Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
different runs in one graph and/or in the cube. With the cube, geography is included in the
comparison, and one can judge when and where during the runs progress was slow or fast
(steep or flat line segments).
Sport and time-geography have met before, for instance to analyse rugby matches (Moore
et al ., 2003). The space-time cube is most suitable for the display and analysis of paths
of (multiple) individuals, groups or other objects moving through space. However, other
possibilities exist, and it could also be used for real-time monitoring. To illustrate this let
us consider an orienteering event. The aim for participants in an orienteering run is to
navigate (run) as quickly as possible via a set of check points from start to finish with the
help of a map and compass. The participants all carry a special sensor that transmits every so
many minutes their location. This approach allows the organization to monitor the runners'
positions during the race. The check point can be expressed as stations, and the arrival at
check points by the participants can be generated and displayed near real time. The base
map displayed in the cube could be enhanced with a digital terrain model to be able to
judge the influence of the terrain on the race. After the race the space-time cube viewing
environment would allow the participants to analyse their run after the race and one could
even use the cube as an animation environment to replay the orienteering event as a whole
or for individual runners.
15.4.2 Sport in mountains (Google Earth)
The second example is also related to sport. The space-time cube in Figure 15.3 shows a
running track. However, this time the environment of the run was the Alps. This meant that
the terrain also had an influence on the run. How does one analyse this? The cube's base map
has contours, but it is difficult to visualize the terrain from those lines. One option would
be to introduce terrain in or below the cube. However, it was decided to export the space-
time cube data to Google Earth. Here the space-time path can be seen in combination with
the surrounding mountains. The path is not displayed as a single line but as a wall, otherwise
the path would have disappeared into the landscape. The lowest point of this path/wall
is the start of the run. An interesting question is how the viewer appreciates the combination
of time and height along the same axis. Seeing the landscape will not be problematic but
seeing the time path as a time path and not as a wall in the landscape is probably not as
straightforward as it is in the space-time cube itself.
15.4.3 Napoleon's Russian campaign (spatial and temporal zoom)
In this example the options of spatial and temporal zoom are introduced, as well as adding
attributes to the space-time path. Figure 15.4 illustrates Napoleon's Russian campaign of
1812. The data are based on Minard's famous map of this event (Kraak, 2003). The space-
time cube in Figure 15.4(b) shows the path of the total campaign. The thickness of the
path corresponds to the number of troops Napoleon had available. The path's footprint
shows the geography of the campaign. Compared with Minard's map the space-time path
clearly reveals that Napoleon and his troops stayed for a month in Moscow, something not
so obvious from the original map.
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