COGNITIVE MAP FORMATION IN MAP SPACE COGNITION
G. Wan, J. Gao, W. Dong, Y. Liu
Zhengzhou Institute of Surveying and Mapping, P. R. China
houyuxia@vip.371.net
Cartographists
are striving to seek an answer to “what is the essence of map”. During such
process, the concept that “map is a spatial cognitive tool of human beings” has
been concluded and the basic theory system of cartology which is based on the
theory of map space cognition has formed. In this paper, authors attempt to
eliminate the subjective influence to the least and conclude some rules of
cognitive map by analyzing the subjects’ sketch maps statistically.
The
main work of this paper is to implement 4 types of cognitive experiments that
make the subjects form cognitive maps through reading 2D paper maps, or 2D
electronic maps, or images of remote sensing or virtual geographic environment.
The purpose of these experiments is to conclude some rules by analyzing the
subjects’ sketch maps and to improve the theory of the cognitive map formation
based on personal experience. For example, the reading habit of large-scale
data is different from the one of small-scale data; the reading-based cognitive
map formation is from whole to parts and is different from the one based on
personal experience; it is an important part for electronic map to deal with
the relationship between the part and the whole; the reading-based cognitive sketch
map is a kind of “spatial” sketch map that is mainly directed by orientation;
the existence of supplementary elements is improved; the condition of
experiment exerts greatly and the background knowledge is critical too; and the
use of the images of remote sensing should be companied with professional help.
The
subjects are seniors of Zhengzhou Surveying and Mapping Institute.