Map Users Research Articles

USER PREFERENCES IN IMAGE MAP USING

Abstract. In the process of map making, the attention is given to the resulting image map (to be accurate, readable, and suit the primary purpose) and its user aspects. Current cartography understands the user issues as all matters relating to user perception, map use and also user preferences. Most commercial cartographic production is strongly connected to economic circumstances. Companies are discovering user’s interests and market demands. However, is it sufficient to focus just on the user’s preferences? Recent research on user aspects at Palacký University Olomouc addresses a much wider scope of user aspects. The user’s preferences are very often distorting – the users think that the particular image map is kind, beautiful, and useful and they wants to buy it (or use it – it depends on the form of the map production). But when the same user gets the task to use practically this particular map (such as finding the shortest way), so the user concludes that initially preferred map is useless, and uses a map, that was worse evaluated according to his preferences. It is, therefore, necessary to evaluate not only the correctness of image maps and their aesthetics but also to assess the user perception and other user issues. For the accomplishment of such testing, eye-tracking technology is a useful tool. The research analysed how users read image maps, or if they prefer image maps over traditional maps. The eye tracking experiment on the comparison of the conventional and image map reading was conducted. The map readers were asked to solve few simple tasks with either conventional or image map. The readers’ choice of the map to solve the task was one of investigated aspect of user preferences. Results demonstrate that the user preferences and user needs are often quite different issues. The research outcomes show that it is crucial to implement map user testing into the cartographic production process.

Identifying users across social networks based on dynamic core interests

With the development of social networks, most of users hold serval accounts in different social network platforms. It is a very important task to match users' varying identities in the internet. Plenty of existing approaches attempt to link users via comparing social structures, mapping users' profiles and analyzing users' authority. Those existing approaches fail to consider the dynamic changes of users. In the paper, we introduce human behavioral limitations in social networks. And then based on the limitations, we propose a dynamic core interests mapping (DCIM) algorithm, which jointly consider the users' social network structures and users' article content to identify users over platforms. The algorithm firstly models user's core interests and then calculates the similarity of two target users using DCIM. Our experiments use real world datasets from Twitter and BlogCatalog. The results of experiments show that our method is effective on mapping users across social networks. And the algorithm is significantly more effective than baseline methods such as FNN and MAG.

How good is the map? A multi-scale cross-comparison framework for global settlement layers: Evidence from Central Europe

Abstract Mapping of settlement areas from space is entering a new era. With the recently developed Global Urban Footprint (based on radar data from TanDEM-X) and the Global Human Settlement Layer (based on optical data), two new initiatives that promise to map complex settlement patterns at global scales and unprecedented spatial resolutions are about to enter the scientific and map user community. However, comparative studies on these layers' strengths and weaknesses, especially in terms of their potential added value with regard to existing lower resolution maps, as well as their assessed accuracy are still absent. In this regard, we introduce a multi-scale cross-comparison framework that uses the best existing urban maps as a benchmark. To paint a complete picture, we simultaneously address several components of map accuracy including relative inter-map agreement, absolute accuracies and pattern-based classification differences. This framework is applied to present regionally representative results from two Central European test sites. In this, we find that the new base maps bring decisive advancements in preserving the small-scale complexity of global human settlement patterns beyond urban core areas. Relative inter-map comparison exposes low density settlement regions traditionally under-represented by lower resolution maps that are now recognized. Absolute metrics such as the Kappa coefficient of agreement ( K ) show that accuracies of the new high resolution layers ( K ¯ = 0.56–0.58) nearly double those of existing products. Beyond, they feature substantial consistency between urban ( K ¯ = 0.46–0.50) and rural landscapes ( K ¯ = 0.41–0.45). Results from pattern-based exploration further reveal significant correlation of accuracies with physical pattern variations such as settlement density and mark a clear shift of accuracies from large to medium and small patch sizes. This differentiated view on classification accuracies shows that the new generation of urban maps constitutes a significantly enhanced spatial representation of large-scale settlement patterns.

