Spatialization Methods: A Cartographic Research Agenda for Non-geographic Information Visualization

Authors: Skupin, André; Fabrikant, Sara Irina

Source: Cartography and Geographic Information Science, Volume 30, Number 2, April 2003 , pp. 99-119(21)

Publisher: Cartography and Geographic Information Society

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content

Abstract:

Information visualization is an interdisciplinary research area in which cartographic efforts have mostly addressed the handling of geographic information. Some cartographers have recently become involved in attempts to extend geographic principles and cartographic techniques to the visualization of non-geographic information. This paper reports on current progress and future opportunities in this emerging research field commonly known as spatialization. The discussion is mainly devoted to the computational techniques that turn high-dimensional data into visualizations via processes of projection and transformation. It is argued that cartographically informed engagement of computationally intensive techniques can help to provide richer and less opaque information visualizations. The discussion of spatialization methods is linked to another priority area of cartographic involvement, the development of theory and principles for cognitively plausible spatialization. The paper distinguishes two equally important sets of challenges for cartographic success in spatialization research. One is the recognition that there are distinct advantages to applying a cartographic perspective in information visualization. This requires our community to more thoroughly understand the essence of cartographic activity and to explore the implications of its metaphoric transfer to non-geographic domains. Another challenge lies in cartographers becoming a more integral part of the information visualization community and actively engaging its constituent research fields.

Keywords: VISUALIZATION; SPATIALIZATION; CARTOGRAPHY; DIMENSIONALITY; SELF-ORGANIZING MAPS; MULTIDIMENSIONAL SCALING; SPATIAL COGNITION; HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1559/152304003100011081

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$23.00 plus tax      Refund Policy

 

OR

Back to top

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content
Share this item with others: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
Page Help Click here for Page Help
Shopping cart
Tools
Sign in






Need to register?
Sign up here
Text size: A | A | A | A