A Web Mapping Pattern Library: Design Patterns for Web Cartography Education
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Donohue, R.
1UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY Email: rgdonohue@uky.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Research identifies a set of competences required for interactive web map design using open source web mapping technologies. This research also clarifies how attention to the scope and sequence of desirable learning outcomes, as well as misconceptions that inhibit learning gains and threshold concepts that break through such barriers, can improve cartographic education. Such knowledge is useful for maintaining effective web mapping education in an era of rapid technological change. However, instruction of advanced JavaScript-based interactive cartography courses remains daunting in terms of capturing emergent technical solutions, overcoming steep technical learning curves, and teaching to broad range of students’ background and experience. Design patterns capture common solutions to recurring design problems and are inspired by Christopher Alexander, who worked in the fields of architecture and urban planning. Software Engineering (SE) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) both have leveraged design patterns and pattern libraries for software development and interface design. While Web Cartography has successfully applied principles and practices from these fields for web mapping, design patterns remain an unexplored solution to many of the challenges in Web Cartography education. OBJECTIVE: This paper proposes design patterns and libraries as a solution for improving web mapping education and practice using open source geospatial technologies. The predominant model for web cartography instruction involves: (1) a lecture component, which focuses upon the conceptual representation and interaction principles, and (2) a laboratory component, which applies these principles to practice within a design and development process culminating in the creation of a working web map. This research addresses a gap between theory and practice—in part created by the inevitable technological change in hardware and software—in employing specific cartographic requirements within the learning environment of the course laboratory component. METHODS: This research synthesizes two knowledge fields to establish a set of heuristics—holistic design goals built from experience—for the development and testing of a web mapping pattern library. First, existing research into Web Cartography establishes interaction requirements to complement traditional representation techniques. To complement these, I consider the treatment of design pattern libraries within Software Engineering (SE) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), the latter of which offers a multi-disciplinary approach to cartographic interface design. Analysis of design patterns within these fields in terms of the goals and requirements of Web Cartography education informs the heuristics used to develop a proof-of-concept prototype web mapping design pattern library. RESULTS: The heuristics used for the development of a web mapping pattern library are diagrammed in scenario-based web mapping processes that highlight the sequence and scope of learning outcomes to achieve a prototypical web map. These heuristics include: (1) Realize the Solution Space. A fundamental entry point for web mapping is a thorough grounding in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (i.e., the “solution space”). (2) Enablement toward Cartographic Requirements. Patterns fundamentally address the specific needs of Web Cartography and differ from those found in SE and HCI. (3) Edification of Web Cartography Principles. The library reinforces learning beyond purely technical challenges and teaches connections between theory and implementation. (4) Navigational. The presentation format of the library is designed so patterns are accessible through a menu-style navigation interface. (5) Relational. Patterns relate to one another, achieved in two senses: (1) hierarchical relations between patterns and (2) sequential ordering of patterns to achieve specific web mapping learning objectives within a mapping workflow.
Keywords
web mapping; cartographic education; design pattern library