Cartographic animation Assignment PDF

in this issue
MESSAGES
FEATURED ARTICLES
Cartographic animation: potential and research issues
Dori.;; Karl
Visuali.ling uncertain information
Ala11 M. MacEachre11
BOOK REVIEWS
'vtaltman, A.
Geologicnl Maps
rt'Pll'1 tWf /Jy Nor111a11 Meek
Maguire, D.J., M.F. Goodchild, and D.W. Rhind (eds.)
Gcograpilical i11for111atio11 systems: principles a11d applications
n•·uicwed /Jy E. Ly1111 Usery
CARTOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVES ON THE NEWS
LA ·DsA T Update
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CARTOGRAPHIC EVENTS
NACIS NEWS
NACIS XII PROGRAM AND CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
1
3
10
20
21
22
23
25
26
27
31
messages
MESSAGE FROM NACIS XII
PROGRAM CHAIR
The Twelfth Annual Meeting of
ACIS will be held October 14 - 17
in St. Paul, Minnesota. As always
the NACIS Conference will
provide an open and professional
atmosphere for the exc hange of
information and ideas for a ll who
are interested in maps and cartog-
raphy. This year's program
promises to be quite exciting.
Highlights include addresses by
the dean of American cartography,
Arthur H. Robinson, and John
Fraser Hart, former president of
the Association of American
Geographer s.
The latest research develop-
ments in cartography, most
notably in the areas of animated
mapping, cognitive cartography,
cartographic education, and map
librarianship will be presented.
Other sessions wi ll explore recent
developments in software and
hardwar e for cartogra phic produc-
tion, federal mapping initiatives,
and map library services and
access. In addition, this year
ACIS will be sponso ring a series
of "hands-on" workshops on
animation in cartog raphy and
thematic map design using the PC.

cartograpllic perspectives
bulletin of the
North American Cartographic
Information Society
Editor: Sona Karentz Andrews Department of Geography
208 Sabin Hall
3414 N. Downer Avenue
Univ. of Wisconsin-Mihvaukee Milwaukee, WI 53211 [phone],
e-mail: [e-mail].
Assistant Editor David W. Tilton Department of Geography
Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI 53211 e-mail:
[e-mail].
Copy editor
Mark Zi111111ennan11
ISSN 1048-9085
C1rtographic Perspectives
is published triannually
Several field trips are also planned
to familiarize conference partici-
pants with the Twin Cities and
their cartographic centers. NACIS
members should have recently
received (or shortly will receive)
information and a registration
form for the meeting. We have
also published a preliminary
conference schedule on pages 31 -
33 in this issue of CP. Do not
hesitate to contact me if you have
any questions or wish to receive
additional inform ation and
registration material.
Jeffrey C. Patton
Progrn111 Chair NACIS XTI
Depart111e11t of Geogrnphy
University of North Carolina -
Greensboro
Greensboro, NC 27412
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
This issue marks some changes for
Cartographic Perspectives. Although
the design and overall look of the
publication remain the same (at
least I hope it does when it goes to
press), there have been som e
significant changes. One of these
is a change in editorship of the
journal. David DiBiase, who had
served as editor of CP since its first
issue in March of 1989, comple ted
his tenure as editor with issue No.
12 (now known as the "white
issue"). I know I speak for every
ACIS member in thanking Dave
for making CP a journal of high
quality in both its content and
design. I personally appreciate his
assistance in making the editorial
transition go smoothly. Many of
the contributions in this current
issue were initiated, and in some
cases already completed for me, by
Dave and his staff at Penn State. l
can only hope that we can con-
tinue to produce a publication of
equal quality.
Anothe r notable change marked
by this issue is that instead of a
single Featured Article, this issue
has two Featured Articles. It is my
hope, and that of the Editorial
Board, that this precedent contin-
ues and that the cartographic
community benefit from the
increased scholarly contribution
that CP can make. We wish to
encourage submission of manu-
scripts as well as all other items of
interest for publication consider-
ation. Guidelines for papers and
submissions appear at the end of
this issue.