Visual features of cartographic representation in map perception

Abstract The author describes the properties and mechanisms of visual perception in the context of their significance to the principles of symbol design as used in cartography. Map perception relies on the process of visual perception. Therefore, the knowledge of its inner workings in the map environment allows cartographers to construct cartographic symbols in agreement with the properties of the visual system. Visual perception involves neurosensory processes taking place between the eye and the short-term memory. As such, they operate independently of the beholder’s consciousness and significantly influence the information received by the map user. The author discusses the mechanisms of human vision and the nature of the process of visual perception. It also shows the relationships between the image characteristic and the visual system’s properties such as the optical resolution, visual adaptation, reactions of inhibition and reinforcement, reactions to the image characteristics – as well as the phenomena of contrast, grouping and spatial arrangement. The principles of constructing map symbols that have been developed in the long course of cartography, and based mostly on the map makers’ intuition, find validation in the light of properties and mechanisms of visual perception. As discussed in the paper, the fundamental properties and basic mechanisms of human vision support the view that knowledge of how the visual system works provides foundation for articulating new mapping guidelines and cartographers’ calls for stricter observance of cartographic principles are fully justified.

Detection of moving point symbols on cartographic backgrounds

The present paper presents the performance of an experimental cartographic study towards the examination of the minimum duration threshold required for the detection by the central vision of a moving point symbol on cartographic backgrounds. The examined threshold is investigated using backgrounds with discriminant levels of information. The experimental process is based on the collection (under free viewing conditions) and the analysis of eye movement recordings. The computation of fixation derived statistical metrics allows the calculation of the examined threshold as well as the study of the general visual reaction of map users. The critical duration threshold calculated within the present study corresponds to a time span around 400msec. The results of the analysis indicate meaningful evidences about these issues while the suggested approach can be applied towards the examination of perception thresholds related to changes occurred on dynamic stimuli.

Movement and Strategic Mapping in Early Imperial China

Though there have been repeated assertions of the general metric accuracy of early Chinese maps, from definitions and explications in various texts it seems they were distilled more from a composite of individual sojourns than from careful survey reports. In this essay, I investigate the etymology of the Chinese term, tu 圖, commonly translated as “map,” and canvass early textual descriptions of geographic space, descriptions impacted or defined by strategic considerations. Such descriptions suggest that map sketches graphically simplified and reduced everyday behavior, rendering the journeys of those who reported on the areas in an abstract form. Early sketches joined, collated, and combined multiple travel reports, the resulting product effectively a ghostly assembly of collected footsteps, delivering to the map user the essentials of what, in a given land space, would hinder or assist movement. If what early Chinese maps primarily record are their informers’ traversing through and inhabiting of space, we must carefully rethink how the markings of lived experience pervade and distort the static representations of the sketch or map.

Privacy Considerations for Duplicate Points in Masked Geodata

GIScience 2016 Short Paper Proceedings Privacy Considerations for Duplicate Points in Masked Geodata D. E. Seidl 1 Department of Geography, San Diego State University – UC Santa Barbara, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182 Email: dseidl@mail.sdsu.edu Abstract Reversal of a geomasking procedure can stem from the decryption of just a few points in a data set. This study explores the risks to privacy from the existence of duplicate data coordinates, and how such points are treated differently according to masking technique. Analysis of duplicates is conducted on a sample of urban foreclosure data, though the presence of duplicates should be considered on a case-by-case basis before releasing a masked data set. A nearest neighbour distance calculation for multi-unit parcels is recommended for weighting displacement distances in masking procedures on geodata with duplicate coordinates. 1. Introduction Geomasking techniques, which alter point distributions to protect privacy, are seeing increased use in public-facing applications. The citizen science site, iNaturalist, for instance, allows users to upload species observations with coordinates randomized within a 0.2 by 0.2 degree area (http://www.inaturalist.org/pages/help) (retrieved May 10, 2016). With wider use of masked geographic data, there is greater potential for users to decrypt masking techniques and ascertain original locations. The presence of duplicate sets of points at the same coordinates can pose differential risks to privacy when those points are masked. Early on in geomasking studies, researchers warned that releasing multiple versions of masked data could result in the reversal of the masking procedure (Armstrong, Rushton, and Zimmerman 1999). Zimmerman and Pavlik (2008) later demonstrated that the release of multiple masked data sets increases reverse engineering probability, since randomized points converge around original locations. Others have noted that if an adversary is able to determine the distance threshold used in masking point data, it might be possible to re- identify original locations (Zhang et al. 2015). A less-explored possibility is that multiple releases of points within a single data set—i.e. duplicate points—could reveal additional information about housing type, which could subsequently be used to uncover household identities. This is particularly true if that housing type is rare, or an anomaly in the study area. This study explores the privacy risks associated with the presence of duplicate points in a geographic data set and summarizes how the treatment of duplicate points varies by masking technique. For example, data representing different households may be matched to the same latitude and longitude if the data subjects live in the same apartment building or residential parcel. Foreclosure data are an example of how sensitive data about disparate households may be tied to the same coordinates. Multiple foreclosures in the same building will generally geocode to the same location. The treatment of duplicate points by a masking technique can adversely impact cluster detection, or increase the risk of household re-identification. Figure 1 demonstrates how maintaining a set of duplicates together when masked impacts the privacy risk when a map user is informed of auxiliary housing geodata. Duplicate points in the masked data would suggest a common origin in the same housing parcel, and if there is only a single multi-unit residential parcel nearby, an adversary may make an educated guess

Spatial accuracy measures of soft classification in land cover

GIScience 2016 Short Paper Proceedings Spatial accuracy measures of soft classification in land cover N. Tsutsumida 1 and A. Comber 2 Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University Email: naru@kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp Department of Geography, University of Leeds Email: a.comber@leeds.ac.uk Abstract Accuracy of land cover maps is important for map users. The soft classification of land cover has been developed for avoiding mixed pixel problem, however the proportional map is traditionally assessed only by a global measure, such as R-squared and root mean square error (RMSE), lacking local information of accuracy. We developed a way of local measures of accuracy employed by a geographically weighted (GW) model. GW-Rsquared and GW- RMSE are locally assessed a soft classification map of urban agglomeration as a case study. Lower accuracies are found at the edge of urban boundary surrounding the core of the urban area and such local information is valuable for a deeper understanding of spatial accuracy. 1. Introduction Land cover maps are important for those who are interested in climate change, biodiversity and anthropogenic impacts on terrestrial environments and the accuracy of the map is an important consideration. Traditionally land cover maps classified as categorized classes (hard classification) are assessed by building a confusion matrix that compares predicted and observed classes, with predicted classes derived from the classification and observed classes from independent validation data. Measures of user, producer and overall accuracy and kappa index are calculated from the matrix. The reliability of land cover data classified using continuous measures such as fuzzy set memberships (soft classification) is frequently assessed using measures such as R-squared and root mean square error (RMSE) (Chen et al. 2010; Tsutsumida et al. 2016; Yuan et al. 2008). However these measures only provide global measures of reliability and accuracy, and they do not take spatial configuration into account. Local assessments would be valuable for a deeper understanding of spatial accuracy. 2. Background Spatial accuracy assessments for hard classification of land use and land cover have been considered by some previous studies (Foody 2005; Pontius et al. 2011). In particular, geographically weighted (GW) logistic regression model have recently been developed (Comber et al. 2012; Comber 2013). These generate local confusion matrices at discrete location in the study area and generate spatially distributed estimates (surfaces) of user, producer and overall accuracy. However, little work has focused on spatially distributed accuracy measures for soft classifications. In this study we develop the spatial accuracy measures of soft classification by determining R-squared and RMSE locally. A GW model is applied to develop such measures spatially. 3. Materials A map of fractional impervious surface area (ISA) in Jakarta metropolitan areas, the biggest urban agglomeration in Indonesia, in 2012 was used in this study (Figure 1). This map was

触知案内図における境界線とドットパターンとの隙間が境界線の識別特性に及ぼす影響

Tactile guide maps are well-known information support tools for visually impaired people. In a tactile guide map, area information is expressed by use of raised dot patterns and raised boundary lines. Tactile guide map designers must place spaces between these raised dot patterns and raised boundary lines so that tactile guide map users can easily identify the lines. However, there is a lack of quantitative data on the perceptibility of tactile guide map lines. In this study, we investigated the influence of the spaces between the raised dot patterns and raised boundary lines on the perceptibility of the tactile guide map lines. We made test pieces with seven different dot distances for dot patterns and five different space distances. The participants included 40 sighted people (20 younger and 20 older ones) as tactile guide map beginner users. The participants were asked to identify the direction of a line, which could be horizontal, vertical, diagonally left up, or diagonally right up. Based on these results, we found that the raised boundary lines were highly easy to identify when the distance between the raised dot patterns and raised boundary lines was greater than 5 mm. This knowledge will be helpful for tactile guide map designers.

Алгоритмізація геоінформаційного картографування міжнародних зв'язків

The objective of the article is to show the algorithm of international relations geoinformation mapping. During the mapping we can mine unknown or hidden knowledge which can be understood from the spatial database and improve the ability of interpreting data. The algorithm of mapping can be divided into five phases described as follows: investigation of potential map user’s demands, spatial data analysis and selection (accuracy, consistency, fullness); scale, map projections and map composition choice (main meridian, map frame, map distortions), spatial data preprocessing (metadata description, data normalization, data generalization, data quality control, error detection, anomalies, duplication and noise detection, correction of errors, data deduplication), data mining (creation of classifications, cluster and factor analysis, decision trees, neural networks, self-organizing maps, association rules, quality assessment), map creation, knowledge representation and evaluation. The article arranges experience of international relations geoinformation mapping. The international relations maps of Ukraine potential users (state and region management, educational, cultural, advocacy, international marketing and advertising, media business), subjects (substance, energy and information flows) and indicators arrays are proposed. Main subjects of maps can be described as follows: military-political, economicpolitical, socio-political and ideological relations; migrations and refugees, international tourism, export and import of goods and services, information flows (flows of culture elements, artifacts and tangible cultural monuments, scientific knowledge, ideas, technologies, traditions, beliefs, ideology, etc.), transport and business infrastructure. The requirements for spatial data sources for international relations geoinformation mapping are defined. The algorithm of international relations static and interactive maps creation and analysis are founded. The flow chart of Ukraine international relations geoinformation mapping algorithm is presented.

Using the Right Tool: David Woodward's Suggested Framework and the Study of Military Cartography

In 1974 David Woodward suggested a framework for organizing the study of the history of cartography that unified on one hand the process and the output of cartographic production, and on the other hand the four sequential phases of cartographic production, from information gathering through document use. In a survey of scholars who have cited Woodward’s model I note that, while this framework has influenced the conceptual development of map history, it has rarely been applied rigorously to specific instances of mapping. I argue that this model is an underutilized tool in cartographic scholarship, and that Woodward’s matrix is ideally suited to examining how military units carry out mapping. Because military units, particularly large ones, are in effect self-contained systems that cyclically produce, use, and reproduce their own maps, I contend that scholars can modify Woodward’s original model in content, though not in structure, to study military mapping activities. To illustrate this point, I present as a case study the British military’s Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) during the Gaza Campaign of late 1917. This force performed a broad range of mapping activity, much of it innovative. A modification of the Woodward framework that brings together the specific elements of the EEF’s information gatherers, information processors, and map users into a single cohesive cartographic system illustrates the value and utility of this framework for studying the history of military cartography.

커뮤니티 기반 Q&A서비스에서의 질의 할당을 위한 이용자의 관심 토픽 분석에 관한 연구

본 연구에서는 커뮤니티 기반 질의응답 서비스에서의 질의할당을 위하여, 해당 커뮤니티에 축적된 질의응답 데이터 세트를 이용하여 해당 카테고리내의 토픽을 분석하고 이를 바탕으로 해당 토픽에 관심을 가지는 이용자의 관심 토픽을 분석하고자 하였다. 특정 카테고리 내의 토픽을 분석하기 위해서 LDA기법을 사용하였고 이를 이용하여 이용자의 관심 토픽을 모델링하였다. 나아가, 커뮤니티에 새롭게 유입되는 질의에 대한 토픽을 분석한 후, 이를 바탕으로 해당 토픽에 대해 관심을 가지고 있는 이용자를 추천하기 위한 일련의 방법들을 실험하였다.

Real-time and intelligent private data protection for the Android platform

As the number of smart mobile devices and applications continue to grow dramatically, private data stored and handled by such mobile devices have become the primary targets of hackers and malicious software. Today, many malicious mobile applications steal user information, make premium calls, and send advertisement messages without the user’s permission. Unfortunately, the Android system, currently the most popular smart mobile platform, only provides the users with a simple permission granting mechanism during the installation of applications, which are often ignored since most of the users do not pay attention to the potential hidden risks. Even though some vendors have integrated mechanisms to let the users grant or revoke the permissions associated with any applications at any time, such mechanisms are rarely used because the users do not know when, how and what sensitive information have been leaked.In this paper, we proposed mechanisms to track the use of sensitive information by Android applications. We extended TaintDroid to build a real-time security framework, called PasDroid, with mechanisms to trace dubious data flow, map user–application interactions and alert the users about potential privacy leakage on the fly. The information provided by PasDroid enables the users to determine if a transmission should be allowed or blocked with intelligent security policies. Our experimental results show that PasDroid can be deployed with an affordable runtime overhead to help protect users against malicious applications. The design of security policies is key to eliminate false alarms and improve the user experience.

A function-based linear map symbol building and rendering method using shader language

Maps are widely used to visualize geo-information so that map users can develop related understandings about the real world. Such a process for communicating information is largely dependent on the rendering of map elements using different symbols (points and linear and area symbols). To meet the demand of more dynamic and comprehensive visualization in map rendering, it is essential to improve the rendering efficiency. This paper focuses on these research topics, especially the difficulty in constructing and drawing linear map symbols. By employing shader language, a function-based linear symbol building and rendering method is presented in this paper. The basic idea of this function-based method is to build a map-rendering solution that employs graphic processing unit (GPU) acceleration technology to improve the rendering efficiency. A ‘function’ is used to represent the algorithm that draws certain simple or complex linear map symbols. This function reflects the structure of a linear map symbol (describing the symbol construction information) and also the rendering process of the symbolized linear map elements (handled on a per-pixel basis by the shader program). Based on the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), Styled Layer Descriptor (SLD) specifications, four basic line types (i.e., solid lines, dashed lines, gradient color lines, and transition lines) are implemented in the proposed method, and the implementation of line markers, line joins and line caps is also discussed. Three experiments are conducted to demonstrate improvements in map rendering. The results show that a variety of linear map symbols can be constructed in a uniform way, which suggests that the proposed method addresses the difficulty in drawing linear map symbols. With this method, the efficiency of rendering linear map elements is substantially improved compared to using the graphics device interface plus (GDI+) and anti-grain geometry (AGG) methods; it also provides an applicable approach for developing map rendering systems. Using this function-based concept, the complexity of building linear map symbols and drawing linear map elements can be decreased.

Evaluating an animated and static time series map of District Six: A visual and cognitive approach

Visualization of spatial information is an important aspect in the representation of map displays. Maps today are visually adapted to a variety of mediums in displaying spatial information temporally and as time series phenomena. GIS technology has incorporated tools for analysing these spatio-temporal trends. However map users are overwhelmed by the amount of information in these map displays and therefore experience cognitive overload. In this study we find that static and animated maps have their respective advantages in the visualization of the map reader by placing participants through a structured set of questions. All these facets exist in the visual and cognitive realm of the map reader. District Six is a unique area that has experienced significant spatial change in the last century, mainly attributed to its political history. This has been depicted in a conventional static and animated time series map representation which has been designed to facilitate the understanding of the spatial change that occurred during this unique period of history. In this paper a methodology has been investigated and implemented in the design of the map, by enhancing the map reader’s experience in visualising time series spatial data. We conclude further that visual intention and attention are cognitive facets that collectively strengthen the map reader’s ability in learning spatial information.

Guidance for representing uncertainty on global temperature change maps

ABSTRACTUncertainty in the spatial distribution of projected climate changes can be represented along with the magnitudes of those changes using coincident‐bivariate maps. While these maps are popular in climate change assessment reports, limited empirical research has tested which combinations of colour (including variation in the visual variables of hue, lightness, and saturation) and pattern (including variation in the visual variables of size, shape, spacing, orientation, and arrangement) are best suited to mapping projected changes coincident with uncertainty. We evaluate eight coincident‐bivariate techniques for mapping global temperature (CMIP5 ensemble using RCP8.5 and RCP4.5 scenarios) and its uncertainty, each using 20‐classes: five temperature change classes combined with four uncertainty classes. Subjects ranked rectangular map regions by overall amounts of temperature change and uncertainty; response accuracy was evaluated using Kendall's Tau Distance. Maps using colour for representing temperature change and pattern for uncertainty appear most suitable for retaining separability of temperature and uncertainty information. Spot symbols for uncertainty (combining arrangement and lightness) overlaid on hue/lightness for temperature performed best for uncertainty ranking, second best for temperature ranking, and were map users' preferred representation. If colour alone must be used for both variables, then a classed overlay of lightness/saturation differences for uncertainty with hue/lightness for temperature change was preferred; such maps were strong performers on the uncertainty‐ranking task but interfered with map users' ability to rank temperature change. Such a masking approach may be the best choice if the goal is to actively prevent map users from making erroneous inferences based on highly uncertain model output for climate change.

