Dynamic visualization

variables
Graphic variables

Known already: Bertin’s 7 graphic (visual)

variables
ƒ position
for locational aspects of geospatial data
ƒ form, orientation, colour, texture, value and size:
for the thematic attributes

Others have distinguished additional graphic

variables for thematic attributes, e.g.:
ƒ saturation (in addition to hue & value)
ƒ crispness / resolution
ƒ transparency
ƒ …
More variables
to represent geospatial data
Visual variables (can be perceived visually):
ƒ Graphic variables
used in the spatial dimensions of static and dynamic
(animated maps)
ƒ Dynamic visualization variables
used in the temporal dimension of dynamic maps:
display time
Other variables
(need other modes of perception)
eg. sound, smell, touch…?

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Representation of change
Based on graphic variables only:

ƒ Single static map

ƒ Multiple static
maps (snap shots
in time)

Based on graphic + dynamic

visualization variables:
ƒ Animated
(dynamic) map

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Single static maps
Dynamics can suggested by symbols that give
an impression of movement or order,
order like:
ƒ value,
value e.g. to show the successive stages of
urban growth
ƒ arrows,
arrows e.g. for the paths of wildfires, hurricanes…
ƒ flow lines,
lines e.g. to show troop movements
ƒ etc…

Dynamics can also be shown by change /

temporal difference maps, e.g.:
ƒ change in land use between 2 moments in time
ƒ population growth in a given time period
Single static maps

value

arrows
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Single static map:flowlines
Napoleon’s 1812 Russian campaign
Minard’s map,
1869

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Single static map
change map: deforested area in ‘95

forest in ’92,
deforested in ‘95

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Multiple static maps

Spatial dynamics have to be mentally

extracted by the user through map
comparison,
comparison e.g.:
ƒ land cover / use 1992
ƒ land cover / use 1995

Difficult if:
ƒ information is complex
ƒ more than a few maps have to be compared

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Multiple static maps:
1992 and 1995 land cover/use maps

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Multiple static maps:
growth of Enschede

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 Animated (dynamic) map
Quick succession of slightly different images
-usually frames – showing change in display time
the temporal dimension: the time a viewer sees an animation

frames

interaction
controls
Again… representation variables
in an animation
Graphic variables
ƒ represent characteristics of geodata in the
spatial dimensions of the images
ƒ their appearance may change in successive stages,
but the temporal characteristics of the changes
can only be viewed in display time

Dynamic visualization variables

ƒ can only be viewed in display time
ƒ at least one graphic variable (position) is required
to be able to see a dynamic variable, e.g.
ƒ the frequency of a blinking point symbol;
ƒ the order of locations hit by a hurricane …
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Questions that can be asked
to an animation of geodata

when?

in what order?

how long?

how fast?

how often?

states (periods not affected by change)

Those questions are difficult to answer with static maps !

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Dynamic visualization variables

DiBiase et al. (1992)& MacEachren (1995): 6 variables

Blok (2005): 4 variables, the other 2 are effects

ƒ Moment of display (display date)

ƒ Order
ƒ Duration
ƒ Frequency
ƒ Rate of change
ƒ Synchronization

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Relationships between the
dynamic visualization variables

(Blok, 2005)

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Moment of display (or display date)
Position of a change / state in the representation in
display time

Moments of display that are ‘marked’ by a change enable

the perception of other dynamic visualization variables

T1 Tn
T=1837 T=1838 T=1839 T=1840 T=1841

I II III IV V

display date
‘marked’ moment of
display
Moment of display

ITC building : in every frame there are changes; these are

‘marked’ moments of display
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 Order

Structured sequence of states / changes in

the representation in display time

T1=1600 T2=1700 T3=1800 T4=1900 T5=2000

order

here,
chronological order is applied,
e.g.: 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000
… February, March, April, …
 Duration

Length in display time of a change/state in the

representation

1 unit of time

T=76-80 T=80-84 T=84-88 T=88-92 T=92-96

duration

3 units of time
 Frequency
Repetition or the number of identical states /changes
in the representation per unit of display time

every 10 minutes
T= T= T= T= T=
10.05 10.15 10.25 10.35 10.45

high

low

frequency

every 30 minutes
 Rate of change
variable … or effect?
The magnitude of change per unit of display time

Effect, influenced:
not only of animation design decisions, underlying data
also of any interaction with (the dyn. vis. variables in) the
animation
T1=12.00 T1=15.00 T1=12.00 T1=15.00

slow quick
rate of change
Rate of change

Population growth

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Synchronisation (phase correspondence)

Refers to the possibility to run several temporal

animations simultaneously and manipulate (‘tune’)
their starting points in display time to discover
similarities in patterns
T = 3 months T1 T2 T3 T4

rain

vegetation

(f) synchronization
Synchronization (effect of tuning)

Tuning is
interacting with
moment of
display in two
animations to
synchronize
the animations

The ‘tuning
mode’ in
aNimVis
enables
synchronization
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Application of the variables
The dynamic vis. variables can be used to represent:
ƒ the temporal component of geodata:
this results in temporal animations,
animations
in which e.g. moment, order, duration
and frequency of changes /states in reality are
mimicked.
mimicked

ƒ non-temporal aspects of geodata:

this results in non-temporal animations,
animations
in which the dynamic variables are used for the
sequential representation of:
ƒ other data components (location/them. attributes)
ƒ different graphic representations/views of the data

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Example: temporal animation

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Examples of non-temporal animation:
fly-by

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Examples of use of dyn. variables
in non-temporal animations

Suppose: variables are linked to attributes:

attributes
ƒ Moment of display:
a complex map builds-up gradually
(thematic objects are gradually added)
ƒ Order:
Order
data are represented in class order, e.g. from the
lowest to the highest class
ƒ Duration:
Duration
extreme attributes values are displayed longer
than normal values
ƒ Frequency:
Frequency
can be used to let a symbol blink (e.g. to attract
attention)

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