Abstract:Remotely sensed images are important sources of information for a range of spatial problems. Air photo interpretation emerged as a discipline in response to the need to develop a systematic method for analysis of reconnaissance photographs during World War I. Remote sensing research has focused on the development of automated methods of image analysis, shifting focus away from human interpretation processes. However, automated methods are far from perfect and human interpretation remains an important component of image analysis. One important source of information concerning human image interpretation process is textual guides written within the discipline. These early texts put more emphasis than more recent texts, on the details of the interpretation process, the role of the human in the process, and the cognitive skills involved. In the research reported here, we use content analysis to evaluate the discussion of air photo interpretation in historical texts published between 1922 and 1960. Results indicate that texts from this period emphasized the documentation of relationships between perceptual cues and images features of common interest while reasoning skill and knowledge were discussed less so. The results of this analysis provide a framework of expert image skills needed to perform image interpretation tasks. The framework is useful for informing the design of semi-automated tools for performing analysis.

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Maps are a primary means for supporting information sharing and collaboration in emergency management and crisis situations. While a variety of formalized map symbol standards for emergency contexts exist, they have not been widely adopted by mapmakers. Informal symbol conventions are commonly used within emergency management stakeholder groups, but until now there has not been a flexible mechanism for discovering, sharing, and previewing these symbol sets among mapmakers. In this paper, we describe the design and development of the Symbol Store, a visually enabled, webbased interactive tool intended to help mapmakers share point symbols. The Symbol Store allows users to browse symbols by keyword, category tags, and contributors. It also allows for symbols to be previewed on realistic maps prior to download. An initial prototype of the Symbol Store was evaluated by flood mapping experts from the State of California, and the results of this user study led to multiple refinements now implemented in the public version of Symbol Store located at www.symbolstore.org.

Emergency management in transnational contexts can be a challenging endeavor. Cultural and language differences among multiple countries can hinder the exchange of information during dynamic emergency response. With increasing international threats and the explosion of near real-time data availability, the emergency response process has become mired in complex communication practices. Maps have the potential to provide an intuitive medium for communication and means for establishing situation awareness during emergency events. The development of map symbol standards is one method for improving communication efficiency. This paper evaluates how the design of two national emergency management map symbol sets (American ANSI and Canadian EMS) influences map-readers' conception of represented information.

Maps are powerful modes of communication between scientists and novices. Cartographer Erwin Raisz understood just how powerful maps could be for visualizing the broad landscape. His physiographic method of landscape representation merged pictorial representation with large-scale cartography to generate some of the most vivid images of the physical landscape in the early part of the 20th century. Today, despite our ability to represent the landscape with increasingly realistic representations, there is a fondness for those traditional style line drawings. Thus, it is important to take time and reflect on the impact of Raisz’s physiographic map on modern terrain representation. Here we look at Raisz’s own body of work and his influence on modern cartographers, and finally we look at non-photorealistic representation’s potential for replicating early line drawing methods like Raisz’s.