This list should help:
- focus your attention on design problems in the domain of spatial visualization;
- generate keywords for your posts that will facilitate blog searches.
Please read through the questions below and make a list of the keywords that are relevant to your example. To save space, please use commas to separate the words rather than lines. If you don’t think the question applies to your example then you should skip it. If a question applies but you don’t think any of the provided terms are specific to your example, then please post a comment suggesting an alternative. I expect this list will evolve over the course of the semester with your input.
The questions below are loosely grouped into a few categories. Your list does not need to refer to these headers.
The Mapped as Subject and Object
What is the general purpose or thesis of the map/graphic?
- Reference map
- Thematic map
- Data exploration
- Other
What is the spatial scaling between observer and the phenomenon to be observed?
- Manipulable Object (smaller than observer)
- Vista (can be perceived from a stationary point)
- Tour (can only be perceived through movement)
- Geographic (too big to be perceived by touring)
- Other?
What are the temporal dimensions of the phenomenon or situation that you are visualizing?
- A snap shot
- A long exposure
- A sequence
- More?
What is the relationship between the map reader and the map as a physical object?
- Portable object
- Stationary object
- Interactive object
- More??
What is the context of the map as one part of a larger body of communication?
- Small figure on a page
- Fold-out map
- Poster on a wall
- Image on a computer screen
- Slide in a presentation
- More ??
What data was used to visualize? Are the sources reliable?
- Primary sources
- Secondary sources
- Unknown sources
- Other
What tools were used to visualize the data?
- Pen and ink
- Graphics software
- GIS
- Other?
What perspective does the map provide the reader?
- Globe
- Planimetric
- Perspective
- Other
What spatial and temporal properties does the map preserve?
- Distance
- Direction
- Area
- Shape
- Scale
- More?
Showing Geography
What kinds of landmarks or other salient features of the landscape does the map show?
- Toponyms (placenames)
- Point reference symbols
- Line reference symbols
- Area reference symbols
Does the map show continuously varying properties of the Earth’s surface?
- Contours
- Shaded relief
- Hypsometric tints
- Bump mapping
Does the map show regional variation of some particular theme?
- Land cover maps
- Land use maps
- Territorial maps
- ..?
Does the map show thematic variation over the vertical dimension of the Earth’s surface?
- Cross-sections
- Architectural sections
Does the map suggest the underlying nature of geographic boundaries?
- Fiat boundaries
- Fuzzy boundaries
- Bona fide boundaries
Does the map show variation in statistical densities for aerial units?
- Choropleth
- Dot density
- Proportional Symbols
- Isolines
Does the map show movement across the Earth’s surface?
- Flow vectors
- Networks
- Animated maps of diffusion