Systemfordynamicvisualisationofchoroplethmaps.docVIP

System for dynamic visualisation of choropleth maps Lucie FRIEDMANNOVA Laboratory on Geoinformatics and Cartography, Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University in Brno, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 BRNO, Czech Republic E-mail: lucie@porthos.geogr.muni.cz Karel STANEK Laboratory on Geoinformatics and Cartography, Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University in Brno, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 BRNO, Czech Republic E-mail: karst@porthos.geogr.muni.cz 1. Introduction Choropleth maps belongs to most used type of thematic cartographic visualization in practice. Is very natural to visualize thematic data in relation with some predefined division of an observed area. From graphical variables point of view are choropleth maps very simple, key role play fill colors or hachure of defined areal units. Graphical representation of the unit borders is here only auxiliary feature for improving legibility. Units also play key role for localization and another localization features are often omitted. Creation and usage of choropleth maps looks relative easy, without surprise, this part of thematic mapping is most developed cartographic method in desktop GIS environment. But if we look closer on these implementations we can remark, that support for real automated choropleth map design is rather weak. We can to use some of implemented classification methods, to define unlimited number of classes, to use predefined color scales, to make scale between two limit colors, make color scale or hachure scale manually. Generalization is supported only indirectly, through scale limits for visualization of some group of features, so we can use different data at different zoom level. Of course purpose of desktop GIS is different then map design, but very often just thematic mapping is its main exploitation. In our lab processed project CASTOR is focused on automated thematic mapping from geodatabase. Objectives of project are to make certain equivalent of desktop GIS for