scholarly journals Evaluating Young People’s Area Estimation of Countries and Continents

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lieselot Lapon ◽  
Philippe De Maeyer ◽  
Nina Vanhaeren ◽  
Sarah Battersby ◽  
Kristien Ooms
Keyword(s):  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Map Projection ◽  
Map Projections ◽  
Web Mapping ◽  
Mercator Projection ◽  
The World ◽  
Mental Map ◽  
The Web

For decades, cartographers and cognitive scientists have speculated about the influence of map projections on mental representations of the world. The development of Web 2.0 and web mapping services at the beginning of the 21st century—such as Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, and Baidu Map—led to an enormous spread of cartographic data, which is available to every Internet user. Nevertheless, the cartographic properties of these map services, and, in particular, the selected map projection or the Web Mercator projection, are questionable. The goal of this study is to investigate if the global-scale mental map of young people has been influenced by the increasing availability of web maps and the Web Mercator projection. An application was developed that allowed participants of Belgium and the US to scale the land area of certain countries and continents compared to Europe or the conterminous United States. The results show that the participants’ estimation of the actual land area is quite accurate. Moreover, an indication of the existence of a Mercator effect could not be discovered. To conclude, the young people’s mental map of the world does not appear to be influenced by a specific map projection but by personal characteristics. These elements are varied and require further analysis.

scholarly journals The Influence of Map Projections on People’s Global-Scale Cognitive Map: A Worldwide Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 196
Author(s):  
Lieselot Lapon ◽  
Kristien Ooms ◽  
Philippe De Maeyer
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Flat Surface ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Cognitive Map ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Map Projection ◽  
Map Projections ◽  
The World ◽  
Regular Contact

Map projections are required to represent the globe on a flat surface, which always results in distorted representations of the globe. Accordingly, the world maps we observe in daily life contexts, such as on news sites, in news bulletins, on social media, in educational textbooks or atlases, are distorted images of the world. The question raises if regular contact with those representations of the world deforms people’s global-scale cognitive map. To analyze people’s global-scale cognitive map and if it is influenced by map projections, a short playful test was developed that allowed participants to estimate the real land area of certain regions, countries, and continents. More than 130,000 people worldwide participated. This worldwide dataset was used to perform statistical analyses in order to obtain information on the extent that map projections influence the accuracy of people’s global-scale cognitive map. The results indicate that the accuracy differs with the map projection but not to the extent that one’s global-scale cognitive map is a reflection of a particular map projection.

Developing Trust for Electronic Commerce

2011 ◽  
pp. 39-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Fink
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Commerce ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Body Language ◽  
Internet Technology ◽  
The Internet ◽  
The Past ◽  
New Information ◽  
The World ◽  
The Web

While much attention is currently being devoted to solving technological challenges of the Internet, for example increasing the bandwidth on existing narrowband network platforms to overcome bottlenecks, little attention appears to be given to the nontechnical aspects. This has been a mistake in the past as human resistance to, or incompetence during, the introduction of new Information Technology (IT) often caused Information Systems (IS) to fail. By focusing on a broad range of technical and nontechnical elements early in the adoption of Internet technology, we have the opportunity to avoid the mistakes made in the past. The Internet has given rise to electronic commerce (e-commerce) through the use of the World Wide Web (Web). E-commerce, by its nature, offers enormous possibilities but in an uncontrolled environment. Therefore, for e-commerce to be accepted, trust must be established as soon as interaction with a Web site begins. In the virtual environment of the Web trust has become even more important because the parties are not in physical proximity. There are no handshakes or body language to be observed when closing a deal. Furthermore, jurisdiction is unclear. Developments on a global scale are required that provide assurance that e-commerce can be conducted in a ‘trusting’ manner.

scholarly journals Map Projection Education in General Cartography Textbooks: A Content Analysis

2018 ◽  
pp. 6-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fritz Kessler
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Programming Languages ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Map Projection ◽  
Map Projections ◽  
Early Twenty ◽  
Projection Properties ◽  
Mercator Projection ◽  
Recent Developments

