Cartographic Design and Production in the Internet Era: The Example of Tourist Web Maps

Abstract

Some, but not all, branches of the tourist industry make heavy use of maps. The industry has discovered the marketing potential of the Internet but in many cases has not yet fully exploited the extra potential of web maps compared to the traditional paper maps. Web maps can up-to-date tourist information very well but they have to be carefully designed to take account of the limitations of the medium. To be most effective, web maps should be basically simple and convey sufficient information interactively, on request. The map and symbol design should convey intuitively where and how this interaction can take place. This paper summarizes the typical faults found in tourist web map design and provides suggestions on good design practice.     

Unclassed Animated Choropleth Maps

Abstract

The potential of unclassed animated choropleth maps as a solution to false patterns of geographic change arising from data classification is investigated. Old concerns about unclassed choropleth maps may be mitigated through map interactivity that offers four advantages over traditional data legends, and previous insights from testing static choropleth maps do not necessarily translate to animated cartography. Data from user testing revealed unclassed animated choropleth maps neither help nor hurt the ability of map readers to understand patterns of geographic change. However, the unclassed map (1) appeared 'less jumpy' to participants and was perceived to run at a slower pace (despite running at the same number of frames per second), and (2) subtle geographic shifts (e.g., seasonal unemployment cycles) were more readily noticed on the unclassed maps. Preliminary results also suggest classed data emphasise stability over time – while their unclassed counterparts improve our ability to see changes. This paper also outlines animated simultaneous contrast as a new perceptual issue in the creation of animated choropleth maps.     

A Structure Recognition Technique in Contextual Generalisation of Buildings and Built-up Areas

Abstract

A structure recognition technique is presented that can be employed for contextual building and built-up area generalisation in medium-scale topographic maps. Owing to various spatial configurations, a contextual mechanism is necessary to achieve acceptable results in cartographic generalisation. Spatial structures are usually implicit in data, and advanced analysis and processing methods are required to detect them. This technique is based on auxiliary geometric data structures and spatial analysis methods. A case study is performed with a topographic data set, using an interface developed in an object-oriented geographic information system (O-O GIS). The proposed approach was found to assist and improve automation.     

Computer-produced Unclassed Bivariate Choropleth Maps

Many cartographers subscribe to the view that unclassed choropleth maps and multivariate choropleth maps exceed map readers' abilities to process visual information. This paper examines recent evidence which controverts both of these beliefs and discusses applications of a computer program, BICHOR, designed to produce unclassed bivariate choropleth maps interactively on a line plotter or CRT. The maps utilize crossed-line symbolism and putatively overcome both the quantization error inherent in conventionally classed choroplethic displays and the perceptual difficulties associated with color-encoding schemes used for earlier bivariate maps.     

A Gestalt rules and graph-cut-based simplification framework for urban building models

To visualize large urban models efficiently, this paper presents a framework for generalizing urban building footprints and facade textures by using multiple Gestalt rules and a graph-cut-based energy function. First, an urban scene is divided into different blocks by main road networks. In each block, the building footprints are partitioned into potential Gestalt groups. A footprint may satisfy several Gestalt principles. We employ the graph-cut-based optimization function to obtain a consistent segmentation of the buildings into optimal Gestalt groups with minimal energy. The building footprints in each Gestalt group are aggregated into different levels of detail (LODs). Building facade textures are also abstracted and simplified into multiple LODs using the same approach as the building footprint simplification. An effective data structure termed SceneTree is introduced to manage these aggregated building footprints and facade textures. Combined with the parallelization scheme, the rendering efficiency of large-scale urban buildings is improved. Compared with other methods, our presented method can efficiently visualize large urban models and maintain the city's image.     

