Human-Centered Approaches in Geovisualization Design: Investigating Multiple Methods Through a Long-Term Case Study

Working with three domain specialists we investigate human-centered approaches to geovisualization following an ISO13407 taxonomy covering context of use, requirements and early stages of design. Our case study, undertaken over three years, draws attention to repeating trends: that generic approaches fail to elicit adequate requirements for geovis application design; that the use of real data is key to understanding needs and possibilities; that trust and knowledge must be built and developed with collaborators. These processes take time but modified human-centred approaches can be effective. A scenario developed through contextual inquiry but supplemented with domain data and graphics is useful to geovis designers. Wireframe, paper and digital prototypes enable successful communication between specialist and geovis domains when incorporating real and interesting data, prompting exploratory behaviour and eliciting previously unconsidered requirements. Paper prototypes are particularly successful at eliciting suggestions, especially for novel visualization. Enabling specialists to explore their data freely with a digital prototype is as effective as using a structured task protocol and is easier to administer. Autoethnography has potential for framing the design process. We conclude that a common understanding of context of use, domain data and visualization possibilities are essential to successful geovis design and develop as this progresses. HC approaches can make a significant contribution here. However, modified approaches, applied with flexibility, are most promising. We advise early, collaborative engagement with data – through simple, transient visual artefacts supported by data sketches and existing designs – before moving to successively more sophisticated data wireframes and data prototypes

Kartografski informacijski sustav \u27\u27ÖROK Atlas Online\u27\u27 – AIS Austrija kao komunikacijski portal temeljnih geopodataka o Austriji

\u27\u27ÖROK Atlas Online\u27\u27 – Atlas Information System Austria (AIS-Austria) – is a research and development project of the Austrian Conference on Spatial Planning (ÖROK) for the construction of a prototype for an interactive, multi-media thematic atlas in cooperation with the Department of Geography and Regional Sciences (IFGR) – University Vienna, the Department of Geoinformation and Cartography (IGK) – University of Technology Vienna and the Austrian Institute of Regional Planning (ÖIR) – Information Services GmbH (I: D). The project started in September 2004. The project duration is 1,5 years. In the prototype of the web atlas, on the basis of the topographical basic geo-data, predefined and prepared for several scales (the basic scale for Austria is 1:1,000.000), thematic contents will be visualized and made accessible over the interactive map based graphical user interface as a communication portal. AIS-Austria is a hybrid system which should be able to ensure also the printed map in a high graphic resolution (the dual atlas principle). The user navigation and system functionalities, which provide the geo-communication, will be presented.\u27\u27ÖROK Atlas Online\u27\u27 – Atlas Information System Austria (AIS-Austria) – je znanstveno-tehnološki projekt Austrijske konferencije za prostorno planiranje (Österreichische Raumordnungskonferenz). U projektu je razrađen prototip interaktivnog, multimedijskog tematskog atlasa na čijoj realizaciji sudjeluju Institut za geografiju i regionalne znanosti Sveučilišta u Beču, Institut za geoinformacije i kartografiju Tehničkog sveučilišta u Beču i Austrijski institut za regionalno planiranje. Projekt je započeo u rujnu 2004. i trajat će 1,5 godinu. U prototipu atlasa bit će realiziran pristup temeljnim topografskim geopodacima, koji su kartografski unaprijed pripremljeni u nekoliko osnovnih mjerila. Nadalje, vizualizacija i interaktivni pristup tematskim podacima bit će dostupan preko korisničkog sučelja kao komunikacijskog portala, čiji je temelj kartografski prikaz (topografija ili već vizualizirana tematika). AIS-Austria je zamišljen kao hibridni informacijski sustav, koji prema želji korisniku daje mogućnost izdavanja sadržaja po vlastitom izboru u vidu papirnate karte visoke kvalitete (dualni princip atlasa). U članku će biti prikazane mogućnosti navigacije kao i funkcionalnost sustava, što podržava geokomunikaciju

The civic survey of Greater London: social mapping, planners and urban space in the early twentieth century

This paper examines work conducted between 1915 and 1919 by a group of architects and planners based at the Royal Institute of British Architects. The project, called the Civic Survey of Greater London, and the substantial collection of maps and diagrams that resulted from it are currently unknown in histories of mapping and planning, thus this paper offers a preliminary account and analysis of the work. The paper begins by assessing the development of surveying and mapping techniques in the nineteenth century with the aim of situating the Survey within broader historical trajectories. The following section of the paper examines the immediate context for the Survey, in particular the place of Patrick Geddes and his ideas. The third part of the paper focuses on the work of the Survey itself. The fourth part draws out key analytical threads in dialogue with a number of the maps of the Survey. The emphasis placed here is on exploring lines of continuity between the Civic Survey of Greater London and earlier techniques of representation and governmentality. The concluding section reflects briefly on the reasons for the Survey's subsequent relative obscurity and the importance of the project for later traditions of surveying

