3D cartographyglitz, glamour and sometimes useful

Kenneth Field

Cartography

Nepal

Uzbekistan

Length Area Volume

Perception of 3D pie charts

Scale

Roger Smith, Geographx

Scale

Direction

Roger Smith, Geographx

Scale

Direction

Focus

Roger Smith, Geographx

Scale

Direction

Focus

Occlusions

Roger Smith, Geographx

Scale

Direction

Focus

Occlusions

Sectioning

Roger Smith, Geographx

Difficulties with 3D

Comparisons

Estimation of value/volume

Perspective distortion

Symbol scale distortion

Directional inconsistencies

Focal point

Occlusions

Sectioning

Rotation disorientating

Technically challenging

Difficulties with 3D

Comparisons

Estimation of value/volume

Perspective distortion

Symbol scale distortion

Directional inconsistencies

Focal point

Occlusions

Sectioning

Rotation disorientating

Technically challenging

So why do we use 3D?…

Visually interesting

Real-world view

Better terrain recognition

Unconstrained

Lacks rules

Aesthetically exciting

Pushes the limits

More artistic/less graphic

Great for marketing and advertising

…because we’ve always used 3D

2300 B.C.

2005-present

and beyond…

and even further beyond…

120o120o

120o

110o120o

130o

109o

116o

135o

Axonometric

Jenny and Patterson (2007)

Smith (2012)

Parallel Orthographic (Axonometric)

Petrovic & Masera

2D

Topo drape

BW drape

3D Natural

distance height orientation navigation

Measurement

Object recognition

Topo drape

BW drape

3D Natural

building church road stream forest rocks

Map type preference

3D guidelines

• Use dictates structure - Promotional maps require less structure. Thematics require more structure

• Impact - 3D can be powerful, eye-catching and immersive. Use to support attention-grabbing needs

• Content - Simplification and Generalisation have never been more important. Clean. Simple. Functional

• Texture - Avoid flat colours…add textures

• Natural realistic not photorealistic

• Symbols - Mimetic symbols support easier recognition

• Typography - Still important but don’t overload. Rotate with scene if possible but not to be overbearing

• Projection - Use axonometric where possible to maintain scale particularly for analytical map functions

3D guidelines

• Sky and haze – avoid sky but include haze which aids depth cue perception

• Space-Time Cubes - Good for linear data, OK for point, poor for area…try not to overload or stack

• Z value does not have to depict height or time (get creative!)

• Scene control - Avoids occlusions by supporting multiple views but avoid too much rotation

• Bookmarks - Guide users…supports camera reposition without user control

• Interaction - Allow data to be recovered, overcomes measurement limits

• Narration - Guides and improves interpretation

3D guidelines

If the third dimension doesn’t encode something useful…

STICK WITH 2D

Thank youKenneth Field

www.arcgis.com Maps with Attitude