[Freegis-list] time based maps

[Anselm Hook]

A friend one mentioned a similar idea - It was appealing - that the actual
landscape or mental map we have isn't exactly literal.  Some paths are
longer because of red lights or certain neighhbours we want to avoid.

As you said - you could take an ordinary map and apply a rendering
deformation based on the 'real' length of the navigation routes in it.
Sounds great!

 - a

On Mon, 23 Sep 2002, Matt.Wilkie wrote:

> 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
> --------------------------------------------
> Geographic Information,
> Information Management and Technology,
> Yukon Department of Environment
> --------------------------------------------
>
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