Developing Versatile Graphic Map Load Metrics

Radek Barvir,Vit Vozenilek

doi:10.3390/ijgi9120705

Radek Barvir, Vit Vozenilek

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi9120705

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Abstract

Graphic map load is a property of a map quantifying the amount of map content. It indicates the visual complexity of the map and helps cartographers to adapt maps and other geospatial visualizations to accomplish their purpose. Generally, map design needs to enable the user to quickly, comprehensively, and intuitively obtain the relevant spatial information from a map. Especially, this applies in cases like crisis management, immunology and military. However, there are no widely applicable metrics to assess the complexity of cartographic products. This paper evaluates seven simple metrics for graphic map load calculation based on image analytics using the set of 50 various maps on an easily understandable scale of 0–100%. The metrics are compared to values of user-perceived map load survey joined by 62 respondents. All the suggested metrics are designed for calculation with easy-accessible software and therefore suitable for use in any user environment. Metrics utilizing the principle of edge detection have been found suitable for a diversity of geospatial visualizations providing the best results among other metrics.

Highlights

Map load, together with similar terms, e.g., map complexity or map density, is determined for quantifying the amount of map content
The concepts of graphic map load vary author by author [4,6], this map property can be interpreted as a fullness of a map covered by map symbols and labels influenced by their spatial density, parameters and spatial distribution [7]
Three approaches for graphic map load were applied and compared with the user-perceived values achieved during user testing

Summary

Introduction

Together with similar terms, e.g., map complexity or map density, is determined for quantifying the amount of map content. Even though the term “map complexity” is more frequently used when aiming for map readability evaluation, “map load” is being applied in this paper as the amount of graphics does not necessarily fully describe the complexity itself [3]. Graphic map load is represented by several indices quantifying image representations of maps influenced by map symbols’ design and their distribution. The concepts of graphic map load vary author by author [4,6], this map property can be interpreted as a fullness of a map covered by map symbols and labels influenced by their spatial density, parameters (shape, size, fill etc.) and spatial distribution [7]. This paper aims to establish a metric for effective quantification of graphic map load suitable for a wide variety of map styles

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