TY - JOUR
T1 - A collaborative process for developing map symbol standards
AU - Robinson, Anthony C.
AU - Roth, Robert E.
AU - Blanford, Justine
AU - Pezanowski, Scott
AU - MacEachren, Alan M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work is supported by a contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate. The views expressed here are of the authors, and do not reflect the official positions of the Department of Homeland Security or the Federal Government.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Geographic information is commonly disseminated and consumed via visual representations of features and their environmental context on maps. Map design inherently involves generalizing reality, and one method by which mapmakers do so is through the use of symbols to represent features. Here we focus on the challenges associated with supporting mapmakers who need to work together to reach consensus on standardizing their map symbols. Based on a needs assessment study with mapmakers at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, we designed a new, mixed-method symbol standardization process that takes place through a web-based, asynchronous platform. A study to test this new standardization process with mapmakers at DHS revealed that our process allowed participants to identify many issues related to symbol design, meaning, and categorization. The approach elicited sustained, iterative engagement and critical thinking from participants, and results from a post-study survey indicate that participants found it to be useful and usable. Results from our study and user feedback allow us to suggest multiple ways in which our approach and platform can be improved for future applications.
AB - Geographic information is commonly disseminated and consumed via visual representations of features and their environmental context on maps. Map design inherently involves generalizing reality, and one method by which mapmakers do so is through the use of symbols to represent features. Here we focus on the challenges associated with supporting mapmakers who need to work together to reach consensus on standardizing their map symbols. Based on a needs assessment study with mapmakers at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, we designed a new, mixed-method symbol standardization process that takes place through a web-based, asynchronous platform. A study to test this new standardization process with mapmakers at DHS revealed that our process allowed participants to identify many issues related to symbol design, meaning, and categorization. The approach elicited sustained, iterative engagement and critical thinking from participants, and results from a post-study survey indicate that participants found it to be useful and usable. Results from our study and user feedback allow us to suggest multiple ways in which our approach and platform can be improved for future applications.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=82555203008&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=82555203008&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.07.018
DO - 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.07.018
M3 - Conference article
AN - SCOPUS:82555203008
SN - 1877-0428
VL - 21
SP - 93
EP - 102
JO - Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences
JF - Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences
T2 - International Conference on Spatial Thinking and Geographic Information Sciences 2011, STGIS 2011
Y2 - 14 September 2011 through 16 September 2011
ER -