We will be publishing CP three
times per year. We have targeted a
Fall, Winter, and Spring publica-
tion schedule. This issue (Number
13, Fall 1992) has important
information about NACIS XII.
The meeting will be held in St.
Paul, Minnesota from October 14 -
17. ACIS members should have
already received (or shor tly will
receive) a confer ence schedu le
program and registration forms,
however, we have also included
this information on pages 31 - 33 of
this issue. You should note that
NACIS is conduc ting three work-
shops this year: Macintosh Anima-
tion, IBM Animation , and Map
Product ion and Design These
workshops will provide an excel-
lent oppor tunity to get hands-on
exposure to some of the new and
exciting techniques that are
changing the way we conceive,
store, and use maps. I urge
anyone that can take advantage of
these workshops to do so.
Finally, I would like to encour-
age each of you to let us know if
you have suggestions for improv-
ing the quality and content of CP.
Your input will be greatly appreci-
ated and not ignored. I look
forward to serving as editor and
hope that the information we
provide through CP is interesting,
informative, and beneficial.
Sona Karentz Andrews
a passing
On June 7, in Chicago, Illinois,
Barbara Bartz Petchenik died of
cancer at the age of 52. Barbara
was a member of ACIS and
throughout her professional career
Barbara integrated scholarly
research interests in the nature of
spatia l knm·vledge and mapping
participation in commercial
cartography.
Barbara was a Senior Sales
Representative for R.R. Donnelley
Cartographic Services, Mapping
Services Division since 1975. From
1970 to 1975 she was Cartographic
Editor of the Atlas of Early Ameri-
can History, and from 1964 to 1970
was Cartographic Editor and Staff
Consultant in Research and Design
for World Book £11cyclopedia. She
co11ti1111ed 011 page 25

Number 13, Fall 1992 cartographic perspectives 3
featured articles
The potential of computer animation has been realized in many differ-
ent disciplines. Animation is also a powerful visualization tool for
cartography; however , it has been neglected until recently. This paper
portrays the need for animation in cartography in the light of the new
approaches and methods in the sciences as well as in society. It dis-
cusses two main reasons for the lack of animation in cartography: the
fixation on the printed map and the absence of a comprehensive ap-
proach to cartographic animation. Finally, a variety of issues for further
research are proposed.
C omputer animation has become an important visualization tool in
recent years. Improvement s in computer hardware and software
have made the widespread use of computer animation possible. The
potential of computer animation has already been realized by different
disciplines, for example the film industry, architecture, fashion design and
the sciences.
Computer animation also has many potential uses in cartography. It
allows the creation of map sequences that can show spatial information
dynamically. Animated map sequences can depict time directly as a
ca rtographic variable, they can depict information mapped in different
ways; and they can present the map objects in a particular sequence. But
do we rea lly need this so rt of information display? Can animation really
show more than the presentation forms we already have, or is animation
only a toy for carto graphers? To answer this, vve need to examine the
modern approaches and methods in the sciences as well as in society.
Spatial science has changed from the analysis of static states to the study
of processes. Researchers are no longer interested in studying only static
situation s; they are more concerned with changes and forces that induce
or cause different states. Maps are an important tool for spatial scientists.
The static map, however, is not able to s how processes directly. Of course,
cartographer s have developed different methods for depicting changes,
but all of these methods r educe the dynamic aspects of reality to static
s tates that can hardly show the changes that take place. Cartographic
animation can do more by making the dynamic aspect of spatial changes
visible to the map user. Processes become more transparent using anima-
tion for their visualization.
Spatial science has also been influenced by system theory. Scientific
investigations are no longer concerned only with isolated phenomena;
they examine particularly the relationships and correlations of different
phenomena. Scientists need a representation form that can show all the
correlations. Static maps are not the best presentation form for displaying
these relationships. Often, maps are overloaded with information layers
to show the many correlations. ln an animated map sequence, map
elements can be presented in different orders and combinations to make
the spatial relationships more apparent. The map user can be directed
through the presented subject, and the correlations can be brought to the
user's attention.