As developments in the field of map projections occur (e.g., the deriving of a new map projection), it would be reasonable to expect that those developments that are important from a teaching standpoint would be included in cartography textbooks. However, researchers have not examined whether map projection material presented in cartography textbooks is keeping pace with developments in the field and whether that material is important for cartography students to learn. To provide such an assessment, I present the results of a content analysis of projection material discussed in 24 cartography textbooks published during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Results suggest that some material, such as projection properties, was discussed in all textbooks across the study period. Other material, such as methods used to illustrate distortion patterns, and the importance of datums, was either inconsistently presented or rarely mentioned. Comparing recent developments in projections to the results of the content analysis, I offer three recommendations that future cartography textbooks should follow when considering what projection material is important. First, textbooks should discuss the importance that defining a coordinate system has in the digital environment. Second, textbooks should summarize the results from experimental studies that provide insights into how map readers understand projections and how to choose appropriate map projections. Third, textbooks should review the impacts of technology on projections, such as the web Mercator projection, programming languages, and the challenges of projecting raster data. 

scholarly journals Given the problem of projection, are heat maps an oxymoron?

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Daniel Strebe
Keyword(s):  
Density Variation ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Continuous Measure ◽  
Area Measure ◽  
Heat Map ◽  
Heat Maps ◽  
Map Projection ◽  
Map Projections ◽  
Mercator Projection

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> With the proliferation of data analysis and visualization tools, we see more and more heat maps. But should we? Are such displays meaningful? At large scales, heat maps need not be controversial (though common tools can blight even simple cases). But what about small-scale maps? Is anyone thinking about the effects of projection on heat maps? How do map projections change the semantics of heat maps? What projections permit meaningful heat maps? How should heat maps be calculated in the presence of a map projection? We explore these problems and questions in this presentation to offer critique and advice.</p><p>For the purposes of this discussion, a heat map is a representation of the density or magnitude of a spatial phenomenon on two dimensions, treating the density or magnitude as a continuous measure whether or not the underlying phenomenon is continuous. If the data are too sparse in the presentation space, then the fiction of continuity ought to be avoided; a heat map would not be an appropriate visualization. While real world examples of heat maps that violate this principle are easy to find, we take the principle for granted and do not elaborate further here.</p><p>Unfortunately, there are several other ways to construct ineffective heat maps. One of the primary offenses is to ignore the effect of map projection on the presentation of density. It should be clear that a projection whose area measure varies widely across the presentation space necessarily distorts density. If the heat map is a presentation of density &amp;ndash; which most are &amp;ndash; then poor choice of projection would contradict the purpose of a heat map. The result would be a blatant fiction. Surprisingly, the Mercator projection often can be found in small scale heat maps, for the reason that the projection is common, is the default in many sets of tooling, and is sometimes the only projection available with the set of map construction tools. And yet, as far as density variation goes, a worse case than Mercator cannot be found among common projections.</p><p>Even if density remains constant across the map, a poor heat map could be generated if the analysis for the heat map mixes phenomenon space, which is geographic, with projected space, which is not. Common tools commit this fallacy. The result is that a phenomenon whose density diminishes radially (for example) from a hot point might show as concentric circles of decreasing intensity on the projected map, whereas we would expect elongations of the heat field in accordance with the projection’s distortion metric.</p><p>We conclude that, while it is possible to construct responsible heat maps of geographic data, there are several pitfalls. Among these pitfalls, we find that common tools conspire to assist in the presentation of fiction instead of fact.</p>

scholarly journals Quincuncial adaptive closed Kohonen (QuACK) map for the irregularly shaped comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

2019 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
pp. A1
Author(s):  
B. Grieger
Keyword(s):  
Map Projection ◽  
Map Projections ◽  
Complete Surface ◽  
Irregular Shapes ◽  
The World ◽  
Kohonen Map ◽  
Closed Structure ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Comet 67P ◽  
Irregular Body

