Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Assessing Cartographic Products for Visual
Usability
William Cartwright
Introduction
A project was undertaken to review a representative sample of the mapping
products provided via the Department of Sustainability and Environment [recently
re-named the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI)], Victoria
Australia. It covered the maps provided via the Department
s Web sites with regard
'
to
good practice
related to equity of accessibility. The project covered:
'
'
Existing map design specifications for Web-delivered products;
Overview of the suitability for using Web-delivered mapping resources, such as
Bing
®
or
Google Maps
®
,as
for generating mash-up mapping
applications (w.r.t. equity and accessibility); and
General recommendations of further activities/actions needed to ensure usable
maps
foundations
'
'
The Department provides access to its Web mapping products via a Web portal.
This enables potential users to gain immediate access to appropriate mapping
products. Users require access to the Internet and the ability to use a Web browser
and interact with the mapping products presented. Also, where printable versions of
the maps are made available, users need access to a colour printer to be able to print
and then use printed versions of the map.
Evaluations were conducted to assess the general designs and map delivery. The
maps were assessed according to an evaluation proforma developed expressly for
this purpose. As well as general design elements, each map was evaluated for their
usability by the colour blind.
