Thematic uncertainty visualization usability – comparison of basic methods

The uncertainty of geographic data and visualization can be viewed from different angles. While the conceptual and theoretical base is quite wide, visualization tools and pilot projects are rare, and there exist only a few studies dealing with the user's ability to cope with uncertainty visualization efficiency. This article introduces two widely used uncertainty visualization methods – maps compared and maps combined – and focuses on the usability issues of these methods. A combination of the regular kriging interpolation method and interpolation uncertainty values was used for maps compared, while the whitening approach was applied for maps combined. During this study, we electronically interviewed and tested more than 100 participants with backgrounds in geography or computer science. Both the above-mentioned methods were tested on three different levels. On the first level, the intuitiveness of the whitening method was questioned. On the second level, both methods were compared taking into account the simple decoding of predicted values (interpolation results), uncertainty decoding and the decoding of both variables (uncertainty and interpolation results) at the same time. Finally, the ability to compare two or more values was tested for the same combinations. Both correctness and processing time were recorded in order to enable further statistical processing. The overall testing was performed within the web-interactive environment developed specifically for interdisciplinary (cartographic–psychology) purposes.

[1]  G. Gartner,et al.  Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography , 2006 .

[2]  James T. Townsend,et al.  Comparing Parallel and Serial Models : Theory and Implementation , 2009 .

[3]  G. Heuvelink,et al.  A generic framework for spatial prediction of soil variables based on regression-kriging , 2004 .

[4]  Ranjit Kumar,et al.  Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners , 1999 .

[5]  Václav Talhofer,et al.  Perceptions of Various Cartographic Representations Under Specific Conditions , 2010 .

[6]  M. Goodchild,et al.  Uncertainty in geographical information , 2002 .

[7]  Alex T. Pang,et al.  Approaches to uncertainty visualization , 1996, The Visual Computer.

[8]  Seth A. Herd,et al.  Serial visual search from a parallel model , 2005, Vision Research.

[9]  G. Isac.  Models and applications , 1992 .

[10]  Mark Gahegan,et al.  Visualizing Geospatial Information Uncertainty: What We Know and What We Need to Know , 2005 .

[11]  Terry A. Slocum.  Thematic Cartography and Geographic Visualization , 2004 .

[12]  B. Buttenfield,et al.  Guidelines for the Display of Attribute Certainty , 2000 .

[13]  S. Hope,et al.  Testing the effects of positional uncertainty on spatial decision‐making , 2007, Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci..

[14]  Beverley J. Evans,et al.  Dynamic display of spatial data-reliability: does it benefit the map user? , 1997 .

[15]  C.P.J.M. van Elzakker,et al.  The use of maps in the exploration of geographic data , 2004 .

[16]  Gerard B. M. Heuvelink,et al.  Analysing Uncertainty Propagation in GIS: Why is it not that Simple? , 2006 .

[17]  Susan L. Franzel,et al.  Guided search: an alternative to the feature integration model for visual search. , 1989, Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance.

[18]  Alan M. MacEachren,et al.  VISUALIZING UNCERTAIN INFORMATION , 1992 .

[19]  Gerard B. M. Heuvelink,et al.  A probabilistic framework for representing and simulating uncertain environmental variables , 2007, Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci..

[20]  Vojtech Lukas,et al.  MAPPING OF SOIL CONDITIONS IN PRECISION AGRICULTURE , 2009 .

[21]  S. Zlatanova,et al.  Geographic Information and Cartography for Risk and Crisis Management , 2010 .

[22]  Petr Kubíček,et al.  Cartographic Techniques for Adaptive Emergency Mapping , 2010 .

[23]  A. Smith,et al.  Research Methodology: A Step-by-step Guide for Beginners , 2012 .

[24]  A. Treisman,et al.  A feature-integration theory of attention , 1980, Cognitive Psychology.

[25]  Mark Gahegan,et al.  A typology for visualizing uncertainty , 2005, IS&T/SPIE Electronic Imaging.

[26]  H Egeth,et al.  Parallel versus serial processing in visual search: further evidence from subadditive effects of visual quality. , 1991, Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance.

[27]  Gary J. Hunter,et al.  Testing the Effects of Thematic Uncertainty on Spatial Decision-making , 2007 .

[28]  P. Atkinson,et al.  Uncertainty in remote sensing and GIS , 2002 .

[29]  Václav Talhofer,et al.  PERCEPTION OF VARIOUS CARTOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS UNDERSPECIFIC CONDITION , 2010 .

[30]  Tomislav Hengl,et al.  A Practical Guide to Geostatistical Mapping , 2009 .

[31]  Mario Fifić,et al.  Parallel versus serial processing and individual differences in high-speed search in human memory , 2004, Perception & psychophysics.

[32]  Barbara P. Buttenfield,et al.  Mapping Ecological Uncertainty , 2001 .

[33]  M. Goodchild,et al.  Spatial Uncertainty in Ecology , 2001, Springer New York.

[34]  Nahum D. Gershon.  Visualization of an Imperfect World , 1998, IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications.