A PATTERN IDENTIFICATION APPROACH TO CARTOGRAPHIC VISUALIZATION

Mental visualization and tools that foster it have recently been acknowledged as significant factors in scientific creativity. Cartography occupies a critical position in the growing array of scientific visualization tools, particularly for geographers, earth scientists and atmospheric scientists. Treating the map as a visualization tool leads to a different perspective on cartography than that generally taken when the map is viewed as a communication device. The goal of cartography and cartographic research shifts from a search for the optimal map to a search for spatial data abstraction methods that prompt pattern identification and lead to insight. A model is proposed for cartographic visualization that stresses the role of maps in data exploration. Emphasis is on the potential for maps to stimulate scientific insight by facilitating the discovery of patterns and relationships in spatial data. Following from this pattern identification model for cartographic visualization some perspectives are offered on the design of cartographic visualization tools to facilitate pattern identification. Attention to visualization quality is considered as a key component in the successful development of such tools. In conclusion, the relationship between visualization tools used to foster scientific insight and those developed for other applications such as urban planning or navigation is considered.