Towards a multi published student atlas: an evaluation of design operators
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Molyneux, C.; 2Cartwright, W.
1RMIT UNIVERSITY Email: craig.molyneux@spatialvision.com.au
2RMIT UNIVERSITY Email: w.cartwright@rmit.edu.au
Abstract
The landscape of map design has changed rapidly over the last few years. This has occurred mainly due to the release of major multi-scale map products, such as Google Maps, Here, Bing and Mapbox. These products, providing the possibility to generate seamless multi-scale maps have ushered in a new way of exploring the Earth and man's impact on it— through the provision of timely and accessible map products. When provisioned with such products, users can pan and zoom their way around our planet, search for places and features quickly and easily to discover new information about geography. Considering how this new wave of spatial technology has enhanced the provisions available in digital resources ‘toolboxes’, we seek to determine whether the need for a hard copy map or atlas has died. Will one ever need to open a paper atlas again, to pass an enquiring finger across an unpronounceable mountain range, or thumb through an index searching for mysterious and wonderful places? Publishers continue to invest in the publication of hard copy atlases, particularly those aimed at students. We see that the challenge presented to publishers is how to engage their readers across both print and digital media, offering fast and dynamic digital maps, whilst, simultaneously, teaching students the skill of reading maps, understanding how and why they use different projections and how they can locate geographical features using an alpha-numeric and latitude and longitude grid. As part of a broader research project that is investigating a conceptual workflow for multi-publishing student atlases, a smaller research component has also been undertaken, which supports the major research effort. This research attempts to discover some standard 'design operators' that can be applied to design features (fonts, symbols and line weights) on print maps to convert these across to a digital map design. One of the impediments in design consistency is the variability of device screen resolutions—from display monitors to handheld devices. We sought to ascertain whether a 'design operator' that takes into account these variable screen resolutions might be applied. This paper outlines the research done and the methodology underpinning the user survey that was conducted to investigate design operators for multi-format (and multi-media) published maps.