Spatia-temporal maps and cartographic communication

During the nineties important challenges to cartography will be related to mapping spatial data's multi-dimensional and temporal component. From a cartographic point of view it is necessary to look at the implications of the use of animated maps. The paper concentrates on communicative aspects of the spatio-temporal map. In order to obtain some concrete evidence of the response of users to spatio-temporal map displays a map user test was carried out. Animated maps and the respective static ones depicting the same subjects were presented to the users and questions were asked. The results indicate that although the correctness of answers is not influenced by the type of map (i.e. static or animated), the users perceive faster from animated map displays.