CaGIS vol. 28, no. 1

Research Challenges in Geovisualization

Alan M. MacEachren and Menno-Jan Kraak

This special issue of Cartography and Geographic Information Science presents the results of an international collaboration to delineate a four-part research agenda for geovisualization. Geovisualization integrates approaches from visualization in scientific computing (ViSC), cartography, image analysis, information visualization, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and geographic information systems (GISystems) to provide theory, methods, and tools for visual exploration, analysis, synthesis, and presentation of geospatial data (with data having geospatial referencing). Primary themes addressed here are representation of geospatial information, integration of visual with computational methods of knowledge construction, interface design for geovisualization environments, and cognitive/usability aspects of geovisualization. The International Cartographic Association (ICA) Commission on Visualization and Virtual Environments took the lead in developing this comprehensive research agenda by organizing an international team to address each theme. The teams included both Commission members and others active in geovisualization and related areas. Participants represent a range of disciplines and include representatives from government and the private sector, as well as academic researchers. Each team was assisted by an expert from outside geographic information science who provided critical review of white papers prior to completion of final manuscripts. The full set of manuscripts was then submitted for formal peer review. The research agenda development process is detailed on the Commission’s web site at: www.geovista.psu.edu/icavis. In this essay, we provide an overview of the organizational, technological, and scientific contexts for this research agenda setting effort, emphasizing changes in each that prompted the project at this time. Next, we outline the core issues identified within each agenda theme and summarize challenges identified. Then, four crosscutting challenges are delineated. We conclude with recommendations for action.

Representation and its Relationship with Cartographic Visualization

David Fairbairn, Gennady Andrienko, Natalia Andrienko, Gerd Buziek and Jason Dykes

A research agenda is presented which addresses the current role and potential of map displays. By considering the geospatial data used in visualization, the form and design of maps, the purposes for which map displays are created, the nature of the map user community, and the technology employed to visualize geospatial data, a thorough overview of the nature of cartographic visualization is given. Under the same themes, and sourced in cartographic tradition, cartographic practice and technological opportunities, a series of possible research avenues are highlighted. The important links between representation and the user interface, map user cognition and the geospatial database are stressed.

KEYWORDS: Visualization, cartographic representation, map use, map user interaction, cartographic semantics, map display technologies.

The Integration of Geographic Visualization with Knowledge Discovery in Databases and Geocomputation Mark Gahegan, Monica Wachowicz, Mark Harrower and Theresa-Marie Rhyne

This paper details the research agenda of the International Cartographic Association Commission on Visualization: Working Group on Database-Visualization Links. The paper stresses the need for the closer integration of three largely disparate technologies: geographic visualization, knowledge discovery in databases, and geocomputation. The introduction explains the meaning behind these terms, the ethos behind their practice, and their connections within the broad realm of knowledge construction activities. The state of the art is then described for different approaches to knowledge construction, concentrating where possible on visual and geographically oriented methods. From these sections, a research agenda is synthes ized in the form of three sets of research questions addressing: (1) visual approaches to data mining; (2) visual support for knowledge construction and geocomputation; and (3) databases and data models that must be satisfied to make visually-led knowledge construction a reality in the geographic realm. Conclusions relate this agenda to issues of (1) data, (2) geographic knowledge, and (3) the visualization environment and pose significant challenges to the way we currently represent geographic information and knowledge within computational systems.

Geospatial Information Visualization User Interface Issues

William Cartwright, Jeremy Crampton, Georg Gartner, Suzette Miller, Kirk Mitchell, Eva Siekierska and Jo Wood

User interfaces for geospatial information are the tools by which users interact with and explore that information. The provision of appropriate interface tools for exploiting the potential of contemporary geospatial visualization products is essential if they are to be used efficiently and effectively. This paper addresses issues and challenges in interface development and usage that are identified as paramount within the geospatial visualization community.

KEYWORDS: Interface, interactivity, navigation, collaboration, metaphors, usability.

Cognitive and Usability Issues in Geovisualization

Terry A. Slocum, Connie Blok, Bin Jiang, Alexandra Koussoulakou, Daniel R. Montello, Sven Fuhrmann, and Nicholas R. Hedley

We provide a research agenda for the International Cartographic Association’s Commission on Visualization and Virtual Environment Working Group on Cognitive and Usability Issues in Geovisualization. Developments in hardware and software have led to (and will continue to stimulate) numerous novel methods for visualizing geospatial data. It is our belief that these novel methods will be of little use if they are not developed within a theoretical cognitive framework and iteratively tested using usability engineering principles. We argue that cognitive and usability issues should be considered in the context of six major research themes: 1) geospatial virtual environments (GeoVEs); 2) dynamic representations (including animated and interactive maps); 3) metaphors and schem ata in user interface design; 4) individual and group differences; 5) collaborative geovisualization; and 6) evaluating the effectiveness of geovisualization methods. A key point underlying our use of theoretical cognitive principles is that traditional cognitive theory for static two-dimensional maps may not be applicable to interactive three-dimensional immersive GeoVEs and dynamic representations—thus new cognitive theory may need to be developed. Usability engineering extends beyond the traditional cartographic practice of “user testing” by evaluating software effectiveness throughout a lifecycle (including design, development, and deployment). Applying usability engineering to geovisualization, however, may be problematic because of the novelty of geovisualization and the associated difficulty of defining the nature of users and their tasks. Tackling the research themes is likely to require an interdisciplinary effort involving geographic information scientists, cognitive scientists, usability engineers, computer scientists, and others.

KEYWORDS: Geospatial virtual environments, animated maps, interactive maps, metaphors, collaborative geovisualization, usability engineering, research agenda.