Resolving Security Issues for Semantic Web Related Networks and Datasets

Improve the quality of web service composition using the petri nets and ontology. Previously web services are design independently. These kinds of services are not compatible. We observe the different security issues. Now in this paper we design new semantic web networks using petri nets and ontology. Start the interaction process levels display the decisions using colored petri nets environment. After interaction process defines the semantic context information. Control the mismatches mapping decisions information like security issues. It’s allows the semantic mapping users as an authentication users. Compare to previous approaches control the more security issues efficiently.

Automatic mapping of user tags to Wikipedia concepts: The case of a Q&A website – StackOverflow

The uncontrolled nature of user-assigned tags makes them prone to various inconsistencies caused by spelling variations, synonyms, acronyms and hyponyms. These inconsistencies in turn lead to some of the common problems associated with the use of folksonomies such as the tag explosion phenomenon. Mapping user tags to their corresponding Wikipedia articles, as well-formed concepts, offers multifaceted benefits to the process of subject metadata generation and management in a wide range of online environments. These include normalization of inconsistencies, elimination of personal tags and improvement of the interchangeability of existing subject metadata. In this article, we propose a machine learning-based method capable of automatic mapping of user tags to their equivalent Wikipedia concepts. We have demonstrated the application of the proposed method and evaluated its performance using the currently most popular computer programming Q&A website, StackOverflow.com , as our test platform. Currently, around 20 million posts in StackOverflow are annotated with about 37,000 unique user tags, from which we have chosen a subset of 1256 tags to evaluate the accuracy performance of our proposed mapping method. We have evaluated the performance of our method using the standard information retrieval measures of precision, recall and F1. Depending on the machine learning-based classification algorithm used as part of the mapping process, F1 scores as high as 99.6% were achieved.

How Do Map Readers Recognize a Topographic Mapping Style?

The process of reading a topographic map requires users to recognize and learn the cartographic symbols of the key (or legend) while interpreting the territory as depicted on the map at a given level of abstraction (the form and nature of features, their saliency and relationships). We present the results of an empirical user study that aims to identify and assess the main graphical characteristics that are used by map users to recognize the design principles which constitute the topographic mapping style adopted by IGN (Institut National de l'Information Géographique et Forestière), France. Our results suggest that 91% of the participants were able to recognize an IGN-France topographic map amongst other topographic map products. We also determine which graphical characteristics play a role in the recognition of this cartographic style, either by visual memory or by visual perception, and identify the representation of relief, including contour lines and shaded relief, as one of the major graphical characteristics of the topographic mapping style of IGN-France. Moreover, the participants of our study considered the representation of touristic POI (points of interest), toponymy, typography, the main roads network, the individual buildings and the forests, to be essential for stylistic recognition.

Education in cartography: what is the status of young people’s map-reading skills?

ABSTRACTDue to recent technological progress, maps have become more popular than ever before. This is especially true for young people, who interact with these technologies on a daily basis. Therefore, it is essential that these potential map users possess sufficient knowledge and skills to process the content of cartographic products. A user study was conducted during which pupils (aged 11–18 years) and geography students (>18 years) had to solve a number of cartography questions using topographic maps. The data were analyzed statistically, taking into account a number of potentially influencing factors (user characteristics) on the participants’ results: age, gender, youth club membership, knowledge about the area, among others. The results show a rising trend in the pupils’ scores with increasing age, which can be explained by education in cartography at school. Geography students perform much better, but no influence of any other user characteristics was detected. For pupils, knowledge about the area and gender might be considered as influencing factors. However, the detected influence of gender depends on the scoring system.