In the late 1980s, the sciences discovered scientific visualization. It is
used for data analysis to see patterns that either answer questions or that
pose new and unexpected questions. Scientific visualization requires
compu ter animation, especially interactive animation, that can show the
Cartographic
Animation:
Potential and
Research
Issues
Doris Karl
THE EEO FOR ANIMA TIO
IN CARTOGRAPHY
Doris Karl is a stude11t at the
Freie Universitiit Berlin,
Fachricht1111g Knrtogrnplrie
Amo-Hol:-Str.12, 0 -1000
Berlin 41

4 cartographic perspectives Number 13, Fall 1992
THE EM Pf CASIS 0 . THE
TRADITIONAL PRl TED MAP--
AN OBSTACLE TO CARTO-
GRAPHIC ANIMA TTO.\J
data set in many different ways. The static map does not have this
flexibility in information display; it can show information only in one
\•;ay, so it is not a suitable instrument.
Finally, one should look at the map users of the future - the children of
today. This young generation is often called "the video generation" because
it has grown up with video and computer games. These children are more
accustomed to the computer than most adults; the interactivity and dynamic
aspects of computer games are a matter of course for them. At some schools
computers with interactive and dynamic programs are used as a didactic
device lo rouse the students' interest. Jn this respect, cartographers have to
ask if the traditional static map will be a good communication medium for
these future map users or whether we should look for alternati\'e forms.
Animated map sequences that can be controlled interactively are an alterna-
tive.
It seems that cartographic animation is more than a nice toy and should
be viewed as a powerful visualization tool for cartography that transcends
the potential of the printed map. In spite of this potential, computer
animation has been neglected in cartography until recently. Two main
reasons for the absence of animation in cartography will be discussed in
the following two sections. The first and most important reason is the
fixation on the paper map; the second, resulting from the first, is the
absence of a complete and systematic approach to cartographic animation.
The traditional printed map is regarded by cartographers as an excellent
form of presentation. IL is considered to be a product that has ilttained near
perfection in a long evolutionary process. Many representational methods
and techniques have been developed for topographic and thematic maps
which, in general, enable the creation of good maps. Also, the map user is
accustomed to the printed map and presumably he wants to have a "real"
map, a paper map. Thus, one can say that the traditional printed map is a
standard for both the mapmaker and the map user. 'ew techniques and
methods, such as the use of computers in cartography, are always compared
with and measured against the printed map and evaluated accordingly. This
is perhaps especially true in Europe as Gillessen (1986, p.53), a German
cartographer, states:
"Thi! t?xcellence of maps produced in Central Europe placL"i high quality demands
on altern,1tive mapping •.olutions and is therewith a standard of qua lit~ for all new
de\'Clopmcnh m c.utography. [ ... ]One would go so for as to sa\ that the high
standard of cartographv in Central Europe has hampered the development and the
willingne-.s to accept the products of any new technology[ ... [ in cartography."
This c.1uote illustrates the extent of Lhe fixation on the printed map. As
a result of this thinking, other and perhaps better information displays
are overlooked and the standard map is not placed in question.
If one asks why the traditional map is used as the standard, many
arguments are listed in its favor:
- traditional maps are though to be more attractive than computer
generated maps;
- text, line and other symbols are though to be more "alive" on a tradi-
tional map and not as artificial or synthetic in appearance;
- it attracts the eye and keeps the map user's attention.
All these arguments are based on the aesthetic impression of a map.
The exterior appearance is a very important criterion in its evaluation.
The importance of beauty in a map can also be found in a common
definition of cartography as the art and science of map making. But, can
the aesthetic value of a map continue to be one of the most important

Number 13, Fall 1992 cartographic perspectives 5
criteria for judging the quality of a map? "'vtaps are the carrier'> of informa-
tion in the process of communication and should they not be e\'aluated in
this light as well? So the question to ask is whether the traditional map is
really the best presentation form.
