Geospatial Cognition and Visual Analytics Research Center

Abstract: Despite the now-ubiquitous two-dimensional (2D) electronic maps, three-dimensional (3D) globe viewers, or 3D geo-browsers such as Google Earth and NASA World Wind have gained much attention. However, the effect of such interactive 3D geo-browsers on spatial knowledge acquisition and decision making is not well known. This study aims to explore the potential benefits of using interactive 3D geo-browsers in three processes of pedestrian navigation (self-localization, spatial knowledge acquisition, and decision making) in digital environments. 继续阅读“Exploring Differences of Visual Attention in Pedestrian Navigation when using 2D Maps and 3D Geo-browsers”

Abstract: Current studies of map symbols mainly concentrate on the basic visual variables such as color, shape and size, which are commonly used in two dimensional maps. Recent technical advances and the ubiquitous use of smart devices have made three- dimensional (3D) maps (e.g., Google Maps and AutoNavi) increasingly popular. However, 3D visual variables, such as field of view (FOV) and viewing angle (VA) which play fundamental roles in visual information processing of 3D maps and spatial scenes, have been rarely investigated. 继续阅读“The Influence of FOV and Viewing Angle on the Visual Information Processing of 3D Maps”

Abstract: The morbidity and mortality of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) are increasing in Beijing, China. Previous studies have indicated an association between incidents of HFMD and weather factors. However, the seasonal influence of these factors on the disease is not yet understood, and their relationship with the enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackie virus A16 (CV-A16) viruses are not well documented. We analysed 84,502 HFMD cases from 2008 to 2011 in Beijing to explore the seasonal influence of weather factors (average temperature [AT], average relative humidity [ARH], total precipitation [TP] and average wind speed [AWS]) on incidents of HFMD by using a geographically weighted regression (GWR) model. 继续阅读“The Effects of Weather Factors on Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in Beijing”

Abstract: Motivated by growing heat-related morbidity and mortality in a warming climate, this paper assesses global heat health risk in order to understand the challenges to sustainability in the 21st century, using four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) of the HadGEM2-ES climate model and five Shared Socio-Economic Pathways (SSPs). Factors influencing global heat health risk were reviewed and risks were estimated based on heat hazard and socio-economic vulnerability. Hazard, vulnerability, risk and in particular, populations at different risk levels, were analyzed quantitatively at both global and regional scales. 继续阅读“New climate and socio-economic scenarios for assessing global human health challenges due to heat risk”

Abstract: This paper presents a new perspective of national power—sustainable national power (SNP)—emphasizing both the traditional comprehensive national power (CNP) and social and environmental sustainability. We propose a measurement to quantify the SNP based on the measurement of comprehensive national power and a sustainable adjusted index. In addition, density-equalizing maps are adopted to visualize the sustainable national power of countries in order to gain a better understanding for its current state and future development from a cartographic perspective.

继续阅读“Towards Measuring and Visualizing Sustainable National Power—A Case Study of China and Neighboring Countries”

Abstract: Cartographic animation has been developed and widely used in geo-visualisation and many other areas in recent years. The usability of animated maps is a key characteristic affecting map users’ effectiveness and efficiency in accomplishing tasks. In this paper, an eye tracking approach was proposed as a visual analytics method to evaluate the usability of animated maps by capturing participants’ eye movement data and quantitatively analysing the accuracy (effectiveness) and response time (efficiency) of users’ task completion. 继续阅读“Using Eye Tracking to Evaluate the Usability of Animated Maps”

Abstract: Colour impairments influences access to geographical information which is usually represented by colour maps. Three dimensions of colour: Hue, Saturation and Value (HSV), are intuitive and most critical visual variables in map design. In this paper, we specifically focus on colour deficiency of red-green impairments. A controlled experiment was designed and conducted to explore how three colour dimensions (HSV) affect the abilities of people with normal colour vision or with red-green impairments to distinguish colours in maps. 继续阅读“Assessing the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Map Colour for Colour Impairments Using an Eye-tracking”

Abstract: The research reported here is motivated by the now ubiquitous nature of web mapping services that provide remotely sensed imagery as a basemap option. Despite the popularity of imagery basemaps, few strategies have been suggested to enhance their readability. Here, we describe a controlled experiment leveraging the eye tracking method to explore the potential of enhancing remotely sensed imagery when used for cartographic presentation. 继续阅读“Eye tracking to explore the potential of enhanced imagery basemaps in web mapping”

Abstract: This research is motivated by the increasing threat of urban heat waves that are likely worsened by pervasive global warming and urbanization. Different regions of the city including urban, borderland and rural area will experience different levels of heat health risk. In this paper, we propose an improved approach to quantitatively assess Beijing’s heat health risk based on three factors from hazard, vulnerability and especially environment which is considered as an independent factor because different land use/cover types have different influence on ambient air temperatures under the Urban Heat Island effect. 继续阅读“Assessing Heat Health Risk for Sustainability in Beijing’s Urban Heat Island”