Eight visual variables ‘Can you envision patterned polat symbols that vary in spacing? Do you recall the look of line symbols that vary in arrangement? With eight visual variables and three types of features, you have twenty-four basi ways to vary symbols for representing map data. Because there are many combinations, this chapter includes a pair of tables that provide you with a summary ‘view of point, line, and area features represented with symbols that vary in color, size, shape, and pattem. The ‘visual variables organized in these tables are the following: «lightness spacing «saturation, =hue shape + orientation arrangement Visual variables for ordered data Size, lightness, spacing, and saturation are the visual ables well suited to representing ordered data—cither rank-ordered data or numerical amounts (lable 0.1). These visual variables establish hierarchies among features Additional visual variables used for symbolizing ‘quantitative data are perspective height, transparency, and crispness (Focus). Table 9.4 ‘Table 0.1 These twelve examples show each visual variable (rows) sulted for representing ordered data applied to point, Tine, and area features (columns) with simple demonstration maps, Map topies are listed below each map segment. (All ofthe symbols on these map segments were created In ArcGIS.) ‘Table 9.2 These twelve examples show each visual variable suited for representing qualitative data applied to point, line, and area features with simple demonstration ‘maps. Map topies are listed below each map segment. (All, of the symbols on these map segments were ereated in AreGIS,) Visual variables for qualitative data Hue, shape, orientation, and arrangement are the visual variables well suited to categorizing features (lable 9.2). They represent qualitative differences that are not ordered. Symbol angle may also be useful for representing some types of quantitative data, such as direction or time. Multivariate map symbols ‘Maps excel at showing relationships between data distibutions. You can symbolize multiple variables by combining the perceptual dimensions of color—hue, lightness, saturation—in arrangements such as sequential- sequential, diverging-diverging, and sequential-qualitative (Ghantex_8). A fast look at relationships between data ‘variables ean be made by setting one transparent over the other, also deseribed in chapter 8. This seetion introduces a more complete perspective on multivariate mapping, Visual variables may be overlaid or combined into bivariate symbols, Bivariate symbols each vary by two data variables ‘using two or more visual variables. In chapter § you see color symbols that vary by hue and lightness, for example; in this chapter, the additional visual variables are added to this approach.Overlaid symbols 1m addition to overlaying one partly transparent color scheme on another, pattern symbols are well suited to overlay on color symbols. For example, figure_9,27 shows a sucessful combination of thin lines over mortality data to signal that enumeration units have sparse data and thus dleath rates are less reliable ealelations. Each Tne in the pattern is a thin white and thin black line offset slightly fom each other to build a pair. The white-black contrast ensures a visible texture regardless of background. The ‘white line also contrasts with dark backgrounds and the dark line contrasts with light backgrounds. This pattern provides an overlay that is visually separable from the diverging color scheme. Tyee Ose Figure 9.27 Multivariate map with black-white line pattern overlay, alerting to sparse data, on a diverging scheme showing age-adjusted death rates by HSA (hospital service area), 1988-1992, from pneumonia and influenza in Black females. The legend for this map is arranged well and provides extensive annotation for map interpretation. Sos: (CDCINCHS). 996, United States Mort A second overlay of pattern shows a diverging pattern of dots that contrast well with the sequential scheme for the primary data variable (Gsuie_9.28). Both lightness and arrangement vary for this symbol—black dots in a regular ‘grid mark high certainty data for temperature change and white dots with an irregular arrangement show moderate certainty. A white mask is used for areas of lowest certainty in the temperature change data, Projection of Surtace Temperature Charge Figure 0.28 Projected change in near surface air temperature from 1981-2010 to 2071-2100 with a sequential color scheme for filed isolines. The overlay of white and black dots with regular and irregular arrangement show certainty for high radiative foreing (RCP 8.5). Certainty is based on a signal-to-noise calculation among. the predictions of several dozen models. Dats « bts World Cin sk gou/emin ettion bi sn limes nl bs Bivariate symbols Combinations within symbols, rather than as overlays, among the fill set of visual variables are useftl for presenting pairs of data variables for bivariate mapping. ‘Higure_9.29 combines size and lightness in each symbol. “The map shows slopes of river channels wth Hight lines for Tow slope and darker lines for steeper slopes. Within the ‘same lines, it adjusts channels with small drainage areas to thin ines and those with larger drainage areas have thicker lines. Thin, dark-colored streams are steep and drain small areas, Rivers with larger catchments have lower slopes and run along valleys (wide and light lines). The hillshade base assists map interpretation. The map combines two quantitative variables using visual variables that are both suitable for ordered data,intneusands of las) Figure 9.29 A bivariate map showing slope and ‘drainage area of river ehannels in a portion of Pennsylvania ridge and valley terrain, Slope is represented by line ightness and drainage area by line size. Dats soars US Ceclogicl Surves, NHDPIus. Map by A. Denis, Pena Stte Geography. ‘he second example map (figure 9,30) uses essentially ‘the same combination of visual variables as figure 9.20 but looks quite different, School district spending per student is ‘represented by size—in this case, graduated cireles. Number ‘of students by district is represented by lightness with redundant hue transition through magenta, purple, and Dine, These visual variables work together to show relationships between these data variables. Large, dark-biue citeles are districts with many students and with high ‘expenditures per student—we see the varied character of ‘urban school distriets against a surround of smaller rural istrcts. Figure 9.30 A bivariate map showing number of students by size and expenditures by lightness and hue for US school districts. Dsts arcs: US Census Bossy ade with Natural Earth. zp by A. Danni, Pena Sat Geograpy