Spatial Synthesis: The Evidence of Cartographic Example: Hierarchy and Centrality

Abstract

The cartographic example presented below displays principles of spatial synthesis as they focus on centrality and hierarchy.

* Classical example: The dot density map employs a nested hierarchy of regions to convert information about dots to information about regions; in so-doing, the clusters of dots emerge as centers of activity associated with the nature of the underlying data from which the dots were extracted. * Contemporary example: The interactive online map may employ a nested hierarchy that, in a single map, offers not only information of the sort available in a dot density map but also a host of other previously impossible features, as well. It may be linked to the underlying database in a manner that also permits o scale transformation o views of the database corresponding to small regions on the map o searches of the underlying database.

Interactive capability can be far more than an interesting visualization tool; it can be one offering synthesis of spatial information at a level far greater than that available with any classical map.