NACIS 2019

Visualizing Disinformation in Maps on Social Media
Presenter: Anthony C. Robinson, The Pennsylvania State University
Co-presenter: Xi Zhu, The Pennsylvania State University
It is easier than ever to modify existing maps to change their design and share them to massive audiences via social media. The practice of Photoshopping an image to change its content and meaning is well-established today, and it applies to maps as well. In this presentation we show how reverse image search tools can help us collect multiple versions of map images and to visualize their differences to highlight examples of disinformation. Using a prototype geovisualization system we explore several case study examples of socially-shared maps to compare their original form to subsequent derivations.

Neurocartographic Visual Contrast: Resolving the Conflicting Notions of Visual Contrast for Map Cognition
Presenter: P. William Limpisathian, University of Oregon
Cartographers assert that visual contrast is vital for guiding attention and enabling effective map communication. Without perceptual clarity in design, the process of cognizing the underlying spatial information is obstructed. However, research in neuroscience has labeled visual contrast processes such as Gestalt figure-ground as wholly pre-attentional and irrelevant for higher-level cognition. Are these seemingly fundamentally opposing notions somehow compatible, or have we been wrong this whole time? In this talk, I will attempt to resolve the theoretical friction and discuss my ongoing research, examining the theoretical and neurological underpinnings of visual contrast in map reading, from perception to cognition.

Neither Pin Map nor Network Visualization: Liminal Mapping With Pseudo-Spatial Charts
Presenter: Will Payne, University of California, Berkeley (Geography and New Media)
Co-presenter: Evangeline McGlynn, University of California, Berkeley (Geography)
In the migration of cartographic practice to GIS and web-based tools, important vernacular use cases have been lost in the "democratization of cartography," which too often requires strict Cartesian spatialization. While network visualizations solve some problems, many analyses require rough concepts of distance and bearing. Sometimes a qualitative or non-linear scale of distance can provide a more meaningful and layout-efficient visualization. We will demo our lightweight "pseudo-spatial" chart engine, where relative orientation is preserved, but distance is transformed in accordance with underlying scalar relationships, concluding with a series of use cases to take relational spatial analysis beyond the pin map.

The Psychology of Park Maps as Influence on Visitors' Behavior
Presenter: Justin Menke, University of Oregon
Park maps and brochures convey information about the park environment, influencing visitors' behavior and experience. For example, visitors' destination choices are influenced by representations of a park's built environment (level of access and facilities) and natural environment (desirable sights and attractions). The social environment, a third aspect of the park environment, is less often conveyed to visitors. Other visitors, however, are an important component of one's experience and, with rapidly increasing visitation, many parks are grappling with issues of overcrowding. This research explores how conveying information about a park environment (including social conditions) influences visitors' decisions and expectations.

Users' digital competences vs. map medium preferences
Presenter: Katarzyna Słomska, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies
Co-author: Izabela Gołębiowska, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies
Strong preference of interactive maps can be observed among young people. In this talk, I will present the study which results pointed uniform preference of the young people towards the medium of a map. All respondents declared that "Google Maps like" solution would be their first choice when selecting a tool. The study also covered the examination of digital competences understood as a mixture of skills and knowledge about the 'digital world'. Obtained data allowed to investigate whether the users' preferences toward interactive go with their high skills in modern technologies usage.