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The card sorting method for map symbol design

  • R.E. Roth*
  • , B.G. Finch
  • , J.I. Blanford
  • , A. Klippel
  • , A.C. Robinson
  • , A.M. MacEachren
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Here, we describe the potential utility of the card sorting method for structuring and refining map symbol sets. Card sorting has been proposed as a method for delineating categories by researchers and practitioners in a variety of disciplines due to its ability to identify and explicate real or perceived structures in an information space; however, there is little reported application of card sorting within Cartography. To span this gap, we offer a framework that prescribes the appropriate methodological parameters for card sorting according to the stage in the design process and the goals of the study. We then illustrate the utility of card sorting for Cartography by describing a closed sorting study we conducted on the ANCI INCITS 415-2006 emergency mapping symbol standard. Our approached helped us identify several barriers to using the symbol standard, including areas of conceptual overlap among the categories in the standard, potentially missing categories from the standard, and individual symbols in the standard that are consistently misclassified.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGeospatial Data and Geovisualization 2011
Subtitle of host publicationEnvironment, Security, and Society Special Joint Symposium of ISPRS Commission IV and AutoCarto 2010 in conjunction with ASPRS/CaGIS 2010 Special Conference
PublisherInternational Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS)
Number of pages12
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2010
Externally publishedYes
EventSpecial Joint Symposium of ISPRS Commission IV and AutoCarto 2010 - Orlando, United States
Duration: 15 Nov 201019 Nov 2010

Publication series

NameInternational Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences - ISPRS Archives
PublisherISPRS
Volume38, Part 4
ISSN (Print)1682-1750

Conference

ConferenceSpecial Joint Symposium of ISPRS Commission IV and AutoCarto 2010
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando
Period15/11/1019/11/10
Otherin Conjunction with ASPRS/CaGIS 2010 Special Conference

Keywords

  • Ansi Incits 415-2006
  • Card sorting
  • Emergency mapping
  • Map design
  • Map symbology
  • Symbol standards
  • Usability engineering
  • User-centered design
  • ITC-CV

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