Interactive maps: What we know and what we need to know

This article provides a review of the current state of science regarding cartographic interaction a complement to the traditional focus within cartography on cartographic representation. Cartographic interaction is defined as the dialog between a human and map mediated through a computing device and is essential to the research into interactive cartography geovisualization and geovisual analytics. The review is structured around six fundamental questions facing a science of cartographic interaction: (1) what is cartographic interaction (e.g. digital versus analog interactions interaction versus interfaces stages of interaction interactive maps versus mapping systems versus map mash-ups); (2) why provide cartographic interaction (e.g. visual thinking geographic insight the stages of science the cartographic problematic); (3) when should cartographic interaction be provided (e.g. static versus interactive maps interface complexity the productivity paradox flexibility versus constraint work versus enabling interactions); (4) who should be provided with cartographic interaction (e.g. user-centered design user ability expertise and motivation adaptive cartography and geocollaboration); (5) where should cartographic interaction be provided (e.g. input capabilities bandwidth and processing power display capabilities mobile mapping and location-based services); and (6) how should cartographic interaction be provided (e.g. interaction primitives objective-based versus operator-based versus operand-based taxonomies interface styles interface design)? The article concludes with a summary of research questions facing cartographic interaction and offers an outlook for cartography as a field of study moving forward

An interface design for urban recreational walking: A practice-based case study

GPS-enabled mobile maps are now commonly used to wayfind in urban locations. Though increasingly efficient and more widely available, little attention has been paid to how novel approaches to the design of the visual interface may support particular user-experiences. This article presents the results of a practice-based study focusing on the design of an interface which allows walkers to maintain an awareness of the surrounding environment as they wayfind. Through an iterative process, a mixed-fidelity working prototype was developed and tested in a field setting. Results indicate that the interface promoted a high level of awareness of the surrounding environment

Choriented Maps: Visualizing SDG Data on Mobile Devices

Choropleth maps and graduated symbol maps are often used to visualize quantitative geographic data. However, as the number of classes grows, distinguishing between adjacent classes increasingly becomes challenging. To mitigate this issue, this work introduces two new visualization types: choriented maps (maps that use colour and orientation as variables to encode geographic information) and choriented mobile (an optimization of choriented maps for mobile devices). The maps were evaluated in a graphical perception study featuring the comparison of SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) data for several European countries. Choriented maps and choriented mobile visualizations resulted in comparable, sometimes better effectiveness and confidence scores than choropleth and graduated symbol maps. Choriented maps and choriented mobile visualizations also performed well regarding efficiency overall and performed worse only than graduated symbol maps. These results suggest that the use of colour and orientation as visual variables in combination can improve the selectivity of map symbols and user performance during the exploration of geographic data in some scenarios.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Cartographic Journa

Geocoded data structures and their applications to Earth science investigations

A geocoded data structure is a means for digitally representing a geographically referenced map or image. The characteristics of representative cellular, linked, and hybrid geocoded data structures are reviewed. The data processing requirements of Earth science projects at the Goddard Space Flight Center and the basic tools of geographic data processing are described. Specific ways that new geocoded data structures can be used to adapt these tools to scientists' needs are presented. These include: expanding analysis and modeling capabilities; simplifying the merging of data sets from diverse sources; and saving computer storage space

GeoTraceAgri final project report (GTA)

Are the universalisation and the globalisation of trade exchanges synonymous with a standardization in which agro-food products uprooted of their soil will no longer be differentiated from manufacturers or supermarket brands? Original food products belong to the inheritance of the territories and the consumers are attracted more and more by their authenticity. The GeoTraceAgri project resolutely supports agriculture and the sustainable promotion of the territory as opposed to universalisation which standardizes and moves away those who produce for consumers. Geotraceability aims at associating information of geographical nature with the traditional data of traceability. Farming origin and operations have become factual and verifi able data is available everywhere in the world, thus making it possible to bring additional guarantees to the signs of quality. The GeoTraceAgri (GTA) project largely contributed to the realisation of geotraceability. With the implementation from January 1,2005 of the new Common Agricultural Policy and its regulation imposing on the Member States a single system of declaration, all the agricultural parcels now form part of a European database of geographical references. This new regulation reinforces the basis of the concept of geotraceability, whereas throughout the project it was necessary to defi ne geo-indicators for integrated or crop production with very few geographical data on the farming precedents. The development of the GTA prototype rests on a decentralized architecture and Web services. It was indeed necessary to conceive a system which is readily accessible on Internet for farmers, co-operatives and collectors, and potentially with the administrations which have control responsibilities. In term of acceptability, the potential users realise the potential economic benefi ts of the concept and of the indicators of geotraceability in their plan of exploitation, on the other hand sociological acceptability is less evident which induces the need for communication to make for its adoption. This fi nal report fi nal illustrates the fi rst stage : the GeoTraceAgri partners are continuing their research on the defi nition of an integrated system of geotraceability for the Common agricultural policy and the plan of analysis of the results of GeoTraceAgri should lead to the marketing within two years of an application making it possible to integrate the geo-indicators into management software for the actors of the agro food chain