A New Construction Method for Circle Cartograms

An area cartogram is a transformed map on which areas of regions are proportional to statistical data values; it is considered to be a powerful tool for the visual representation of statistical data. A circle cartogram is a type of area cartograms, on which regions are represented by circles. Its first construction algorithm is proposed by Dorling in 1996, based on the following requirements to construct visually elegant cartograms: 1) maintain the similarity of configurations between circles and regions, 2) express the contiguity of regions on cartograms if possible, and 3) avoid overlap of circles. The algorithm is widely used for its easiness to use and its ability to express a spatial distribution of data; however, the relative positions of circles on cartograms sometimes greatly differ from the geographical maps, since the algorithm does not consider the first requirements explicitly. In this paper, it is first pointed out that the construction problem of circle cartograms resembles that of distance cartograms, and the only difference is the existence of third requirement. Then a new construction method for circle cartograms is proposed based on the distance cartogram construction method; the proposed method is formulated as non-linear minimization with inequality constraint conditions. Finally its applicability is confirmed using dataset, including the comparison with the result of previous algorithm.     

Communication Aspects of Value-by-Area Cartograms

The value-by-area cartogram is a form of mapping often used for its visual impact. The average reaction to cartogram area is potentially error free in that the components of a typical value-by-area cartogram are areal shapes. When not in map form, map readers generally respond to these areas in a linear fashion. Results of a testing program to measure this ability suggest that the accuracy of the average response depends upon whether shapes are amorphous or square and whether the anchor stimulus is relatively large or small. The accuracy of responses to the cartogram compare favorably with responses to a five-class Flannery circle map. Map reader attitudes point out that these cartograms are thought to be confusing and difficult to read. At the same time they appear interesting, generalized, innovative, unusual, and having—as opposed to lacking—style. Communication depends on how well the cartographer has maintained the overall shape quality of the original geographical units and the provision of an adequate stimulus anchor, a geographical-base inset map, and labeling on the statistical units.     

Effectiveness of Cartogram for the Representation of Spatial Data

Abstract

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Cartogram is a technique for visualisation of the geographical distribution of spatial data. It has two main types, i.e. distance cartogram and area cartogram. Area cartogram is a transformed map in which areas are resized in proportion to an attribute value. A number of techniques have been developed for the generation of area cartograms. Some researchers consider cartogram as a very effective technique for visualisation of spatial data, while others doubt about the effectiveness because of the possible distortion in shape and/or disconnectivity in topology. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of area cartogram for visualizing spatial data. In this study, two comparative experiments have been conducted. One is the comparison between thematic maps and cartograms, and the other is the comparison among different types of area cartogram. Two sets of data with different characteristics are used, i.e. 2005 China population data and 1996 US election data. Results show that cartogram is more effective in the representation of the 1996 US election data which provides a qualitative result (i.e. in binary form or nominal data), but thematic map is far more effective in the representation of 2005 China population data which provides a quantitative result (in classes or ordinal data). It is also found that among different types of area cartogram, pseudo-cartogram is the most preferred technique and Dorling cartogram is the least preferred one.     

Diffusion-based cartogram on spheres

A planar cartogram is a two-dimensional map, on which the area of each closed region is in direct proportion to a chosen extensive property. To date, various algorithms have been proposed to construct planar cartograms. This work extends the two-dimensional, diffusion-based, topologically invariant cartogram algorithm proposed by Gastner and Newman onto spheres. Unlike its planar counterpart, the spherical formulation does not require boundary conditions and is invariant to the rotation of input data on the sphere. An implementation of this spherical cartogram transformation is designed to generate readable topology-preserving cartograms on spheres. Lastly, the method is illustrated with applications to global data such as worldwide human population, gross domestic product (purchasing power parity), carbon dioxide emissions and regional data such as the Electoral College of the United States presidential election of 2016.     

Value-by-alpha maps: An alternative technique to the cartogram

The cartogram, or value-by-area map, is a popular technique for cartographically representing social data. Such maps visually equalize a basemap prior to mapping a social variable by adjusting the size of each enumeration unit by a second, related variable. However, to scale the basemap units according to an equalizing variable, cartograms must distort the shape and/or topology of the original geography. Such compromises reduce the effectiveness of the visualization for elemental and general map-reading tasks. Here we describe a new kind of representation, termed a value-by-alpha map, which visually equalizes the basemap by adjusting the alpha channel, rather than the size, of each enumeration unit. Although not without its own limitations, the value-by-alpha map is able to circumvent the compromise inherent to the cartogram form, perfectly equalizing the basemap while preserving both shape and topology.     

Value-by-alpha Maps: An Alternative Technique to the Cartogram

Abstract

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The cartogram, or value-by-area map, is a popular technique for cartographically representing social data. Such maps visually equalize a basemap before mapping a social variable by adjusting the size of each enumeration unit by a second, related variable. However, to scale the basemap units according to an equalizing variable, cartograms must distort the shape and/or topology of the original geography. Such compromises reduce the effectiveness of the visualisation for elemental and general map-reading tasks. Here we describe a new kind of representation, termed a value-by-alpha map, which visually equalizes the basemap by adjusting the alpha channel, rather than the size, of each enumeration unit. Although not without its own limitations, the value-by-alpha map is able to circumvent the compromise inherent to the cartogram form, perfectly equalizing the basemap while preserving both shape and topology.     