Context. Standard global map projections cannot display the complete surface of a highly irregular body such as the Rosetta target comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko because different points on the surface can have the same longitude and latitude. Aims. We present a concept of generalized longitudes and latitudes that allows us to display the complete comet in generalized versions of any standard map projection. Methods. A self-organizing Kohonen map can be used to sample the surface of any 3D shape, but the unfolded map misses some area beyond its edges. Here, we combine two square grids into an inherently closed structure that really maps the complete surface of the comet. Beyond this, the closed map is topologically equivalent to the Peirce quincuncial projection of the world, which enables the definition of generalized longitudes and latitudes. Results. While the generalized version of any map projection does not exactly share the properties of the original, such as preservation of area or shape, it behaves very similar. In particular, the generalized version of the quincuncial projection behaves very well over most of the surface area and shares the tessellation properties with its original. Conclusions. The quincuncial adaptive closed Kohonen (QuACK) map and the concept of generalized longitudes and latitudes provide means for global maps of arbitrarily irregular shapes.

scholarly journals Our global-scale cognitive map: is it influenced by our place of residence or education?

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Lieselot Lapon ◽  
Kristien Ooms ◽  
Philippe De Maeyer
Keyword(s):  
Educational Level ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Cognitive Map ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Map Projections ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Mailing Lists ◽  
Geographical Elements ◽  
Topologic Relations

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Cognitive maps are defined as internal representations of the environment or of the globe. Several scientists of various disciplines (e.g. psychology, geography) have conducted cognitive research on issues related to maps aiming to understand how humans create and utilize mental representations of the earth. Concluding that several elements, such as wayfinding tasks, verbal explanations or maps contribute to the creation of these representations. Moreover, map projections of world maps and their distortions are presumed as a crucial factor when creating our global-scale cognitive map. Nevertheless, previous research (of Battersby and Montello in 2006 at University of Santa Barbara and Lapon in 2017 at Ghent University) could not provide any proof for the existence of an influence of map projections on our global-scale cognitive map. To go deeper into this topic, we want to research any other possible influence on our cognitive map. For example, does the place where you were educated or the place where you live and work has an impact on the development of your mental map? Are these influences defined by the age, the gender or the educational level of people?</p><p>There are several measures to define the accuracy of our cognitive map: e.g. the distances between places or cities; the topologic relations between places, countries or other geographical elements; the land areas of countries and continents. The test developed for this research focussed on the latter one: participants are requested to estimate the size of one country or continent compared to another one (Figure 1). Therefore, an interactive playful online test was developed. The test is available in eight languages and consists of an instructive movie, ten pairs of countries or continents to estimate, a survey and a feedback tool which gives a score.</p><p>This setup permits to collect data for our research, but it is also developed as a tool to create awareness about our misperception of region sizes among the participants. Furthermore, the test can easily be used in the classroom to introduce subjects such as map projections, cartography, world problems… By using personal contacts, mailing lists of the university, and social media, 100,000 fully completed tests were collected in two months’ time, from more than 150 different countries worldwide. For every estimation the relative estimated accuracy is calculated, this value gives an impression to what extent people over- or underestimate one region compared to another. Its absolute value is an indication of how good people are in estimating the real size of countries or continents. These values were used to calculate differences between the participants, and between groups of participants. Besides their gender, age, profession, educational level and cartographical background, people were asked to define the country where they received their education and the country where they are living now.</p><p>Nine countries, with more than 400 participants, spread over the globe, were selected for further analyses. The preliminary results show that there is a low variation between the averages for each country of education or place of living separately. So, it seems that the ability to estimate the size of countries or continents is not determined by the place where one lives or received one’s education. In contrast, personal characteristics are more defining for the accuracy of the estimations. General results indicate that on the one side men achieve a better score than women, and on the other side young people between 12 and 18 years old perform quite better, in contrast with the participants older than 71 years. Also, the people with a higher educational level or a broader cartographical background perform better.</p><p>The place where you grow up, get educated or where you live, does not have a substantial influence on the accuracy of the estimations. Surprisingly, personal characteristics and qualities seem to play a more determining role, worldwide, in the development of geographical knowledge or more specific, in the evolvement of the cognitive map. To support these preliminary results, the analyses will be extended and the group of participants further delimited. Furthermore, a geographical dataset with more than 100,000 participants offers plenty of possibilities that will be exploited in the upcoming months.</p>

