an information model for maps: towards cartographic...

An Information Model for Maps:

Towards Cartographic Production from GIS Databases

Aileen Buckley, Ph.D. and Charlie FryeSenior Cartographic Researchers, ESRI

Barbara Buttenfield, Ph.D.Professor, University of Colorado-Boulder

Torrin HultgrenGraduate Student, University of Colorado-Boulder

DLM5m resolution

DLM5m resolution

DLM25m resolution

DLM25m resolution

DCM_250KDCM_250K

DCM_10KDCM_10K

DCM_100KDCM_100K

DCM_50KDCM_50K

Digital LandscapeModel

CartographicAbstraction

Digital CartographicModel

Map / AtlasProducts

DCM_Campus25KDCM_Campus25K

DCM_Topo24KDCM_Topo24K

DCM_10MillionDCM_10MillionDLM1km resolution

DLM1km resolution

10K OS Topo

24K DOQ

24K USGS Topo24K Hillshade

50K Wall Map

100K Recreation Map

250K Road Map

10M World Wall Map

30K Campus

MapProduction

GIS Cartography

DATACOLLECTION CARTOGRAPHY MAP USE

Fundamental information transformations in cartography

Geospatialdata

Geographicalenvironment

Map Map image

CensusGround surveyGPSRemote sensingDigitizing

ReadingAnalysisInterpretation

SelectionGeneralizationSymbolizationLabeling

Transform 2 Transform 3Transform 1

From geographical environment to map…

DATA COLLECTION CARTOGRAPHY

Geospatialdata

Geographicalenvironment

Map

Transform 2Transform 1

Computational

Non-computational

PRODUCTIONPROCESS

Non-digital

Non-digitaldocuments

COMPILATIONPROCESS

GIS

Digital

Digitalfiles

GIS database

Outline of remainder of talk

Cartographic data modeling

Map conceptualization

Proposed information model for maps

Use of the model for cartographic production

Types of Maps

Number of users and uses(indicates the level of general application)

Nu

mb

er o

f map

feat

ure

s(a

nd

the

subs

eque

nt c

ompl

exity

of re

latio

nsh

ips

betw

een

them

)

Bike Map

Trail Map

Crime Hot Spots

Suitability Map

AnalysisResults

AtlasThematic Map

Census Data

ThematicMaps

Low High

High

Low

Atlas Reference Map

Topo Map

ReferenceMaps

Special UseMaps

DLM5m resolution

DLM5m resolution

DLM25m resolution

DLM25m resolution

DCM_250KDCM_250K

DCM_10KDCM_10K

DCM_100KDCM_100K

DCM_50KDCM_50K

Digital LandscapeModel

CartographicAbstraction

Digital CartographicModel

Map / AtlasProducts

DCM_Campus25KDCM_Campus25K

DCM_Topo24KDCM_Topo24K

DCM_10MillionDCM_10MillionDLM1km resolution

DLM1km resolution

10K OS Topo

24K DOQ

24K USGS Topo24K Hillshade

50K Wall Map

100K Recreation Map

250K Road Map

10M World Wall Map

30K Campus

MapProduction

Traditional GIS data modeling

Workflow or processmodel

Data modelGeographicalenvironment

Conceptualdata model

(CDM)

Logicaldata model

(LDM)

Physicaldata model

(PDM)

Producte.g., GISdatabase

Functionalmodel(FM)

+Data model

Cartographic data modeling

CCDM LCDM PCDM

Map

FCM

Cartographicworkflow model

Cartographic data model

+

Geographicalenvironment

Process of map conceptualization

Map and graphic design: an intuitive and creative process

•Type of map• Spatial format• Basic layout• Data to be

represented• Mapping technique

• Kinds of symbols• General symbology• Number of classes

and class limits• Symbol and type

relationships• Typography• Colors

• Legibility• Visual contrast• Organizational

hierarchy• Figure-ground

organization

Map conceptualization

Graphicrefinement

Graphicplan

Graphicideation

Map user andMap purpose

Mapconceptualization

Mapconceptualization

Map user andMap purpose

CCDM LCDM PCDM

Map

FCM

Cartographicworkflow model

Cartographic data model

+

Geographicalenvironment

1

7

6

3

2

4 5

8

Cartographic productionmodel

Cartographic data model

REFINEMENT

Graphicrefinement

GraphicplanGraphic

ideationMap user andmap purpose

Mapconceptualization

Geographicalenvironment

Map

FCM

CCDM

LCDM

PCDM

Map conceptualization process

Finalproduct

Publication

Export

PrintEmail

HydroLayerHydro

+

CartographicRepresentations

Representation features(multiple representations)

