Hashtag to Map: Transforming Zombie Data to Living MapsRex Cammack, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Paul Hunt - University of Nebraska at Omaha
In this research we are investigating how to turn data flowing through social media hoses into live maps. This research focuses on the graphic representation of location enabled social media data. The first aspect of this project is gathering and storing this zombie data. Decisions about infrastructure and implementation will be outlined regarding issues such as endless verses revolving data storage, spatial or non-spatial data storage, distributive verses aggregated data, raw verses contextual data, and server versus client processing. The results of these infrastructure decisions coupled with map and interactive design choices provide map users with the ability work with data that is more lifelike than raw zombie data. The underlining data flow and processing research will be demonstrated through a case study that looks at temporal and cumulative patterns of tweets about NCAA College football teams.
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An approach to automate block cartogram creation Jeff Blossom, Harvard UniversityCartograms that show a statistic in the form of equal sized blocks allow the map reader to quickly compare quantities across an area. However, at the time of this project, there existed no tool or algorithm that automatically converts a GIS shapefile into a block cartogram. This talk will detail an approach that produced a block cartogram for a Texas County shapefile using data manipulation in Excel and the Cartography Toolbox in ArcMap.
View Slides »Dynamic Terrain VisualizationKonstantin Käfer, Mapbox
Visualizing terrain in maps is vital in the outdoors, and also helps at understanding the greater context of the location. Rendering it dynamically in the web browser, or on the mobile device allows for great design flexibility to create a stunning looking map. In this talk, we're looking at the whole chain of DEM data sourcing, processing and distribution, as well as creating a terrain visualization with Mapbox GL that goes beyond classical hill shading by incorporating terrain openness for showing macroscopic terrain.
