The Concept of Smart Maps as Information Mediator in GeoNet 4D 5th EC-GIS, Stresa The Concept of Smart Maps as Information Mediator in GeoNet 4D Gertraud Peinel & Thomas Rose

Information Mediation Information search, navigation, exploration, visualisation COTS Search Engines Keyword based search Hierarchical subjects Problem Boolean expressions Guess subject of interest Information exploration and encountering Information Visualisation Attributes of information (date, author, location,...) Attributes of search results (ranking, number of keywords, access,...) Latent Relations temporal or spatial account spatial relationships as one deduction source for information mediation

Objective Use spatial account of information Map based interface Information related to named regions on map Cartography Figure showing an object of interest Map signalises existence of referenced information Categorization of information in hierarchical subjects Meta data describing maps, regions, information sources, etc. Views of information spaces Smart Maps We need new interaction metaphors for solving the problem of..... Users: Ports and Environmental Research Agency How to ease access to information having these requirements. Solution: Using maps as interaction medium for information navigation and exploration. When we use the term portals, what is a portal anyway->

Smart Maps Sensitive Areas (also overlapping) Subject1 à Subject2 à .... Subject Tree Information categorisation Unter semantischen Netzen versteht man die Darstellung und Ableitung von Beziehung zwischen Informationsobjekten. Diese Abhängigkeiten lassen sich beispielsweise als gerichteter Graph darstellen, wobei in Abhängigkeit vom Relationstyp auch Vererbung und logische Ableitungen möglich sind. Semantische Netze basieren auf der Idee der sogenannten Concept Maps: “Concept-maps ("Begriffslandkarten"/Begriffsnetzdarstellungen) sind graphisch-verbale Darstellungen strukturierter Wissensinhalte. [JÜNGST] Der Begriff der Concept Maps kommt ursprünglich aus dem Bereich der Lerntheorie und wurde von Joseph Novak als Mittel zur Visualisierung des Wissens eines Menschen entwickelt [ABRAMS]. Die von Novak beschriebene Concept Map wird als Baum von Konzepten dargestellt, der ausgehend von einem beliebigen Wurzelkonzept (Begriff) in immer spezifischere Konzepte aufgeteilt wird. Die Knotenkonzepte stehen über Linkwörter in Beziehung. Konzepte werden mit Kästen umgeben, Linkwörter auf die knotenverbindenden Pfeile geschrieben. Mit dieser schlichten Darstellung können sehr komplexe Ideen und Fakten sehr einfach beschrieben werden, wobei auch vereinfachten Darstellung von Programmabläufen [KREMER]. Information Sources Distributed multimedia information sources Map Region Name Subject11 à Subject12 à .... Information Title121 Information Title122 ....

GeoNet 4D EC ESPRIT programme °22223 (DG III) July 1996 - September 1998 Application Focus Ports and portuary zones Application Domain industrial site and facility management, emergency response Objective Smart maps for information mediation Groupware functionalities Prototype GeoPro Users ! Mockup -> thin client Based on a thin client decision we designed and implemented the following system architecture ->

User Requirements Virtual Organisation: Ports and portuary zones Actors port authorities, maritime authorities, scientific organisations, pollution response organisations, emergency services, stevedooring companies, forwarders, shipping agents, territorial communities, customs, consultancies, meteo centres Data & Information portuary infrastructure maps, marine charts, ship routing information, environmental data (including coastal zone characteristics, risk analysis, hazardous material data, as well as models and simulations, analysis results, monitored information, specific event data), port management information (time tagged vessel location data, arrival and departure dates, cargo types and tonnage), ship manifests, cargo details and customs information, legal and contractual documentation, social, economic and dynamic data Information search, navigation, exploration, visualisation Emergency response Collaborative online information exchange on maps

Functionalities I Visualization of maps/interaction with maps Display of vector maps including Java drawings Display and selection of different layers Display of sensitive areas on mouse-over events Zooming and panning Display of longitudes and latitudes, zooming factor, size of drawings Display of spatially related information Popup-menus for the selection of categories and spatially related information Launching of viewers for the visualisation or download of information (e.g., plug-ins, external viewers, HTML Windows) Groupware Creation, connecting to and closing of sessions Joined editing (e.g. drawing on maps) Exchange of messages (chat) Other functions ->

Functionalities II Modification On-line map creation Online modification of user projects (user specific collection of layers) Online modification of layer colours and visibility of layers for projects On-line map creation Creation and deletion of projects Creation, loading and storing of drawings (as Java drawings or in vector format) Conversion of Java drawings in vector layers Administration (server site) General data population interfaces (including access to GIS functions like feature rendering) Miscellaneous Authentification (login) Server APIs to call external functions, e.g., bathymetry or animation tools So, for what applications or markets can a portal like this be used ->

GeoPro Client

Markets and Application Scenarios Facility Management Collaborative or Concurrent Engineering Corporate Portals Kiosks So what are the Accomplishments by GeoPro ->

Accomplishments of GeoPro Smart Maps Information visualisation, exploration, confirmation Search with “image of location in mind”, “walking on maps” Graphical access by named regions Ease of use Inexperienced users, systems with no or uncomfortable keyboards Views on information spaces Maps - subjects - information sources Various application domains Cartographic maps, CAD, blue prints, photos On top functions docked Groupware Bathymetry Database population with little GIS knowledge Spatial Perspective for Knowledge Asset Management General Question: How to support information navigation as support for knowledge management We can use the spatial account of information ->

Spatial Perspective for KAM most information have a temporal or spatial account Derive spatial relationship - visualise spatial relationship Intelligent assistance for geo-referencing and subject categorisation Automated Geographic Indexing Subjects Subject1 Subject2 Subject3 Subject4 Subject31 Subject32 Subject41 Distri-buted Multi-media Sources Regions Layered Map Clustering/Classification

Conclusion Future Plans Envision Intelligent assistance for database population Enhanced search capabilities Search by text for information sources and for subjects Selection of several regions Animation GPS, changes over time Envision Employing special GIS functions (neighbourhood, distance) Foster market for GIS Use of GIS for other knowledge asset management means This is the end of my presentation. I thank you for your attention. And now I am open to any questions and comments. Thanks again. -> -> -> ->

The Concept of Smart Maps as Information Mediator in GeoNet 4D Thank you !