Visual Variables Of We-Map Symbols And Their Applications

With the rapid development of We Media,humans' demand for maps is increasing day by day in recent years.The forms of mass mapping appear in endlessly.We-map is one of the representative popular cartography in the We Media era.It is a product of geographic information demand in the We Media era.The we-map symbol determines whether the we-map is easy for users to read and use,whether the content can be fully expressed,whether it is effectively transmitted,etc.And the visual variables of the we-map are the theoretical basis of symbol design of the we-map.And it plays a vital role in we-map symbol design.Visual variables are a key part of the we-map in the design and expression process.The theory of visual variables is one of the core theories of cartography.It was first proposed and introduced in cartography by French scientist J.Bertin in 1967.Afterwards,many scholars at home and abroad have carried out deeper research on visual variables based on the characteristics of map symbols or the application of visual variables in thematic map production,making the application fields of maps gradually wider.However,the existing researches on visual variables is mostly aimed at commonly used electronic map symbols.The visual variable theory in the field of cartography is mainly for professional map cartographers,which requires higher mathematical foundations for producers.In addition,the content of commonly used maps is large and complete,and users have different requirements for map information,standardized maps not only increase the difficulty and time of user mapping,but also cannot provide map content corresponding to user needs conveniently.Therefore,the visual variables of commonly used maps are quite different from the visual variables of we-map symbols,and cannot be used directly as visual variables of we-maps.Research based on commonly-used map visual variables can't be directly used for the symbol design of we-map and the expression of we-map.In summary,the existing research results of visual variables are not completely applicable to we-maps,and can't meet the needs of mass users as producers to participate in we-map production.To solve the above problem,based on the existing related research results,this article mainly conducts the following research contents:(1)By comparing and analyzing the differences between we-maps and commonly used maps,the characteristics of we-maps that can be broadcasted,microcontent,and civilianization are obtained;in the same way,the concept of we-map symbols is proposed,and the characteristics of We-Maps symbols are obtained: simplification,diversification,personalization,modularization.(2)On the basis of(1),explore the relationship between visual variables and the two;put forward the concept of we-map visual variables and analyze their characteristics;combine the expression principles of we-map visual variables,and then obtain visual variable expression methods that conform to the characteristics of we-map and we-map symbols.(3)Considering the effects of users,environment,and features on the visual variables of the we-map,propose a we-map symbol design method and the steps of we-map visualization.(4)Apply the above theories and methods to examples to realize the symbol design and we-map expression of campus navigation maps and tourist maps;further use questionnaire surveys to verify the rationality of the we-map visual variables expression and application.After the above research,the results show that the expression method of we-map visual variables is easier to understand and accept by public users,which is conducive to the dissemination of we-map;this way of expression makes more public users willing to participate in the production of we-map in real time as we-map makers,and the same time we-map enhances the role of maps as the second language of geography.The map expressed by the theories and methods put forward in this research has more intuitive information.And the theories and methods proposed in this article can express We-Maps well and provide theoretical support for the applications of We-Maps.