Empirical Studies on the Visual Perception of Spatial Patterns in Choropleth Maps

Schiewe, Jochen

doi:10.1007/s42489-019-00026-y

Cited by 34 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…“An essential purpose of choropleth maps is the visual perception of spatial patterns […]. This requires an effective and as intuitive as possible comparison of color values between different regions” (Schiewe 2019 ). This contribution was supposed to open one’s eyes for the specific nature of choropleth maps.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For more in-depth cartographic research on the specific user perception of choropleth map variables one should perform and evaluate specific user tests to identify the optimal choropleth map composition for a specific applications. For instance, Schiewe ( 2019 ) empirically investigated the visual perception of spatial patterns in choropleth maps. Brewer and Pickle ( 2002 ) present an early example on the evaluation of methods for classifying epidemiological data on choropleth maps.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trustworthy COVID-19 Mapping: Geo-spatial Data Literacy Aspects of Choropleth Maps

Jürgens

2020

KN J. Cartogr. Geogr. Inf.

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Since the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic is a global phenomenon, many scientists and research organizations create thematic maps to visualize and understand the spatial spread of the disease and to inform mankind. Nowadays, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and web mapping technologies enable people to create digital maps on demand. This fosters the permanent update of COVID-19 map products, even by non-cartographers, and their publication in news, media and scientific publications. With the ease and speed of map-making, many map creators seem to forget about the fundamental principles of good and easy-to-read thematic choropleth maps, which requires geo-spatial data literacy. Geo-spatial data literacy is an important skill, to be able to judge the reliability of spatial data, and to create ingenuous thematic maps. This contribution intends to make people of disciplines other than those that are map-related aware of the power of thematic maps and how one can create trustworthy thematic maps instead of misleading thematic maps which could, in a worst case, lead to misinterpretation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trustworthy COVID-19 Mapping: Geo-spatial Data Literacy Aspects of Choropleth Maps

Jürgens

2020

KN J. Cartogr. Geogr. Inf.

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“…In our case, we used these tools—from the data of the years available in SSIBase—to generate the mapping of the total number of people who died of autochthonous malaria in Spain (year 1949) and the total number of people infected with imported malaria (2010–2018). In these maps, we used the cartographic choropleth display method (Schiewe 2019 ). The maps were also used to represent data on the provincial population density and the area occupied by intensive greenhouse crops in the different Spanish regions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers of autochthonous and imported malaria in Spain and their relationship with meteorological variables

Sousa

Alba

Vetter³

et al. 2021

Euro-Mediterr J Environ Integr

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Since the early twentieth century, the intensity of malaria transmission has decreased sharply worldwide, although it is still an infectious disease with a yearly estimate of 228 million cases. The aim of this study was to expand our knowledge on the main drivers of malaria in Spain. In the case of autochthonous malaria, these drivers were linked to socioeconomic and hygienic and sanitary conditions, especially in rural areas due to their close proximity to the wetlands that provide an important habitat for anopheline reproduction. In the case of imported malaria, the main drivers were associated with urban areas, a high population density and international communication nodes (e.g. airports). Another relevant aspect is that the major epidemic episodes of the twentieth century were strongly influenced by war and military conflicts and overcrowding of the healthcare system due to the temporal overlap with the pandemic flu of 1918. Therefore, military conflicts and overlap with other epidemics or pandemics are considered to be drivers of malaria that can—in a temporary manner—exponentially intensify transmission of the disease. Climatic factors did not play a relevant role as drivers of malaria in Spain (at least directly). However, they did influence the seasonality of the disease and, during the epidemic outbreak of 1940–1944, the climate conditions favored or coadjuvated its spread. The results of this study provide additional knowledge on the seasonal and interannual variability of malaria that can help to develop and implement health risk control measures. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41207-021-00245-8.

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“…From the data of the years available in SSIBase [14], using GIS techniques, we generated maps, in absolute numbers, of the total cases of people killed and infected by autochthonous malaria in Spain. In the maps, which show the distribution of deaths and infections by malaria, we used the cartographic choropleth display method [32]. In this way, we can integrate and analyse sources of information, including the main drivers of the disease, for the whole of Spain.…”

Section: Spatial Distribution Of Malaria In Spain Throughout the 20thmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Malaria in Spain in a Global Change Context

Sousa

Alba

Vetter³

et al. 2020

Atmosphere

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Malaria is one of the most cited vector-borne infectious diseases by climate change expert panels. Malaria vectors often need water sheets or wetlands to complete the disease life cycle. The current context of population mobility and global change requires detailed monitoring and surveillance of malaria in all countries. This study analysed the spatiotemporal distribution of death and illness cases caused by autochthonous and imported malaria in Spain during the 20th and 21st centuries using multidisciplinary sources, Geographic Information System (GIS) and geovisualisation. The results obtained reveal that, in the 20th and 21st centuries, malaria has not had a homogeneous spatial distribution. Between 1916 and 1930, 77% of deaths from autochthonous malaria were concentrated in only 20% of Spanish provinces; in 1932, 88% of patients treated in anti-malarial dispensaries were concentrated in these same provinces. These last data reveal the huge potential that anti-malarial dispensaries could have as a tool to reconstruct historical epidemiology. Spanish autochthonous malaria has presented epidemic upsurge episodes, especially those of 1917–1922 and 1939–1944, influenced by armed conflict, population movement and damaged health and hygiene conditions. Although meteorological variables have not played a key role in these epidemic episodes, they contributed by providing suitable conditions for their intensification. After the eradication of autochthonous malaria in 1961, imported malaria cases began to be detected in 1973, reaching more than 700 cases per year at the end of the second decade of the 21st century. Therefore, consistent and detailed historical studies are necessary to better understand the drivers that have led to the decline and elimination of malaria in Europe and other temperate countries.

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Empirical Studies on the Visual Perception of Spatial Patterns in Choropleth Maps

Cited by 34 publications

References 22 publications

Trustworthy COVID-19 Mapping: Geo-spatial Data Literacy Aspects of Choropleth Maps

Trustworthy COVID-19 Mapping: Geo-spatial Data Literacy Aspects of Choropleth Maps

Drivers of autochthonous and imported malaria in Spain and their relationship with meteorological variables

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Malaria in Spain in a Global Change Context

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