IndoorTubes A Novel Design for Indoor Maps

Efforts within cartography on indoor maps have previously not received a lot of attention. Work that has been carried out on indoor maps often focus on map design very similar to an architectural style (Klippel et al. 2006; Ciavarella and Paternò 2004). In some cases the design has been of a more novel character where approaches with augmented and virtual realities have been carried out (Radoczky 2007; Müller et al. 2006). Common to these approaches is the depiction of one floor per map. As well, the primary user task is often solely personal navigation. In this article I present an innovative approach to indoor maps. The design is directly inspired by underground tube maps first developed by Harry Beck (Garland 1994) and today a common design for public transport maps. The main advantages of the map design are its simplicity and the possibility of including all floors in one map view. This allows the map user to easier comprehend the structure of the building without using several maps, as commonly needed with today's indoor map designs. I present several different map styles each intended to satisfy different user groups and tasks depending on the user's familiarity with the environment. In addition the article motivate for new application areas suitable for indoor maps, especially large hospitals. I hypothesize that the design proposed in this article leans very well to displaying real-time dynamic geospatial information, such as patients, staff, equipment and room availability within hospitals. Due to the early phase of the work presented here I outline the needed further work and possibilities of technological platforms as well as evaluations necessary in order for the design to gain acceptance and success.     

Effects of Animations in Zooming and Panning Operations on Web maps: A Web-based Experiment

Abstract

The presentation of graphics and maps on the Internet has led to the development of several new techniques. The use of dynamics and animations in maps has increased, and new types of applications are emerging frequently. Recently, several map providers on the web have introduced zooming in maps as an animated operation. In this paper, we look closer into how the animated zoom is perceived by participants in an experiment, and compare these observations with a corresponding test where the map scale is changed in more abrupt steps. The results indicate significant preference for the animated zoom. The experiment itself is carried out through the World Wide Web and all the participants made their contribution from their own computers.     

Change Blindness in Animated Choropleth Maps: An Empirical Study

Animated choropleth maps enable cartographers to visualize time-series data in a way that congruently depicts change over time. However, users have difficulty apprehending information encoded within these displays, and often fail to detect important changes between adjacent scenes. Failures of visual experience, such as change blindness, threaten the effectiveness of dynamic geovisual displays, in which several important changes can occur simultaneously throughout the display. Animated choropleth maps require viewers not only to notice changes but also understand symbolic meanings encoded in rapid transitions between scenes. Graphic interpolation between key frames, also known as “in-betweening” or “tweening”, smoothes transitions and lengthens the duration of the transition between scenes in a dynamic sequence. Previous cartographic literature suggests tweening could be a potential solution for change blindness in the cartographic context. This article examines this issue of change blindness in the cartographic context and reports on a human subjects investigation designed to evaluate the influence of cartographic design variables on map readers' change detection abilities. Our results indicate that 1) map readers have difficulty detecting changes in animated choropleth maps, 2) map readers over-estimate their own change detection abilities, and 3) tweening influences the legibility of change in animated choropleth maps.     

Relief and Colour

Abstract

Most maps which depict the earth's relief do not convey information about the colour or texture of the earth's surface. Ways of embodying these additional elements into hill-shaded maps are proposed by the Senior Lecturer in Geodesy, Israel Institute of Technology (Technion).     

Reflections on Arno Peters (1916–2002)

Abstract

This paper describes a methodology for evaluating the planimetric accuracy of three US Civil War maps using GIS and spatial analytical techniques. The case-study is the Battle of Stones River in Tennessee and, in particular, maps depicting the events of December 31, 1862. An examination of the objectives, limitations and techniques employed by the topographer engineers who created the maps provides focus for the quantitative analysis and establishes the historical context needed to understand how and why the maps were constructed. The paper shows how GIS and spatial analysis can be utilized to document vanishing historic landscapes and reconstructing where certain historical events took place.     

Epistemology of Geopolitical Atlases from the 1980s to the Early 2000s

Abstract

Since the early 1980s, we have seen a new influx of numerous geopolitical atlases. They have been produced to meet society's implicit need to fix the boundaries of international issues and the relationships of force between the various powers. These atlases clearly express established ideologies and allow us to determine various trends of thought; messages which the authors wish us to take on board by studying cartographic themes. This is the approach we will be taking in this article.

In this paper, we aim to show the epistemological development of geopolitical atlases. The first part of the article gives the general outline of the epistemological development of geopolitical atlases, in which two main periods stand out. The first corresponds with the 1980s, which can be described as a realist decade. The state was a geopolitical player that could not be overlooked within a bipolar world; maps showing conflicts between the two major powers and thematic maps showing an ideological clash between them are typical of the period. The second period, corresponding with the 1990s, begins with the fall of the regimes in the Soviet bloc. This period can be described as having a neo-realist approach, where the threat from the East had moved to terrorism and drug trafficking. The atlases follow the geopolitical development of the world and describe international structural changes. In conclusion, the paper will return to the important educational and informative role of atlases and their effects on the ideas they are able to disseminate amongst the population.     

