A first step towards a framework for presenting the location of confidential point data on maps—results of an empirical perceptual study

Authors: Leitner, M.; Curtis, A.

Source: International Journal of Geographical Information Science, Volume 20, Number 7, August 2006 , pp. 813-822(10)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

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Abstract:

A common concern when working with health‐related data is that national standard guidelines are designed to preserve individual statistical information, usually recorded as text or in a spreadsheet format (`statistical confidentiality'), but lack appropriate rules for visualizing this information on maps (`spatial confidentiality'). Privacy rules to protect spatial confidentiality become more and more important, as governmental agencies increasingly incorporate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool for collecting, storing, analysing, and disseminating spatial information. The purpose of this paper is to propose the first step of a general framework for presenting the location of confidential point data on maps using empirical perceptual research. The overall objective is to identify geographic masking methods that preserve both the confidentiality of individual locations, and at the same time the essential visual characteristics of the original point pattern.

Keywords: Geographic masking; Spatial confidentiality; Cartographic design; Perceptual research

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13658810600711261

Affiliations: 1: Department of Geography and Anthropology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA

Publication date: 2006-08-01

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