Abstract
Cartographic symbols on crisis maps serve as means of depicting information about the position, properties, and/or numerical values of objects, phenomena or actions specific to crisis mapping. Many crisis cartographic visualisations require simple, clear, categorised and visually organised symbols that can be easily read and understood by a wide range of crisis map users. Cartographic symbol sets for crisis mapping depend on effective graphic design, good availability (sharing and promotion, dissemination and promulgation) and standardisation (ensuring the general and repeatable use of map symbols). In this research, our aim was to examine the extent of these challenges in current cartographic symbology for crisis mapping. Through a comparative study of prominent symbol sets, we analysed efforts invested so far and proposed future directions. The results of this study may be of assistance in understanding less unified or coherent symbologies currently in use, or in revising or amplifying existing sets for future publication.
Highlights
During crisis response it is critical to share and understand complex spatial, thematic, and temporal information in a timely, visual and compelling way
The symbols in Canadian All-Hazards Symbology and Humanitarian Demining Map Symbols were organised in three categories, while those in American Emergency Response Symbology, Australian All Hazard Symbology and MIL-STD-2525 Common Warfighting Symbology were organised in four categories
While future research could be extended to identify other existing symbol sets currently in use in professional and civilian crisis management, we believe that the limited number of six comparatively analysed cartographic symbol sets is justified in terms of making representative conclusions, mostly because of their wholeness, prominence and continuous history
Summary
During crisis response it is critical to share and understand complex spatial, thematic, and temporal information in a timely, visual and compelling way. Cartographic symbols on such maps serve as means of depicting information about the position, properties, and/or numerical values of objects, phenomena or actions specific to the crisis event They are essential for communication to heterogeneous audiences in the unique environment of a crisis characterised by the immediate risk of considerable loss and stress. Many crisis cartographic visualisations rely on simple, clear, aesthetically pleasing symbols that can be read and understood by a wide range of crisis map users [2,3,4] If they are incomprehensible, illegible, ambiguous, unclassified, random, or lack hierarchical organisation and other important design characteristics, they may fail to convey the intended message and complicate cooperative crisis management strategies at local, regional and international levels
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