The use of computers in cartography offers new forms of information
display. Howe, ·er, because we are still fixated on the traditional map, we
overlook this potential and use the computers predominantly to mimic
manual methods.
If one looks more closely at the application of computers in cartogra-
phy, one sees that they have been extensively used to shorten time and
work intensive tasks. Data processing and drafting have been automated
and interactive computer systems now facilitate the map de!:iign process.
Languages like Post!:icript allow the direct transfer of maps between the
display and the image setter. The main efforts have been directed in
making computer-created maps as good as the traditional map.
The fixation on the printed map ''"'ithin computer cartography can be
further demonstrated with regard to the German ATKIS project (Autho -
rized Topographic Cartographic Information System) that will contain the
data of the topographic maps of Germany in digital form. The purpose of
ATKJS is to make possible the digital production of topographic maps that
can be updated quickly and easily, and the creation of special purpose
maps of single topics. The maps that are generated from ATKIS are the
traditional paper maps. ew forms of information display are not a goal
of A TKlS. Harbeck (1989, p.98), one of the designers of A TKIS, states in
this context:
"Without doubt at the end of the digital topographic mform,11ton sy .. tem tht.!re b the
cartogrnphic output the map. \\ hether this product i., on the compuh:r display or a
printed map depend., on the user. But surely it can be .,tah:d th at th!.! color printed
m,1p will continue to h.we its importance - perhaps en•n gain in import,1nce as a
commud1t\"
The fixation on the traditional map and on paper as the primary output
medium is strongly present within cartography. Jf we do not overcome
this fixation, we may ignore new forms of information display and we
may not reali7e their potential.
As a result of the fixation on the printed map, other forms of information
display have been overlooked and too little research has been done in this
area. This is true for cartographic animation .
The potential of animation for cartography was initially described by
Thrower (1961) and by Cornwell and Robinson (1966). l\evertheless, only a
small amount of work has been done in this field. In the 1970s, when
computer animation became available, indi\'idual cartographers used ani-
mation predominantly to show spatial changes over time. The efforts were
focused on producing animated map sequences for special issues like the
grO\vth of a city (Tobler 1970), traffic accidents (\1oellering 1976), population
gro\.vth in urban regions (Rase 1974) and animation of three dimensional
objects (Moellering 1980). Most of the 1980s saw no further work in carto-
graphic animation. ot until the end of the 1980s was cartographic anima-
tion rediscovered when cartographers realized the potential of animation for
the depiction and exploration of spatial and statistical relationships and
patterns. Some authors again called attention to the potential of cartographic
animation (Campbell and Egbert1990),and a few new animation techniques
were suggested for the analysis of spatio-temporal data (Monmonier 1989
and 1990) and the study of geoscientific processes (OiBiase et. al. 1991). In
THE ABSENCE OF A COM-
PREHE SIVE APPROACH U\'
CARTOGRAPl IlC A IMA-
TlON-- ANOTHER OBSTACLE

6 cartographic perspectives Number 13, Fall 1992
REQUIRED RESEARCH
addition, a program for animating choropleth maps was created (MacChoro
II 1989).
All these works employed the application of cartographic animation.
Most of them exclusively deal with the reali7ation of an animated map
sequence for one special issue. Only the later works pick up a more
common and extensive attempt at the cartographic application of
animation.
These are important contributions, but they arc individual solutions to
individual problems. A comprehensive and systematic approach to the
use of animation in cartography does not exist. Ytany essential issues
have not been examined. Therefore, basic kno'vvledge about design,
perception and production of animated map sequences is not available.
There are no principles that tell cartographers hO\'\' to make and design
animated maps. Without extensive knowledge of the creation of animated
maps, cartographic animation cannot be applied widely and efficiently; it
can be used only sporadically because too many design issues will need to
be worked out for each single application. If the influence of animation in
cartography is to increase, we must expand our knowledge about carto-
graphic animation and develop a comprehensive and systematic approach
to it. This will require intensive research in different areas.