Generating and mapping population density surfaces within a geographical information system

Abstract

The spatially discontinuous choropleth map is a poor representation of the underlying continuous distribution of population density. A possible alternative is to derive dasymetric maps at a fine spatial resolution by making use of satellite imagery in a geographical information system. However, there are cartographic problems when these maps are displayed and further processing is needed in order to obtain approximations to a continuous density surface. Isarithmic maps of these density surfaces retain a high degree of spatial accuracy while providing pleasing and highly adaptable presentations.

The methods used to generate dasymetric and isarithmic maps are readily implemented in most raster based geographical information systems. For example, the classification of remotely sensed imagery, the subsequent processing and integration of data, and most of the cartographic display, were all undertaken in this work using the low cost IDRISI GIS that operates on standard IBM PC compatible hardware.     

Real World Map Reading Strategies

Abstract

A main component of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is the navigation system to be used in the 'intelligent' vehicle. In fact, driving a vehicle is a complex task as the driver has to control the vehicle as well as make decisions about getting to his/her destination. Too much information on the map (i.e. a complex map) would confuse the driver, while too little information would not be sufficient for the user to compare with the actual environment. Sufficient information but poorly presented would also result in confusion.

This paper reports on a study of the design of dynamic maps for land vehicle navigation through an investigation of different designs with different levels of information contents and visual effects using various dynamic variables. Different colours were assigned to the road and building names according to the position of the vehicle, and blinking symbols were used to indicate direction restrictions. Also, a set of maps with different degrees of complexity was designed such that the users would be provided with different levels of contents and representation by zooming in and out. The effectiveness of the design was investigated in the map evaluation process.     

Hexagon Mosaic Maps for Display of Univariate and Bivariate Geographical Data

This paper presents concepts that motivate the use of hexagon mosaic maps and hexagon-based ray-glyph maps. The phrase "hexagon mosaic map" refers to maps that use hexagons to tessellate major areas of a map, such as land masses. Hexagon mosaic maps are similar to color-contour (isarithm) maps and show broad regional patterns. The ray glyph, an oriented line segment with a dot at the base, provides a convenient symbol for representing information within a hexagon cell. Ray angle encodes the local estimate for the hexagon. A simple extension adds upper- and lower-confidence bounds as a shaded arc bounded by two rays. Another extension, the bivariate ray glyph, provides a continuous representation for showing the local correlation of two variables. The theme of integrating statistical analysis and cartographic methods appears throughout this paper. Example maps show statistical summaries of acidic deposition data for the eastern United States. These maps provide useful templates for a wide range of statistical summarization and exploration tasks. Correspondingly, the concepts in this paper address the incorporation of statistical information, visual appeal, representational accuracy, and map interpretation.     

Cognitive and Usability Issues in Geovisualization

We provide a research agenda for the International Cartographic Association's Commission on Visualization and Virtual Environment Working Group on Cognitive and Usability Issues in Geovisualization. Developments in hardware and software have led to (and will continue to stimulate) numerous novel methods for visualizing geospatial data. It is our belief that these novel methods will be of little use if they are not developed within a theoretical cognitive framework and iteratively tested using usability engineering principles. We argue that cognitive and usability issues should be considered in the context of six major research themes: 1) geospatial virtual environments (GeoVEs); 2) dynamic representations (including animated and interactive maps); 3) metaphors and schemata in user interface design; 4) individual and group differences; 5) collaborative geovisualization; and 6) evaluating the effectiveness of geovisualization methods. A key point underlying our use of theoretical cognitive principles is that traditional cognitive theory for static two-dimensional maps may not be applicable to interactive three-dimensional immersive GeoVEs and dynamic representations—thus new cognitive theory may need to be developed. Usability engineering extends beyond the traditional cartographic practice of "user testing" by evaluating software effectiveness throughout a lifecycle (including design, development, and deployment). Applying usability engineering to geovisualization, however, may be problematic because of the novelty of geovisualization and the associated difficulty of defining the nature of users and their tasks. Tackling the research themes is likely to require an interdisciplinary effort involving geographic information scientists, cognitive scientists, usability engineers, computer scientists, and others.     

