The Use of Maps in the Exploration of Geographic Data Voorwerk Elzakker 08-10-2004 16:01 Pagina 2 Menno Data:Tijdelijke Orders:NGS 326 Elzakker
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Voorwerk Elzakker 08-10-2004 16:01 Pagina 1 Menno Data:Tijdelijke Orders:NGS 326 Elzakker: The use of maps in the exploration of geographic data Voorwerk Elzakker 08-10-2004 16:01 Pagina 2 Menno Data:Tijdelijke Orders:NGS 326 Elzakker: Nederlandse Geografische Studies / Netherlands Geographical Studies Redactie / Editorial Board Drs. J.G. Borchert (Editor in Chief) Prof. Dr. J.M.M. van Amersfoort Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen Dr. P.C.J. Druijven Prof. Dr. A.O. Kouwenhoven Prof. Dr. H. Scholten Plaatselijke Redacteuren / Local Editors Drs. J.G. Borchert, Faculteit Geowetenschappen Universiteit Utrecht Dr. D.H. Drenth, Faculteit Beleidswetenschappen Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen Dr. P.C.J. Druijven, Faculteit der Ruimtelijke Wetenschappen Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Drs. F.J.P.M. Kwaad, Fysich-Geografisch en Bodemkundig Laboratorium Universiteit van Amsterdam Dr. L. van der Laan, Economisch-Geografisch Instituut Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam Dr. J.A. van der Schee, Centrum voor Educatieve Geografie Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Dr. F. Thissen, Instituut voor Sociale Geografie Universiteit van Amsterdam Redactie-Adviseurs / Editorial Advisory Board Prof. Dr. G.J. Ashworth, Prof. Dr. P.G.E.F. Augustinus, Prof. Dr. G.J. Borger, Prof. Dr. K. Bouwer, Prof. Dr. J. Buursink, Dr C. Cortie, Dr. J. Floor, Prof. Dr. G.A. Hoekveld, Dr. A.C. Imeson, Prof. Dr. J.M.G. Kleinpenning, Dr. W.J. Meester, Prof. Dr. F.J. Ormeling, Prof. Dr. H.F.L. Ottens, Dr. J. Sevink, Dr. W.F. Sleegers, T.Z. Smit, Drs. P.J.M. van Steen, Dr. J.J. Sterkenburg, Drs. H.A.W. van Vianen, Prof. Dr.J. van Weesep ISSN 0169-4839 Voorwerk Elzakker 08-10-2004 16:01 Pagina 3 Menno Data:Tijdelijke Orders:NGS 326 Elzakker: Netherlands Geographical Studies 326 The use of maps in the exploration of geographic data Corné P. J. M. van Elzakker Utrecht / Enschede 2004 Koninklijk Nederlands Aardrijkskundig Genootschap/ Faculteit Geowetenschappen, Universiteit Utrecht / International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation Voorwerk Elzakker 08-10-2004 16:01 Pagina 4 Menno Data:Tijdelijke Orders:NGS 326 Elzakker: This publication is a dissertation submitted for the title of Doctor at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. The public defence of this dissertation took place on November 5, 2004. Promotors: Prof. Dr. F.J. Ormeling Prof. Dr. M.J. Kraak The research was financed by the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC). This publication was also made possible by the financial support of the Urban Regional Research Centre Utrecht (URU). For updates and demonstration of test sessions: see http://www.itc.nl/personal/elzakker ISBN 90-6809-357-6 Copyright © Corné P.J.M. van Elzakker, c/o ITC, P.O. Box 6, 7500 AA Enschede, the Netherlands, 2004 Niets uit deze uitgave mag worden vermenigvuldigd en/of openbaar gemaakt door middel van deze druk, fotokopie of op welke andere wijze dan ook zonder voorafgaande schriftelijk toestemming van de uitgevers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any other means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the written permission of the publishers. Printed in the Netherlands by Labor Grafimedia b.v. - Utrecht CONTENTS Figures 7 Tables 8 1 Introduction 1.1 Individualization of map use and map production: the rise of exploratory cartography 9 1.2 Map use in exploratory cartography 12 1.3 Objective of this study 14 1.4 The contents of this report 16 2 Map use and map use research 2.1 Introduction 19 2.2 Map use 20 2.3 Map use research 23 2.4 Map use research and exploratory cartography 29 2.5 Conclusion 31 3 Research methodology 3.1 Introduction 33 3.2 Methods of map use research 33 3.3 The think aloud method 36 3.4 Earlier applications of the think aloud method in map use research 39 3.5 Conclusion: the methodology selected for this research 40 4 A particular map use objective: regional exploratory studies 4.1 Introduction 43 4.2 Geographic questions and map use tasks in regional exploratory studies 43 4.3 Geographic data 47 4.4 Map types 50 4.5 Map use activities 54 4.6 Map use and map selection matrices 55 4.7 Conclusion 63 5 The user tests 5.1 Introduction 65 5.2 User task and instructions: construct a graphic spatial model of Overijssel 65 5.3 Database of Overijssel 72 5.4 Fitting up the experiment room 79 5.5 ArcGIS as tool for geographic data exploration 86 5.6 The test persons 91 5.7 Research assistant 94 5.8 Conclusion 95 5 6 Results 6.1 Introduction 97 6.2 Test execution 97 6.3 Processing the qualitative research data 101 6.3.1 The graphic models produced 102 6.3.2 The verbal and action