Cartograms for Use in Forecasting Weather-Driven Natural Hazards

This paper evaluates the potential of using cartograms for visualizing and interpreting forecasts of weather-driven natural hazards in the context of global weather forecasting and early warning systems. The use of cartograms is intended to supplement traditional cartographic representations of the hazards in order to highlight the severity of an upcoming event. Cartogrammetric transformations are applied to forecasts of floods, heatwaves, windstorms and snowstorms taken from the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) forecast archive. Key cartogram design principles in standard weather forecast visualization are tested. Optimal cartogram transformation is found to be dependent on geographical features (such as coastlines) and forecast features (such as snowstorm intensity). For highly spatially autocorrelated weather variables used in analysing several upcoming natural hazards such as 2m temperature anomaly, the visualization of the distortion provides a promising addition to standard forecast visualizations for highlighting upcoming weather-driven natural hazards.     

一种顾及制图区域要素密度均衡的地图变换算法

制图区域要素密度分布不均衡会增加地图表达难度,常规地图表达方式无法解决视觉不平衡的问题。在Gastner-Newman地图变形算法的基础上,提出了一种顾及制图区域要素密度平衡和公众地图认知一致性的地图变换算法。首先,设计多种变形单元尺度以及配置制图要素密度权重组合;然后,代入线性扩散方程,构建变形格网并映射各离散控制点;最后,生成多种变形地图结果。开展了地图认知实验,获得56份问卷结果,针对中国广西南宁市青秀区行政区划图的形态控制,应控制S_周长 > 0.975、S_{周长面积比} > 0.961、S_形状比 > 0.966,能兼顾地图形变以及公众认知的一致性。为解决地图要素密度不均衡的问题提供了新的思路,变形后的地图达到视觉平衡,同时,通过调整形变权重参数实现了公众地图认知的一致性。     

Drawing metro maps in concentric circles: A designer-in-the-loop approach with visual examples

This article presents a proof-of-concept designer-in-the-loop schematic map drawing tool, based on the marriage of two approaches—manual and automated, which provides the technical interactivity of drawing tools between the user and the computer. We focus on concentric circle maps as opposed to the commonly used orthogonal mode representation, which is suggested by previous studies that it could promote better network learning. In comparison with existing methods, the proposed method is more compatible with the framework of effective map design from psychological and aesthetic perspectives, and a range of options can be provided in conjunction with users' preferences. We evaluated our approach on a set of iterations with case studies of Hong Kong metro with a group of three co-authors from the fields of geography, transport engineering, and education.     

基于图形的可视化地学建模环境

概念地图是一种用于支持知识构建及知识共享的方法。通过概念地图，可以有效地创建知识，将不同用户及专家的知识以概念实体与概念关系的形式组织，以图形化的形式加以表示，来支持地学模型建模。基于概念地图的地学模型建模过程包括系统模型描述、用户模型定义、模型建造、模型解释与转换以及CASE生成几部分。随后，详细讨论了模型支持系统的应用特点，基于概念地图的空间模型建模的环境和工作流程。最后，利用永定河的水利工程等背景资料，建立了小清河分洪区背景信息的概念地图模型，利用建立的概念地图模型，在可视化建模环境下，建立了永定河洪水模拟模型。对洪水模拟结果和流域的社会经济统计数据进行叠加分析，得到了令人满意的的洪水灾情评估结果。     

Use of Cartographic Analysis for Determining the Morphometric Features of Selected Groups of Glacial Configuration Forms

Abstract

Using a hypsometric map, an analysis was performed of selected morphometric features of topographic profiles differing in terms of origin. The research was based on uniform source materials, namely topographic maps of Poland on a scale of 1:10 000. The spatial distribution of morphometric features has been presented using geometrical cartograms. Summary cartograms, based on normalised and summed up values of individual features, were also developed. A comparative analysis of cartograms was performed in order to establish dominant features. It was established that each of the researched genetic topographic profile types has characteristic morphometric features. Getting its meaning may be helpful when determining the origin and age of topographic profiles. It was also demonstrated that when analysing the morphometry of terrain, it is sufficient to consider dominant features only.     

