assisting system. The latter process might be useful and necessary to develop a graphic way of thinking. This investigation refers to Bertin’s books, materials conserved at the National Archives in Paris, and other related software developed later.

Abbreviation: EHESS: Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales inherited Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes since 1975     

基于SVG的地图符号设计与实现

当前GIS能有效克服空间数据格式的私有性,实现地理数据的转换与共享,但缺乏地图符号的形式化描述,导致GIS之间难以实现地图符号库的共享。本文结合二维矢量图形标记语言SVG和地图符号的通用设计方法,提出了基于SVG的地图符号库结构与地图符号设计模型,在实验基础上详细与分析了点、线、面、注记与动画符号的设计方法与基本原理,为地图符号共享、GIS分布式处理与互操作提供了基础。     

Influential Visual Design Parameters on TV Weather Maps

Abstract

Information transformation on television weather maps (TVWMs) is influenced by visual elements for a broad range of viewers. This research emphasizes the cartographic aspects of TVWMs through evaluating their visual variables. Currently defined visual variables including basic, dynamic and motion variables are investigated and some suggestions are made to improve their application on TVWMs. The rates of the represented visual information within different frames and the related standard deviation are proposed as measures to improve the performance of the ‘duration’ dynamic variable. The concept of ‘visual expressions’ is introduced, and their applications at the organisational level of map design are discussed. Such expressions (including background, boundary, spatial order, zoom and overview maps) are examined as tools for ‘user orientation’ in particular, and their role as dominant parameters in TVWMs’ cartographic communication is considered. Their incorporation in TVWMs of a number of global news channels is evaluated. Firstly, the concepts of visual design parameters are utilized as a foundation for an analytical evaluation, then an empirical evaluation is carried out based on a statistical investigation of a sample of TV viewers. The resulting ranking order and correlation coefficients for each of the elements shows a firm agreement, corroborating views on the importance and proficiency of the visual elements in communicating weather information. As a result, TVWMs of well-known global TV channels (BBC, Euronews, France24, PressTV) are ranked with respect to the effectiveness of their designs.     

DESIGN OF CARTOGRAPHIC LETTERING FOR COMPUTER MAPPING

Guidelines for the design of lettering in computer mapping are outlined, which include, but are not restricted to: retention of basic elements of existing lettering styles, provision of high perceptibility and simplicity of design, retention of high readability and informational properties, consistency in the assignment of particular styles to particular classes of features, and observance of letter-spacing rules established in cartographic practice. A “machine-oriented formalized cartographic language,” suitable for both machine and visual reading, analysis, and construction of map elements is proposed as the basis for the development of a system of lettering in automated cartography. Translated from: Izvestiya vuzov. Geodeziya i aerofotos'-yemka, 1986, No. 1, pp. 92-97.     

户外增强现实地理信息系统原型设计与实现

探讨了户外增强现实技术与移动地理信息系统相结合的模式,设计了户外增强现实地理信息系统的总体框架,重点研究了三维注册等若干关键技术,并实现了一个原型系统。     

一种专用矢量地图浏览服务器设计

以地图符号形式表达地理要素是GIS地理信息可视化的有效手段.目前Web GIS发布系统在复杂地图符号的表达能力、地图的快速发布和运行效率等方面存在一定的不足.为此,应用IE浏览器内容扩展技术,结合地图符号表达的特征,设计出面向基础地理数据的地图浏览服务器,给出地理数据类型可兼容的快速发布矢量地图文档结构.据此,开发基于...