Interpolation of Point Values From Isoline Maps

A Bidirectional Hermitian Spline (BHS) method for the estimation of point values from isoline maps is presented and compared to three other methods. Hermitian splines are used and first derivatives are estimated by either Akima's method or by a clamped cubic spline, if Akima's method returns a zero first derivative. Every desired point value is interpolated twice, once by each of two orthogonally-directed splines. The two spline estimates are then averaged using the error formula for Hermitian splines. In addition, a periodic Hermitian spline is constructed around the study-area perimeter (representing a cross-sectional profile of the edge) to damp undesirable edge effects. Point values can be estimated from small-scale isoline maps drawn in spherical coordinates or from large-scale isoline maps drawn in Cartesian coordinates.     

Assessment of Simulated Cognitive Maps: The Influence of Prior Knowledge from Cartographic Maps

Real cognitive maps encoded by humans are difficult to study using experimental methods because they are a product of complex processes whose content and timing cannot easily be known or controlled. This paper assesses the value of using neural network model simulations for investigating cognitive maps. The study simulated the learning of mapped city locations in South Carolina from reference sites in the three primary regions of the state using Kohonen self-organizing maps. The learning performances of models were considered based on available prior knowledge. Bi-dimensional regression analyses were used to assess the congruity of the simulated cognitive maps with a cartographic map and with sketch maps produced by human subjects. Error analyses indicated differences between central and peripheral reference sites. The cities known by subjects living at a central location were more evenly distributed in space and associated with significantly smaller errors. Models that learned combined state boundary and interstate highway information as prior knowledge or simultaneously with city locations consistently produced the best simulation results. The results indicated simulated cognitive maps could be used effectively to study the acquisition of spatial knowledge.     

Water Supply Maps for the Western Front (Belgium and Northern France) Developed by British,German and American Military Geologists during World War I: Pioneering Studies in Hydrogeology from Trench Warfare

Abstract

Innovations for the British Army during World War I included use of a military geologist to compile 'water supply' maps and to guide well drilling. Between June 1915 and November 1918, W. B. R. King served as a staff lieutenant at General Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force deployed on the Western Front. He pioneered British development of water supply maps for parts of Belgium and northern France, in several different styles and at scales of 1 : 100 000, 1 : 250 000 and 1 : 40 000. These assisted planning for advances into enemy-occupied territory or the development of water supply infrastructure within the region held ultimately by five British armies: in total about 1,500,000 men with some 500,000 horses and mules, each man/animal requiring on average 10 gallons (45 L) per day of potable water. The maps guided emplacement of over 470 military boreholes to supply drinking water to British forces, especially in provinces underlain by Cretaceous Chalk: Picardy and Artois. German forces also made use of military geologists at the Front, but in much greater number: up to about 300 in total. Water supply tasks were given high priority, and German water supply maps were finally standardized like other medium scale German geotechnical maps at 1 : 25 000. Six geologists were deployed with the American Expeditionary Force late in the war, and for their sector of the Front compiled at least two water supply maps at 1 : 80 000, and 11 at 1 : 50 000 that were supported by explanatory reports. Wartime imperatives thus generated expertise in hydrogeology that became available for civilian use post-war, and laid the foundation for further military development during World War II.     

Specialist Maps of the Channel Islands Prepared by German Military Geologists during the Second World War: German Expertise Deployed on British Terrain

Abstract

During the German occupation of the Channel Islands, military geologists produced specialist maps to support their development as part of the Atlantic Wall: the line of fortifications marking the western boundary of German-occupied Europe. For Jersey, maps showed features of groundwater and quarry sites for building materials, primarily at a scale of 1 : 25 000. For Guernsey, maps at this scale were prepared to depict bedrock and superficial geology, and also maps which showed sites for building materials, water supply and features of military geology. For Alderney, maps at 1 : 10 000 showed bedrock geology, water supply, building materials plus tunnelling conditions, and military geology. Only a few contemporary copies of these maps were produced, hand-drawn upon printed topographical base-maps. Some are now preserved in Germany at the Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv, others in the USA at the National Archives and Records Administration. They include the only military geology maps, the earliest large-scale groundwater maps and arguably the earliest large-scale building resources maps, for any part of the British Isles.