SymbolizationLabeling

RepresentationRules

Visual ContrastLegibilityFigure-GroundHierarchy

GraphicRules

(for Features)

Map

DataFrame

MapSurrounds

PageTemplate

Map Production Process

+ =+Featureclass

CartographyTable

Style

SelectionClassificationSimplification

GeneralizationRules

Boundaries

Cultural

Transportation

Surface Cover

PLSS

Physiography

Serve

Publish

Page layoutMap elements

Map CompilationRules

Symbology conflictsLabeling conflicts

Graphic ConflictRules

Visual Balance

GraphicRules

(for the Page)

+

Map compilation

Model generalization:•Selection•Classification

computational processgraphic refinements

CDM

SymbolizationLabeling

RepresentationRules

Visual ContrastLegibilityFigure-GroundHierarchy

GraphicRules

(for Features)

SelectionClassificationSimplification

GeneralizationRules Map

GIS data

Symbology conflictsLabeling conflicts

Graphic ConflictRules

graphic refinement

Cartographic Generalization

Simplification (reduction of detail or modification that reducesclutter)

Elimination (e.g., nth point removal algorithms)Selection (e.g., Douglas routine)Displacement or Repositioning

Classification (modification of the taxonomy or map legend categories)

Aggregation (typification, collapsing, merging, resampling)Partitioning (using metric or non-metric class breaks)Overlay (in vector space and in raster space)

Enhancement (systematic introduction of detail)Smoothing (e.g., high- or low-pass filter, or DEM pit-pass fill-in)Exaggeration (e.g., retaining features even if they might not maintain visibility "at scale")Refinement (e.g., adding road casing to symbology to highlight highways)Generation (e.g., adding detail through fractal models)Interpolation (e.g., generating a terrain grid or contour lines from individual elevation points)

Map compilation

Model generalization:•Selection•Classification

computational processgraphic refinements

CDM

SymbolizationLabeling

RepresentationRules

Visual ContrastLegibilityFigure-GroundHierarchy

GraphicRules

(for Features)

SelectionClassificationSimplification

GeneralizationRules Map

GIS data

Symbology conflictsLabeling conflicts

Graphic ConflictRules

graphic refinement

CartoCulturalFeaturesCarto

Boundaries

CartoCultural

CartoHydro

=

Generalization

CartoTransportation

CartoSurface Cover

CartoPLSS

CartoPhysiography

MapDocument

Feature by feature

+ =CulturalInformation + Cultural

features

Symbolization

GraphicRules+

Labeling

GraphicConflicts

Generalization Rules

Featureclass

Simplifylines

Simplifiedfeatures

Select basedon attributes

Selectionof features

CartographyTable

Save to layerClassifiedfeatures

Classify Layerfile

Layerfile

Representation Rules

Featureclass

Match symbolsto style

Symbolizedcarto features

JoinCarto

features

CartographyTable

Style

Save to layerLabeled cartofeatures

Load labelexpressions

Graphic Rules

Legibility -- ability to be seen AND recognizedVisual Contrast -- extent to which a symbol contrasts with its background and adjacent symbolsFigure-Ground -- spontaneous visual organization of the graphic display into two contrasting perceptual impressionsOrganizational Hierarchy -- internal graphic structuring that portrays levels of relative importance; visual distance between layersVisual Balance – how to draw a readers eye and how the data are distributed and the layout of the geography

Example of Graphic Rules

Legibilityability to be seen AND recognized

Visual Contrast

Figure-Ground

Organizational Hierarchy

Visual Balance

little square symbols&

two different colors

square = fort

red = English

Graphic Rules / Graphic Conflicts

Modifiedfeatures

Layer

Change order Ordered layersAdd to

data frameLayers on map

Layer

Order file

Check colorsfor

visual contrast

Modifiedfeatures

Checkfeature sizefor legibility

Modifiedfeatures

Checkcolor conflicts

Modifiedfeatures

Check densityof features

CompilationElements

MapLegendSlope GuideNorth ArrowConversion GraphAdjoining Sheet GuideElevation GuideBoundary GuideNotesCoordinate notesScale BarGlossaryTitle / SubtitleLocator MapTrim GuideMap SpecificationsMeter Reference Guide

Finalpage map

Example of Compilation Rules

Data frame

Changeplacementof elements

Modifiedpage map

Add to page Page mapMap template

Relative placement

relationships

Modifypositions

Highlightedproblems

Check fordiscrepancies

Map surroundelements

Future Directions

“What we want to do is to put the power back in the hands of the cartographers – allowing them the freedom to override the decisions that the computer made in order to provide absolute clarity. It’s about letting the cartographer put the art back into cartography where it’s needed.”

Paul Hardy, Cartography Product Manager, ESRI