Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
depicted phenomena. In this phase, the creation of visualization is usually
influenced by an expert in the field and by a cartographer. The creator of visuali-
zations must, as part of selection of the most convenient expressive tool acquire
quite a few pieces of information from the expert, then analyze it and subsequently
decide the specific way of visualization. After the decision, the map including
uncertainty is created.
As part of selection of the expressive tools, the following questions can be asked
for instance:
• What is the character of the depicted data
• Which components of the quality of data will be visualized?
• Is there a metadata record for the data?
• What are the convenient expressive tools for the visualization of uncertainty?
• To depict uncertainty, which method shall be used: internal or external?
• Which specific methods for the visualization of uncertainty shall be selected?
Acquired expert knowledge is based on the education, gathered experience,
intelligence and intuition and communication with an expert. Efficient integration
of the mentioned parts leads to the creation of a decision and selection of carto-
graphic expression method for the visualization of uncertainty. Necessary presump-
tion is information on visualized data, in particular metadata description of the data.
Based on a detailed analysis of individual components of data quality, it is then
necessary to select convenient visual variables and be able to achieve by this
integration correct transfer of information concerning the quality of the data
using a specific visualization method or combination of methods, bearing the end
user in mind as main and key element of the whole concept in mind.
If individual recommendations for the visualization of uncertainty are not
maintained, the theory of perception is violated, so mistakes and inaccuracies
occur in the map outputs, which leads to incorrect interpretation of not only
individual parts, but the whole system of depicted data. From the point of view of
the demanding character of the visualization of uncertainty, purposeful and correct
map can only be created if three professionals (domain expert, cartographer and
geoinformation scientist) or a team of scientists cooperate, which is proven by
actual situations when the most elaborate visualizations of uncertainty can be found
in project intentions and mutual cooperation between teams of professionals.
The whole process of the visualization of uncertainty can be, based on studying
individual key aspects of the visualization of uncertainty, divided into a few basic
areas. Uncertainty is created in all parts of the process of cartographic communi-
cation and from the point of view of possible elimination, this is an element that
cannot be removed. According to the occurrence of uncertainty, we can talk about
the uncertainty during the presentation of spatial data due to differing quality of
data due to gathering, transformation and other factors. Visualization uncertainty
(the uncertainty of visualization) occurs due to a number of factors, when basic
processes concern the transfer of information into digital form and subsequent
presentation to the end users. Even the users themselves represent a source of
uncertainty, because perception is affected by a number of personality and other
