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

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

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), 262-301; doi:10.3390/ijgi4010262 http://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/4/1/262/htm

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)

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

A research Methodology for User Centered Map Design

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

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

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

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

Thoughts on this Map design methodology for today?

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

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

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

Usability Learnability Efficiency Memorability Error frequency and severity Subjective satisfaction

http://popstats.unhcr.org/en/overview http://tipstrategies.com/geography-of-jobs/ http://metrocosm.com/global-immigration-map/

Interactive crime maps City of Vancouver Crime map http://geodash.vpd.ca/Html5Viewer/?disclaimer=on&viewer=public3_hv&x=117&y=39 http://vancouver.ca/police/CrimeMaps/CrimeMaps2016.htm City of Toronto, CBC maps crime http://www.cbc.ca/toronto/features/crimemap/

Griffin, 2017, International Journal of Cartography

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

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

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

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

Summary…

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

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