The Effect of Multiple Visual Variables on Size Perception in Geographic Information Visualization

Flow maps are a common form of geographic information visualization to show the movement of information from one location to another. Visual variables are essential elements of information representation. Previous studies have evaluated the perceived effectiveness of individual visual variables in a flow. However, the composition of flows usually includes multiple visual variables, and how to evaluate the usability of multiple visual variables has not been well documented. In this study, we investigated the influence of four visual variables (Thickness, Length, Brightness, and Hue) in flows on size perception. The results showed that length and brightness had a significant influence on the accuracy of size perception, while hue had no significance. Furthermore, multiple visual variables might involve a higher visual complexity and have a significant effect on response efficiency. In addition, we found that different references significantly affect the results of comparison judgments. The basic study could help improve the usability of flow maps in geographic information visualization.

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