Basic Categories of Cartographic Animation and the Dynamic Variables: AConceptual Approach to Application in GIS

摘要

In the thesis, the subject of cartographic animation will be treated. Thedescription of animation in general, covering its roots in history, the diversity of present day use, and the general approaches to creating and viewing animation, provides the background to address the subjet of application of animation in cartography. After putting cartographic animation in a historic perspective, a definition of cartographic animation applicable to contemporary cartography is determined. To complete the description of cartographic animation, a comprehensive classification of basic categories of cartographic animation has been postulated, based on the way display time is used to visualize aspects of spatial data as a descriminating factor. With respect to creating cartographic animations, the six dynamic variables are investigated with respect to their definition and their occurrence in existing cartographic animations. Three levels of application of these variables, narrative, representational and dynamic symbolization have been described. With this, three levels of visualization in cartographic animations in general have been derived. The visualization options offered by cartographic animation resulting from the above have been described and used to establish a concept for implementation of cartographic animation as a tool in GIS.