New species list of plants and lichens of Russia for Turboveg for Windows

2020 ◽  
pp. 151-156
Author(s):  
A. P. Korablev ◽  
N. S. Liksakova ◽  
D. M. Mirin ◽  
D. G. Oreshkin ◽  
P. G. Efimov
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Russian Literature ◽  
Web Page ◽  
Species List ◽  
Internet Resources ◽  
The World ◽  
A New Species ◽  
The Web

A new species list of plants and lichens of Russia and neighboring countries has been developed for Turboveg for Windows, the program, intended for storage and management of phytosociological data (relevés), is widely used all around the world (Hennekens, Schaminée, 2001; Hennekens, 2015). The species list is built upon the database of the Russian website Plantarium (Plantarium…: [site]), which contains a species atlas and illustrated an online Handbook of plants and lichens. The nomenclature used on Plantarium was originally based on the following issues: vascular plants — S. K. Cherepanov (1995) with additions; mosses — «Flora of mosses of Russia» (Proect...: [site]); liverworts and hornworts — A. D. Potemkin and E. V. Sofronova (2009); lichens — «Spisok…» G. P. Urbanavichyus ed. (2010); other sources (Plantarium...: [site]). The new species list, currently the most comprehensive in Turboveg format for Russia, has 89 501 entries, including 4627 genus taxa compare to the old one with 32 020 entries (taxa) and only 253 synonyms. There are 84 805 species and subspecies taxa in the list, 37 760 (44.7 %) of which are accepted, while the others are synonyms. Their distribution by groups of organisms and divisions are shown in Table. A large number of synonyms in the new list and its adaptation to work with the Russian literature will greatly facilitate the entry of old relevé data. The ways of making new list, its structure as well as the possibilities of checking taxonomic lists on Internet resources are considered. The files of the species list for Turboveg 2 and Turboveg 3, the technique of associating existing databases with a new species list (in Russian) are available on the web page https://www.binran.ru/resursy/informatsionnyye-resursy/tekuschie-proekty/species_list_russia/.

WTO SUCCESSOR TO GATT

1997 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-187
Author(s):  
Arif Sultan
Keyword(s):  
North Africa ◽  
European Economic Community ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Economic Community ◽  
Land Area ◽  
The North ◽  
Muslim Countries ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The World ◽  
The Developed Countries

Within a short span of time a number of economic blocs have emergedon the world horizon. In this race, all countriedeveloped, developingand underdeveloped-are included. Members of the North America FreeTrade Agreement (NAITA) and the European Economic Community(EEC) are primarily of the developed countries, while the EconomicCooperation Organization (ECO) and the Association of South EastAsian Nations (ASEAN) are of the developing and underdevelopedAsian countries.The developed countries are scrambling to create hegemonies throughthe General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT). In these circumstances,economic cooperation among Muslim countries should be onthe top of their agenda.Muslim countries today constitute about one-third of the membershipof the United Nations. There are around 56 independentMuslim states with a population of around 800 million coveringabout 20 percent of the land area of the world. Stretchingbetween Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, the Muslim Worldstraddles from North Africa to Indonesia, in two major Islamicblocs, they are concentrated in the heart of Africa to Indonesia,in two major blocs, they are concentrated in the heart of Africaand Asia and a smaller group in South and Southeast Asia.'GATT is a multilateral agreement on tariffs and trade establishing thecode of rules, regulations, and modalities regulating and operating internationaltrade. It also serves as a forum for discussions and negotiations ...

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