Lec 11: Time and Maps

The Readings for Today’s Lecture were:

Ch. 8: Time and Maps

Ch. 9: Software for Map Retrieval

Comments or Questions?

(General, Lab, Assignment, Readings)

Today’s Lecture:

Final Exam — format and example questions

Time and Maps — synopsis and snipets

Geographic Flight Simulation

Final Exam — format and example questions

Scope of the Exam

Non cummulative:

Chapters: 12-15, D, 8, 9, 20

All four (4) Lab Assignments

Mock Final Exam

How to Answer Essay Questions in an Exam

Break

Time and Maps — synopsis and snipets

* TOC

To quote from E R Tufte’s opening sentence in his book Envisioning Information —

“The world is complex, dynamic, multidimensional; the paper is static, flat. How are we to represent the rich visual world of experience and measurement on mere flatland?”

From the introduction to our chapter:

“Being overworked but basically clever, map makers have maintained their sanity by concentrating on phenomena that change relatively slowly.”

And on the “arrow of time”:

“Unlike space, time is a directed quality — it is irreversible.”

STATIC MAPS

The map maker’s ability to “freeze motion”

is nothing but an illusion

Temporal Aspects of Maps

All static maps aren’t equally time specific. Important differences between

line (vector) maps

and image maps

* Example of how image maps capture changes in state (in lieu of Fig. 8.1)

* Completion Date - Fig 8.2

Datedness: Three factors can make a map outdated:

Mapping Period

Elapsed time

Temporal Sensitivity of Features

Refer again to Fig. 8.2

Question: What can we do when maps don’t give us a completion date or the mapping period (or both)?

Answer:

Think of certain features you know have changed at certain dates

and check their condition on the map

Temporal Sensitivity of Features

varies among features on same map

varies also with respect to short-tern, intermittent datedness (eg. road detours)

Historical Perspective

studying a time series of maps

* Fig. 8.4

Symbolizing Dynamic Features

modern technology promotes the creation of more

time-related maps

Environmental Change Maps

by subtracting Time(n) - Time(n-1)

by using more rigorous quantitative modeling

Time Composite Maps

superimposing layers of information from different times on a single map

Change in Position

* Point Features (Fig. 8.7)

* Linear Features (Fig. 8.8)

* Areal Features (Fig. 8.9)

* Areal Spatial Diffusion (Fig. 8.10)

* Volumetric Features (Fig. 8.11A)

Change in Character

* Example: Fig 7.12

Travel Time Maps

Time Cartograms

* Non -directional Example: Fig 6.10

* Directional Example: Fig 6.11

Time Bias of Maps

Mapping Cyclical Phenomena

* Fig. 8.12

Mapping Trend Phenomena

DYNAMIC MAPS

Animation

Fixed-Sequence Mapping

Interactive Mapping

Interactive Mapping

“As new technologies are developed, cartographers are creating more interactive map forms — maps which provide feedback to map user’s queries or respond to user’s commands. Modern map forms which fall into this interactive category provide some ideas of what future map use will be like.

* Stored Images (Fig. 8.13)

* Fig. 8.14

Computed Images

“...this form of interactive map, is in theory, the map of our dreams.”

“It will thrust map analysis and interpretation fully into the electronic age.”

“It will do so by permitting a free question and answer exchange between you and the map.”

“Through a series of prompts and queries

you can ask the computer to determine such factors as

the area of a lake,

elevation at a point,

distance along a route,

direction between two points,

least effort path, and so forth.”

“You use

the maps for visualization

and the map data for analysis.”

“In such an environment, map analysis can actually be fun!

This is especially true if you can interact with the computer through verbal commands or by pointing.”

Simulation

“What if?” scenarios

“The imaginative power of simulation

reaches its ultimate form with modern electronic technology.

Special machines called simulators can respond to a number of human commands.

When animated maps are used in these machines,

the effect is one of actually moving within or through a three-dimensional environment.”

Virtual Reality

The example given is pilot and astronaut training.

* Snapshot of GFS Scenery

Conclusion

Our R&D on Geographic Flight Simulators

‘til next week!