Future research in cartographic animation has to deal with a
variety of questions. The following issues must be examined:
Definition of cartographic animation
The absence of a systematic approach to cartographic animation becomes
particularly evident when we arrive at the question: What is cartographic
animation? There docs not seem to be a consensus. Can animation be used
only for map sequences that depict changes over time, or can it also be used
for map sequences without a time element that show changes in the presen-
tation form orcreatea map in a sequential form? Can animation be used only
for complex map c;,equences created by a special animation technique, or is a
simple "slide show" abo an animation? What are the characteristics of
animation and how can it be defined? This should be the first question to be
examined.
Cartographic applications
Most of the work in cartographic animation has been done in this area.
However, the issue has not been handled in its entirety. Further work
must investigate which other or new forms of animation are possible and
whether they are useful. For this we have to examine different map types
and their possibilities for cartographic animation. Perhaps we \vill find
new forms of animated maps. A great deal of experimentation must be
done within this issue.
Graphic design of animated maps
Animated map sequences are different from the maps \\'e ordinarily use.
They are predominantly displayed ona CRT, are not static but dynamic, and
are often shown very quickly. We must examine how such maps must be
designed. Some research on the design of maps on the computer display
already exists and we can also look to television to find some ideas about the
layout of pictures and the use of color. The next question is: Must we consider
the dynamic aspect of map sequences when \Ne symbolize single maps? For
example, how do weselectdifferentdensities in an animated choroplethrnap
sequence, or what about labeling isolines in an animated map? And finally,
there is the aspect of map complexity. In an animated map sequence the user

Number 13, Fall 1992 cartograplzic perspectives 7
will see a single map for only a short time, so the map cannot be too complex.
But how complt.?'\ can the map be? These issues must be tested.
Legend design
Animated map sequences are different than static maps, therefore, the
legend, the explanation of a map, should be different in an animated map.
How must it be designed? Multimedia offer the possibility to combine
animation ·with sound. Therefore, the legend can be an audio explanation.
But is an audio explanation sufficient for the complete understanding of
the animation, or must it be completed by a visual legend? If we need a
graphical legend, we have to think about the design. Surely, it would
have to be a dynamic legend; ho·wever, it also must be readable for the
user.
Speed of animated sequences
We know that in computer animation 20-25 pictures ph second are
required for the perception of a continuous movement or change. But we
do not know how fast an animated sequence created for the depiction of
relationships must be, so that the user can recognize the objects and
relationships of the map sequence. This is a problem especially for
animation on video because the sequences cannot be controlled by the
user and the speed cannot be changed.
Creation and control of an animated map sequence
Cartographic animation will become a widespread visualization tool only
if the creation of animated map sequences is not too difficult. A user
interface that allows the user to produce animations easily has to be
designed. For thb, useful cartographic animation functions such as
changing the view-point or moving an object must be defined and ar-
ranged in menus. With these various animation operations, the user has
the potential to compose complex animation sequences. Ideas for this
have been suggested by Monmonier (1989). A second and very important
point is the interactivity of an animation. If animation is to be more than
just a film, it must have the possibility of interaction. Animation systems
should have the minimum ability to stop and restart the sequence and to
change the speed. The animation for graphical exploration of a data set
must have a \'ar1ety of controlling functions. We have to think about the
whole range of interactions that cartographic animation requires.
Animation techniques
We also need more knowledge of the different animation techniques and
for what types of animation they work best. Our experience in this area is
limited because only a few cartographic animations ha,·e been realized.
Gersmehl (1990) has examined this issue and describes nine animation
metaphors and their use. Further work should expand this subject.
Cartographic animation requires a variety of research on design,
creation, and use of animated map sequences. Because of the potential of
animation for cartography, more attention to research is required in this
field.
The potential of computer animation has already been realized by differ-
ent disciplines. It can also be used for cartography as a powerful visual-
ization tool that transcends the potential of the printed map. With anima-
tion, dynamic and interactive map sequences can be created that show
changes over time or can be used to depict or explore spatial and statisti-
cal relationships.
CO CLUSIO>J