Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
3. Engage the emotion: This objective is the most vague of the mentioned herein.
Latest research in cartography argues that the way data is presented effects the
emotions of users, such as trust (Skarlatidou et al.
2011
). In usability engineering
user satisfaction is also considered as one of the three parameters according to
ISO 4291-11. We regard this facet as crucial in cartography for the following
reasons:
a. to foster positive effects on look and feel; or
b. to raise attention and increase the recognition value; or
c. to foster trust in the information; or
d. to make it persuasive.
However, at this point we will not present straightforward rules as to emotion
can be engaged by means of color, besides the aspects of association and connota-
tion (cf. section “Color: Highly Associative and Emotional”). Further research is
needed to evaluate if the results of studies on psychology, online marketing etc. are
applicable to map reading and data interpretation as well. Nevertheless we would
like to stress the importance of this aspect and that it is worthwhile to spend time on
the choice or development of a color scheme.
Applicability to Noise Mapping
Strategic Noise Maps According the Environmental Noise
Directive
Noise mapping has been obligatory in Europe since 2002 when the European Union
adopted the
Environmental Noise Directive
(END). Noise maps have to be drawn
up every 5 years by the member states for major roads, railways, airports, and
agglomerations. Color represents the sound pressure level in the logarithmic scale
dB(A) as equal loudness contours (also isophones) in 5 dB classes. Although these
maps are the basis for informing the public [Directive 2002/49/EC, art. 9(2)]
examples throughout Europe lack appropriate and satisfactory cartographic presen-
tation. Especially the color scheme is subject of debate (Alberts and Alferez
2001
;
Schiewe and Weninger
2013
) [Fig.
1
(1a, b)]. It is based on the ISO 1996: 2 of 1987.
Although the scheme was left out when the ISO standard was revised in 2007 it is
still defined in the German Industrial Standard DIN 18005-2 and used in countries
such as Austria, Denmark, France, or Italy (Alberts and Alferez
2001
). The problem
of the scheme is that the colors cannot be put into a perceptual order because the
seven hues vary strongly in lightness and can therefore not be intuitively assigned to
dB(A) values. Also the signal color red and saturated yellow and orange are used in
the middle of the scheme which overemphasizes these values in contrast to the very
high values of the range. Moreover, the scheme includes red and green and is
therefore not suitable for people with CVD.
