[Freegis-list] time based maps

[Matt.Wilkie]

The open source community is often accused of merely "chasing tail lights"
instead of actively engaging in developing truly innovative features. Well I
believe I've identified an area which addresses a real need but for which
there are no tools available (that I'm aware of) - proprietary or not.

Time based maps: the base units of measurement are *time* instead of space.
The length of a highway line on a map represents how long it takes to drive
from Berlin to Paris, not how many kilometers apart they are.

Most of the time when people ask how far away the next town is, they don't
really want to know how far it is, but rather how long it will take them to
get there.

I envision a set of georeferenced vectors with database attributes that
indicated the quality of the road and the posted speed limit. When the
cartographer creates the map she decides on a scale of 1cm:10min and selects
the vector(s) which the map will be centered on. The software tool then
expands/contracts the length of the vector(s) to match and surrounding
topography is rubber-sheeted or morphed accordingly.

Naturally not everybody travels the same way. Some have ferraris, others
freightliners, still others prefer bicycles and some just like to walk. This
just begs for an internet mapping application where the user can chose their
method of conveyance. 

Also consider the application in large cities where the traffic density
could be taken into account and near real time maps depicting how long it
will *really* take to get to work this morning are shown.

BTW, I can't take any credit for this idea, it's not mine. I've been
thinking about for some years, ever since I saw some Inuit drawn maps from
the 18th/19th century showing the northern coastlines of Canada. In my
youthful arrogance I commented on how primitive the maps were, lacking all
concept of projection or relative size. My teacher then demonstrated how the
maps were actually incredibly accurate -- if one were paddling in a kayak
and keeping track of how long it took to get to the next base camp. Score
another one for "primitive" societies.

cheers,


-- Matt Wilkie 
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Geographic Information,
Information Management and Technology,
Yukon Department of Environment
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