面向双/多变量的连续面域拓扑图可视化方法

面域拓扑图是一种利用区域面积大小定量表达区域属性信息的可视化方法。由于其区域面积本身已经表示某一变量,因此这更有利于双/多变量的制图表达。针对目前基于面域拓扑图的双/多变量表达方法中存在的难以表达相邻区域之间基本状况和不利于不同地理现象的空间分布规律及差异表达的问题,本文提出一种面向双/多变量的连续面域拓扑图可视化方法。首先通过格网密度补偿和积分步长逐步试探的方法对基于扩散模型的连续面域拓扑图生成算法进行部分优化,完成基本变量的表达,然后分别通过空间内插和符号扩展完成第2和第3变量在连续面域拓扑图中的表达。最后以慕尼黑市人口密度和银行/ATM分布(双变量)数据以及奥格斯堡市人口密度数据、幼儿园分布以及规模数据(多变量)为试验数据进行可视化,并通过实证分析验证了该方法的有效性和优越性。     

灾害应急远程协同会商系统的设计与集成

传统的电视电话会议,由于空间地域差异或者专业知识的限制,使信息沟通不完整,表述复杂,给会商参与者造成沟通交流障碍。在此基础上,增加分布式地理信息系统,可以使异地参会者实时协作完成各类专题地图制作,增强参会者对会商内容的快速理解,沟通更加便捷,提高会商质量。本文提出灾害应急会商中会议发起人——参会者模式的地图协同标绘应用,研究了会商期间的标绘消息网络推送,实现异地用户对图形标绘信息的远程同步感知,设计了协同编辑指定图元的并发控制流程,分析图元标绘并发操作时的冲突可能性,并提出系统自动裁决、用户协商、权威仲裁的避免冲突策略。文章以玉树地震为应用实例,讲述了民政部利用本系统将远程专家会商结果绘制了物资调配态势图,实现了辅助决策。     

电子地图导航技术框架研究

导航技术在用户使用电子地图中起着重要的引导作用,本文在拓宽地图学和地理信息工程领域中将电子地图导航技术分为了6类:显示设备、信息重构、缩放+漫游、概览+细节、焦点+上下文和基于提示的对象可视化技术,并构建了电子地图导航技术框架研究的漏斗模型,并对框架中的地理任务分类、导航技术分类、导航技术理论、可用性研究和评估方法以及最后方案的复用5个方面进行了阐述,并提出了初步的解决方案。     

信息量与相似度约束下的网络地图服务缩略图自动生成算法

缩略图可显著提高图片和视频等图形图像资源的展现效率,有效改善信息检索过程中的用户体验。地图服务是一种耦合空间和尺度信息的图像资源,其设计创作、检索筛选和存储管理均需要缩略图的支撑。设计精巧的缩略图带给人良好、鲜活的第一印象,帮助用户实现高效的交互与探索;粗糙凌乱的缩略图则让用户产生抵触情绪,打消其继续探索地图服务的主动性。本文借鉴视频关键帧的思路并结合地图表达特点,提出了地图服务关键位置和关键尺度的概念,并设计了相应的量化指标和提取算法,重点解决了缩略图视觉效果不佳、地图信息量不足和自动化程度不高等问题。算法基于信息量识别地图中内容丰富的关键位置,然后利用跨比例尺相似度判断发生显著变化的关键尺度,最后自动筛选出若干张代表地图服务内容的缩略图。试验表明本方法提取的缩略图数量适中、内容丰富、代表性强,可高度还原地图服务的内容构成和外观样式。     

省级地图数据库应急保障制图体系探索与建设

介绍了省级地图数据库应急保障体系的总体架构,以及体系的建设内容和示范应用子系统功能。进行省级地图数据库应急保障制图体系的探索与建设,可将基础地图信息数据和专题图数据集中管理,并具有全面的数据采集更新、数据编辑处理、数据入库管理、应急地图产品的快速定制及出版印刷等功能,为地图制图的信息化建设奠定基础,并推进应急保障制图快速化服务进程。     

导航电子地图主动表达模型研究

目前,导航电子地图"千人一面"的服务模式不能满足用户追求个性的时代特点。文中从用户因素和时空环境两方面对导航电子地图内容主动表达的影响因子进行深入研究,建立导航电子地图主动表达模型。与传统表达模式相比,主动表达模式关注特定时空环境下用户的个性和偏好,对有不同的认知特征和不同导航任务的用户在不同环境下采取不同的表达策略,服务质量有所提高。     

基于混合智能的地图自动审核技术框架

地图审核是国家测绘地理信息行政主管部门的主要职责。当前我国的地图审核依赖人工目视判别,成本高、效率低。如何从高度依赖专家经验的人工检测走向混合智能的自动判断,是我国地图审核工作面临的技术难点和痛点问题。提出以知识为引导、算法为基础的地图自动审核的混合智能方法,设计了基于混合智能的地图自动审核技术框架,并指出需要重点突破的3项关键技术;并结合典型的“问题地图”智能化审核案例,给出了地图智能化审核的技术实现途径。     

ICT时代地图的科学概念及表达框架

地图学是一门在历史条件限定下不断成长的科学。相较于传统地图, 在新技术与新需求的双重驱动下, 信息时代地图的表达对象、表现形式、感知通道、用户角色等均发生了重大转变, 地图的科学概念及理论框架亟需进一步拓展, 以适应新时期地图学科的发展需求。首先, 分析了信息时代地图的泛化特征;然后, 讨论了新情势下地图的科学概念及其表示范围;最后, 基于表达对象、信息抽象、地图表达、地图结果, 构建了地图的表达框架。旨在适应地图学发展的时代潮流, 明确学科研究的外延边界及内涵表示, 为当前与未来的地图学发展提供相应支撑。