1. Where have we been?
Cartography as communication systems: then (linear) and now (cyclical)
Geospatial data Visualization Pipeline (Ben Fry)
Getting a message to, communicating with, a map user
Eye to brain processes
How to design maps (eg.
groupings, figure ground,
visual hierarchies) for effective
cartographic communication
Audience: motivation,
cognition

2. Where are we going today:
Understanding the PURPOSE of the map
What Activities are the map user suppose to perform with the map?
Detect? Estimate? Measure? Correlate? Visualize? Explore?
Link:
map use activities with visual processing tasks reading, analysis, interpretation peripheral/foveal
= User Centered Design

3. User Centered Design (UCD) From then and static to now and interactive
Readings
Board, 1978 “Map reading tasks appropriate in experimental studies in cartographic communication” Canadian Cartographer, vol. 15 (1978): 5
Amy Griffin et al “Designing across map use contexts: a research agenda” International Journal of Cartography 2017
Robert E. Roth, Kevin S. Ross and Alan M. MacEachren. “User-Centered Design for Interactive Maps: A Case Study in Crime Analysis” ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. (2015), 4(1), ; doi: /ijgi

4. Lecture Outline Map Use Activities Map use design methodology
- Board (1978)
Map use design methodology
HWCastner/SHermansen
3. Interactive Maps: Map Use Context
Amy Griffin et al (2017)
Roth (2015)

5. 1. Map Use Activities a) Map Purpose
What are we suppose to do with the map:
Map Reading
Map Analysis
Map Interpretation

6. Map Reading Lowest order of processing detection discrimination
identification, recognition, verification
estimation
Board, 1978 “Map reading tasks appropriate in experimental studies in cartographic
communication” Canadian Cartographer, vol. 15 (1978): 5

7. Map Analysis Map Interpretation analyze/describe spatial relationships
higher order cognitive processing
Map Interpretation
seek explanations for the patterns and relationships
visualize/imaginations
highest order of cognitive process

8. Boards Map use activities
lower
Map reading analysis and interpretation activities:
Map Reading (navigation, orientation)
position, reference, direction, distance
Map Analysis
- Spatial comparisons:
Measurement, nominal counts, ordinal compare and contrast, interval value assessment
Map Interpretation
Regional delimitations; pattern recognition: visualization
Scanning for visual organization, grouping,
higher

9. Evaluation What sort of map? For whom is the map intended?
Under what conditions will the map be used?
What map reading activities are appropriate for stated purpose?

10. Purpose / Activities / Evaluation
Board wanted cartographers to link
Purpose / Activities / Evaluation to
Design
Past mapping to present mapping?
Does this still ‘work’?

11. Visual processing tasks
1970/80: In parallel to Boards research on Map Use Activities and Design…
Visual processing tasks
Peripheral vision
Foveal vision
Cognition (experiences, motivation…)
Implications for map use design
Establishing visual hierarchies
Visual contrast
Visual groupings

12. Develop links between:
map reading/analysis/interpretation what are our map use activities
= evaluation criteria
And visual processing tasks
For User Centered Design

13. A research Methodology for User Centered Map Design

14. research in map perception
Establish: Map Use Activities and Visual processing Tasks to guide map design
Castner and McGrath goal:
Link:
analysis of map user information needs to
research in map perception
thereby
Designing effective map symbols

15. through an understanding of
Procedure:
Clarify map content
through an understanding of
information needs;
which in turn
provide design options that relate to the way the map content is seen when using a map

16. Procedure based upon: Map user Activities (Board’s map tasks)
user group
analysis of map elements / symbols need necessary to map
Visual processing Tasks
eye-brain organization/hierarchies
Symbol design

17. Example: Nautical Charts
Step1 Interview Pleasure boaters
Step2 Determine Activities and associated map elements that support activities
Step3: Determine visual processing tasks associated with activities
Step4: propose design alternatives

19. Thoughts on this Map design methodology for today?

21. User Centred Design (UCD) Roth et al 2015
the process of ensuring interface success (map-based or otherwise) by gathering input and feedback from target users throughout the design and development of the interface
loops in which target users provided input and feedback on needs and designs (user), prompting revisions to the conceptualization and functional requirements of the interface (utility), and ultimately leading to new mockups and prototypes of the interface (usability) for additional evaluation by target users… etc loop.
user→utility→usability

22. User (group)
Target the user group: community of map users

23. Utility
usefulness of an interface for completing the user’s desired set of objectives
Benchmarks
Activities and tasks

24. Usability Learnability Efficiency Memorability
Error frequency and severity
Subjective satisfaction

28. Interactive crime maps
City of Vancouver Crime map
City of Toronto, CBC maps crime

29. Griffin, 2017, International
Journal of Cartography

30. Context and map users Spatial abilities Disabilities
Education, training, jobs (taxi drivers)
Limiting factors of technology on spatial abilities (navigation directions)
Disabilities
Colour blindness
Vision impairment
Individual differences
Gender, age

31. Context and map use environment
What
Laptop, mobile, VR, static
When
Seasonal, day/night
With whom
Individual collaborative
Behaviour profiling
Maps adapting to where we are

32. Context and the map Dynamic data Privacy Device Representation
mobile
Representation
Multi scale, visual analytics alongside
Interfaces
Different interactions – touch screen, click

33. Examples Point a to b in urban city
1 local, red green colour blindness, time constraint
2 non-local no time constraint
Identify similar and different context
Based on this, identify relevant design solutions

36. Summary…

37. Where have we been?
Cartography as communication systems: then (linear) and now (cyclical)
Geospatial data Visualization Pipeline (Ben Fry)
Getting a message to, communicating with, a map user
Eye to brain processes
How to design maps (eg.
groupings, figure ground,
visual hierarchies) for effective
cartographic communication
Audience: motivation,
cognition

38. Where are we going today:
Understanding the PURPOSE of the map
What Activities are the map user suppose to perform with the map?
Detect? Estimate? Measure? Correlate? Visualize? Explore?
Link:
map use activities with visual processing tasks reading, analysis, interpretation peripheral/foveal
= User Centered Design
Complications with Context:
Static / Interactive