A Proposed World Standard forCartographic Symbolization of Landmines,

Minefields, and Mine Actions

John Kostelnick Jerry Dobson Steve Egbert Matt DunbarUniversity of Kansas

Department of Geography

Lawrence, KS U.S.A.

Alan ArnoldGeneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining

Geneva, Switzerland

ESRI International User Conference

San Diego, CA

August 9, 2006

Objectives

To investigate the need for a common set ofcartographic symbols to support humanitariandemining.

To research and catalog existing map symbols usedby humanitarian and military organizations to depictlandmines, minefields, and mine actions.

To develop and propose an improved set ofcartographic symbols that may be implemented inIMSMA for possible standardization.

Standardized Map Symbols

Benefits of Standardized Symbols for Demining

Consistent method for marking hazards on maps

Increase efficiency in operations

Aid in the exchange of maps and informationbetween organizations

Other standards for humanitarian demining,International Mine Action Standards (IMAS)

Symbol Inventory

Maps and symbols collected from severalsources

Humanitarian Demining Organizations

Military Organizations

Map Libraries

GIS Vendors

Sample Humanitarian Demining Symbols

Uncleared Minefield (Area)

Cleared Minefield (Area)

Cleared Minefield (Point)

Uncleared Minefield (Point)

BHMACCROMACAMAE

AMAE = Albanian Mine Action Executive

CROMAC = Croatian Mine Action Centre

BHMAC = Bosnia-Herzegovina Mine Action Centre

New Humanitarian Demining Symbol Set

≈ 200 total symbols

Point, line, and polygon symbols

2 True Type (.ttf) Fonts 1 ESRI Style (.style) File

Symbols integrated into IMSMA 4.X

Symbols may be integrated into ArcMap

New Humanitarian Demining Symbol Set

Hazards

Processes

Hazard Reductions Impact Survey Technical Survey Clearances Completion Survey

Mine Risk Education Completion Survey

Accidents

Victims

Places/Locations

Organisations

True Type Fonts

Defining Symbols with Symbol Property Editor

ESRI Style File

Rationale for Symbol Set

Hazard symbols clearly imply danger and should be similarto landmine hazard signs and markers

2. Symbols should be intuitive

3. Symbols should cross cultural barriers whenever possible

4. Symbols should be flexible to display both general andspecific information

5. Symbols should adhere to existing standards as feasible

Rationale for Symbol Set

6. Symbols should be based on appropriate colors

7. Symbols should print and photocopy in black and white

8. Symbols should be legible when displayed on topographicmaps, aerial photographs/orthophotos, and satellite images

9. Symbol set should accommodate multiple map scales

10. Symbols should adhere to symbolization limitations ofcommon GIS software

Rationale for Symbol Set

Hazard symbols should clearly imply dangerand should be similar to landmine hazardsigns and markers

May improve recognition of hazards on maps

IMAS 08.40 “Marking Mine and UXO Hazards”

Minefield Hazard Marker Signs

IMAS 08.40, 2nd edition, p. 7IMAS 08.40, 2nd edition, p. 8

Minefield sign in Chile Minefield sign in BosniaMinefield sign in Africa

Hazard Map Symbols

Minefield Hazard Marker SignsMinefield Hazard Marker Signs Hazard SymbolsHazard Symbols

Rationale for Symbol Set

Symbols should be intuitive

Intuitive, pictorial icons developed whenever possible

Icons may be especially useful for symbols that mustspan culture and language differences

Intuitive Symbols for Clearance Operations

Manual Clearance Mine Dog Clearance

Mechanical Clearance

Intuitive Symbols for Clearance Operations

Manual Clearance Mine Dog Clearance

Mechanical Clearance

Rationale for Symbol Set

4. Symbols should be flexible to display bothgeneral and specific information

Tiered or hierarchical structure

Creates a logical order to symbols

Tiered or Hierarchical Structure

Graphic AttributesGraphic Attributes

Point SymbolPoint Symbol Area SymbolArea Symbol

IconIcon

Fill ColorFill Color

Frame/BorderFrame/Border

ShapeShapeOutlineOutline IconIcon

Fill ColorFill Color

Fill PatternFill Pattern

Tiered or Hierarchical Structure

Hazard Hazard

Tiered or Hierarchical Structure

Hazard

Minefield

Hazard

Minefield

Tiered or Hierarchical Structure

Hazard

Minefield

Grenades

Hazard

Minefield

Rationale for Symbol Set

5. Symbols should adhere to existing standardsas feasible

Homeland Security Working Group symbol set

NATO, APP-6A, “Military Symbols for Land Based Systems"

Landmine Sea Mine Rocket Missile

School Police Station Airport

Rationale for Symbol Set

6. Symbols should be based on appropriatecolors

Appropriate colors for danger and safety

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)safety color guidelines

Color-blind friendly color schemes

Rationale for Symbol Set

7. Commonly used symbols should print andphotocopy in black and white

Point symbols = border

Area symbols = center symbol

Center Icons for Printing Symbols in Black andWhite

Center Icons for Printing Symbols in Black andWhite

Rationale for Symbol Set

Symbols should be legible when displayed ontopographic maps, aerial photographs,orthophotos, and satellite images

Transparent fills for area symbols

Background color for point symbols

Symbols on Topographic Map

Rationale for Symbol Set

9. Symbol set should accommodate multiple mapscales

Point symbols for overview maps of a larger area

Area symbols for more detailed maps of a smallerarea

Symbols Varying with Map Scale

Zoom InZoom Out

Example Map Created in ArcMap 9.1

Example Map Created in ArcMap 9.1

Symbols in IMSMA 4.1

Symbols in IMSMA 4.1

Symbols in IMSMA 4.1

Symbols in IMSMA 4.1

Symbols in IMSMA 4.1

Symbols in IMSMA 4.1

Humanitarian Demining Symbology Report

www.gichd.ch

Conclusions

A common set of map symbols can fill animportant void in humanitarian demining

Map symbols should be designed in a mannerto support safety

Map symbols should be flexible for multipleuses in humanitarian demining