protocols 105 6.3.3 The completed map use and map selection matrices 112 6.4 Results of the analysis 121 6.4.1 Geographic questions 121 6.4.2 Geographic themes and other aspects of geodata 122 6.4.3 Selection of maps 123 6.4.4 Process of regional exploratory studies with the help of maps 124 6.4.5 Map types 126 6.4.6 General aspects of map use 126 6.4.7 Map use tasks and activities 128 6.4.8 Cartographic awareness 129 6.4.9 ArcGIS as a tool for exploratory cartography 129 6.5 Conclusion 130 7 Conclusions and recommendations 7.1 Exploratory cartography revisited 131 7.2 Suggestions for further research: hypotheses 136 7.3 Recommendations 138 Appendices: Appendix 1 Guidelines for the completion of the map selection and map use matrices during protocol analysis 141 Appendix 2 Introduction to the test on the use of maps in the exploration of geographic data 147 Appendix 3 Questionnaire 151 Appendix 4 Questionnaire results for individual test persons 159 Appendix 5 Test sessions: preparation, execution and processing (and instructions for research assistant) 163 Appendix 6 Geographic questions posed, geographic themes selected and maps selected or generated by the test persons during their test sessions 167 Appendix 7 Frequency of occurences of combinations of map use tasks and map use activities 183 References 185 URLs 190 Summary: The use of maps in the exploration of geographic data 191 Samenvatting: Het gebruik van kaarten bij de exploratie van geografische gegevens 195 Curriculum Vitae 199 Acknowledgements 201 6 FIGURES 1.1 The role of maps and other graphics as tools in a geographic research sequence 9 1.2 The (cartography)3 map use cube 10 1.3 The map use cube according to Kraak & Ormeling 11 1.4 Goals of use arrayed in the map use cube 12 1.5 Location of the study area Overijssel in the Netherlands 15 2.1 Model of cartographic communication by Kolácný 19 2.2 Cognitive elements in cartographic communication (Robinson & Petchenik) 21 2.3 Typical psychophysical test example (Flannery) 25 2.4 The visual variables 26 2.5 The perception properties of the visual variables 27 2.6 Essence of the grammar of the cartographic language 27 2.7 Map display from the research project of McGuinness 30 2.8 Map interface of HealthVisB prototype exploratory cartography environment 31 3.1 Protocol analysis: an overview 37 4.1 Questions in regional exploratory studies 44 4.2 Samples of the map types listed in Table 4.3 52 4.3 The map use matrix 56 4.4 The map selection matrix, Parts A & B 57 4.4 The map selection matrix, Part C 58 4.4 The map selection matrix, Parts D & E 59 5.1 Graphic spatial model of the Netherlands as trans-shipment harbour 66 5.2 Graphic spatial model of the American State Arizona 66 5.3 London Underground 67 5.4 View of Overijssel in the year 2000 68 5.5 Table of chorèmes 69 5.6 Construction of a graphic model of the Netherlands from basic chorèmes 70 5.7 Starting-point for graphic model construction by the test persons 71 5.8 Structure of the ArcGIS part of the Overijssel database 72 5.9 Manuals for adding and searching data of the Overijssel database 73 5.10 Example of a ready-made ArcGIS map document in the Overijssel database 74 5.11 Overall structure of the Overijssel database 75 5.12 Form for adding metadata on digital maps in the Overijssel database 76 5.13 Form for adding metadata on geographic attribute data in the database 77 5.14 Main menu for searching existing maps and attribute data in the database 78 5.15 Possible result of a search action on the metadatabase: three hyperlinked tables 79 5.16 Impression of the research laboratory especially equipped for this project 81 5.17 Equipment used in the research laboratory 82 5.18 Sender and receiver of the wireless microphone used during the test sessions 85 5.19 The ArcGIS software family 90 6.1 Graphic models of Overijssel produced by the test persons TP1 and TP4 102 6.2 Graphic models of Overijssel produced by the test persons TP2 and TP3 103 6.3 Graphic models of Overijssel produced by the test persons TP5, 6, 7 and 8 104 6.4 Graphic models of Overijssel produced by the test persons TP9 and TP10 105 6.5 Example of a completed map selection matrix for TP10, Parts A & B 113 7 6.5 Example of a completed map selection matrix for TP10, Part C 114 6.5 Example of a completed map selection matrix for TP10, Parts D & E 115 6.6 Example of a completed map use matrix for TP10 116 6.7 Frequency of combinations of map use tasks and activities for TP10 118 6.8 Frequency of combinations of map use tasks and activities for TP4 119 6.9 Frequency of combinations of map use tasks and activities for all test persons 120 TABLES 4.1 Map use tasks with relation to the geographic questions addressed 46 4.2 Categories of geographic themes for regional exploratory studies 48 4.3 Map types for regional exploratory studies with basic geographic questions 51 4.4 Map use operations 55 5.1 Hardware used