Jaromír Kaňok is associate professor at Department of Geoinformatics
at Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic. He works on thematic
and theoretical cartography for many years. He published several
university text books and many scientific papers.
Vít Voženilek is professor and head of the Department of Geoinformatics at Palacky
University Olomouc, Czech Republic. He is active in cartography and geoinformatics –
especially in atlas and computer cartography and spatial phenomena modelling. He is a
chief cartographer in several both national and regional cartographic projects. He published
over 200 papers on overlaying topics of both cartography and geoinformatics.
VISUALIZATION MAPPING METHODS FOR
INTERPRETATION OF PHENOMENON DYNAMICS
Jaromír Kaňok, Vít Voženílek
Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic
jaromir.kanok@upol.cz, vit.vozenilek@upol.cz
1. INTRODUCTION
Various scientific disciplines deal with the research of the object and phenomenon changes
in space and time. Many of them present research projects where the results are presented
by means of maps. That is why the task for cartography and geoinformatics is to have
sufficient number of visualization methods, which are able to represent the changes in
time. A number of the methods already exist but the research in that sphere is not finished.
The existed methods will be improved and new methods will be established. However,
their use in the applications of geoinformation technologies (especially regional projects
GIS) is sporadic. Only lately with the development of mobile and distributive GIS we can
see more frequent use of the traditional cartographic methods of representation of
phenomena dynamics as well as attempts of creating new methods.
2. DYNAMICS
Many book writers need to visualize data on dynamic phenomenon. What is a dynamic
phenomenon? It is a phenomenon which processes in time. Studying of objects and
phenomena in space and time is under investigation in many scientific disciplines. Most of
them use maps as main tool for their expression. This fact asks cartography for methods of
time interpretation. Research of such methods is still open, existing methods will be
improved and new ones will come.
3. DYNAMICS INTERPRETATION
It is known that most interpretation methods are able to express three dimensions (length,
width, height). The representation of dynamics can be expressed by words: movement,
process, development, trend, change, rhythm, cycle, formation – duration – end, growth
etc. We choose the mapping method according to the word that best fits the represented
phenomenon. Before we choose the mapping method we have to evaluate the structure of
the dynamic phenomenon. The important thing is not only the meaning of the word but the
dynamic phenomenon itself. Finally, we have to take into consideration to whom we
represent the result of the visualization. We have to know the level of professional
knowledge of the reader of the final visualization.
Obviously, not only meaning of the word is important. The nature of dynamic phenomenon
is investigated, its structure is analysed. There is a question: will we express dynamic data
by graph, diagram or map? The most frequent answer is: if data are related to point we use
graphs or diagrams. Then they are placed in text or localized on occurrence point in map. If
the phenomenon occurs in space and changes in time, we use such methods which exactly
express its dynamics – the word movement, process, development, trend, change, rhythm,
cycle, formation – duration – end, growth etc.
4. CLASSIFICATION OF METHODS FOR INTERPRETATION OF SPATIAL
PHENOMENA DYNAMICS
The methods representing the phenomenon dynamics can be divided according to different
criteria. One of the possible criteria is – the final representation:
a) static (eg. graph, diagram, map, 3 and more maps of the same territory where the
phenomenon changes within time)
b) dynamic (eg. animation in 2D, animation in 2D/3D)
The first group (a) can be divided according to its positioning in map:
o Out of map. The results of dynamic data graphic processing are localized in text.
They are graphs and diagrams expressing dependency of two variables where one
variable is time (ie. schemes of time systems, line graphs, columns graphs, etc.).
The same situation is when there are three variables to be expressed (triangle
graphs, pseudospatial graphs etc.).
o Out of and into map. Feature of some data allows more possibilities of methods
positioning: either in text or by map or in map.
o Only in map. Positioning is not exact. Dynamic data processing is predetermined
by demand of its positioning – only in map. Nature of such methods comes from
figural symbols, linear symbols, quantitative area symbols, qualitative area
symbols.
The second group (b) is used mainly in scientific texts on web. There is frequently used
animation in 2D or 2D/3D.
5. EXAMPLES OF BASIC METHODS FOR INTERPRETATION OF SPATIAL
PHENOMENA DYNAMICS
Theory and terminology of graphic and cartographic methods is not standardized yet. One
term as an example: Choropleth map – chorogram - cartogram – method of quantitative
areas. The first two terms are preferred in American and West European cartography.
Cartogram is used mainly in Eastern Europe and until recently in Germany. The last term
is used by J. Pravda [11] as wider term including contently term cartogram.
During last decades thematic cartographers develop new interpretation methods. While in
methods for dynamics interpretation were used only occasionally in atlas period (before
1960), nowadays they are used much frequently. It seems that the atlas is specialized the
less maps with dynamic phenomena are involved.
Following methods are used for positioning “out of and in map”: diagrams (mainly
dynamic diagrams), cartodiagrams (both area and point, preferably dynamic; linear,
preferably stripe-dynamic, isochronic).
When using group „only in map“, we choose methods based on (terminology according to
[11]):
o method of qualitative figural symbols,
o method of density figural symbols,
o method qualitative linear symbols,
o method direction symbols,
o method qualitative area symbols,
o method quantitative area symbol,
o method of diagrams (cartodiagrams).
Figure 1 Figural symbol method [3]
Figure 2 Method of qualitative linear symbols [9]
Figure 3 Method qualitative linear symbol and open area symbol [3]
Figure 4 Method of qualitative area symbols by hatching, dot methods and colours [4]. Legend can involve
period of occurrence. In the map centre there is overlapping of five area symbols.
Animation in 2D or 2D/3D is often used on web. Figure 5 shows maps with phenomenon
occurrence in time series. Dynamic phenomenon is demonstrated by particular map
sequences or by animation.
Figure 5 Time data in map sequences. [15]
6. CONCLUSION
If reader needs more information about using above-mention methods including methods
suitable for dynamic phenomena, he can use theoretical texts in [1], [2], [6], [7], [8], [10],
[11], [12], [13] and [14]. The authors recommend studying methods in thematic atlases [3],
[4], [5], [9], [15] that are very inspirational.
Finally, there is necessary to point on keeping fundamental cartographic laws and
regulations for thematic map completing. There are many wrong ways to express
dynamics. User is very important factor for choosing and using particular method. And
cartographer has to respect who – how – why will use the map.
Acknowledgements
Authors are indebted for collaboration to research team members of Landscape atlas of
the Czech Republic. The paper is supported by projects of Grant Agency of the Czech
Republic 205/06/0965“Visualization, interpretation and perception of spatial information
in thematic maps”.
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