Method to optimize the visualization of a map's projection based on data and tasks
First Claim
1. A system for determining and generating an optimal map projection for a geographical extent, the system comprising:
- a computer system comprising;
one or more computer processors, one or more computer-readable storage media, and program instructions stored on one or more of the computer-readablestorage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions, comprising;
accepting a user request for a map for a geographical extent for display using a computer;
determining a set of elements that are contained within the geographical extent, using the computer;
building a list of shape files for the elements, each shape file being constructed based on a map projection;
ranking the shape files by comparing an area of the shape file to a geographical area of the shape file'"'"'s associated element;
re-rank the shape files by comparing a great circle distance between a center of the area of the shape file and a geographical center of the shape file'"'"'s associated element;
re-rank the shape files by comparing azimuth errors for a set of contained points in the shape associated with each of the shape files; and
selecting a map projection that minimizes differences in area and distance as compared to the geographical extent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for generating a map using a computer is based on data and weighted factors to minimize corresponding projection distortions. The method and system includes determining visualization goals from analyzing a set of datasets for a map using the computer. A set of visualization characteristics are calculated for each dataset based on the visualization goals using the computer. The visualization characteristics are analyzed to weight factors for each of the datasets. Each of the weighted factors is adjusted based on the relevance of each of the datasets for visualization of the map. An aggregate vector of weighted factors is calculated based on all of the datasets, and the map for visualization is generated based on the aggregate vector of weighted factors.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for determining and generating an optimal map projection for a geographical extent, the system comprising:
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a computer system comprising;
one or more computer processors, one or more computer-readable storage media, and program instructions stored on one or more of the computer-readablestorage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions, comprising; accepting a user request for a map for a geographical extent for display using a computer; determining a set of elements that are contained within the geographical extent, using the computer; building a list of shape files for the elements, each shape file being constructed based on a map projection; ranking the shape files by comparing an area of the shape file to a geographical area of the shape file'"'"'s associated element; re-rank the shape files by comparing a great circle distance between a center of the area of the shape file and a geographical center of the shape file'"'"'s associated element; re-rank the shape files by comparing azimuth errors for a set of contained points in the shape associated with each of the shape files; and selecting a map projection that minimizes differences in area and distance as compared to the geographical extent. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system to generate a map based on data and weighted factors to minimize corresponding projection distortions, the system comprising:
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a computer system comprising;
one or more computer processors, one or more computer-readable storage media, and program instructions stored on one or more of the computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions, comprising;determining visualization goals from analyzing a set of datasets for a map using a computer; calculating a set of visualization characteristics for each dataset based on the visualization goals using the computer, wherein the calculating of a set of visualization characteristics includes determining elements contained within a geographical extent; analyzing the visualization characteristics to weight factors for each of the datasets; adjusting each of the weighted factors based on relevance of each of the datasets for visualization of the map; calculating an aggregate vector of weighted factors based on all of the datasets; generating the map for visualization based on the aggregate vector of weighted factors; building a list of shape files for each of the elements, each shape file being constructed based on a map projection, wherein the weighted factors consider the shape files of each of the elements; ranking the shape files by;
comparing an area of the shape file to a geographical area of the element associated with the shape file;
comparing a great circle distance between the center of the shape area and the geographical center of the shape file'"'"'s associated element; and
comparing azimuth errors for a set of contained points in a shape associated with each of the shape files; andselecting a map projection that minimizes the differences in area and in distance between a plurality of projections and geographical measures, and minimizes aggregated azimuth errors. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification