Standardized Symbologies for the Oregon Incident Response Information System (OR-IRIS)

Transcription

1 Standardized Symbologies for the Oregon Incident Response Information System (OR-IRIS) Chris Grant, Portland State University David Banis, Portland State University Don Pettit, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

2 The Task: Devise symbology for the OR-IRIS v3 map product. The Challenge: Symbology must work at any scale. Symbols for 200+ themes in layers must be distinguishable from one another. Limited to 72 DPI. OR-IRIS Symbology Goal was to adopt symbology standards when possible.

3 OR-IRIS is OR-IRIS a geodatabase and associated map product that allows planners and emergency responders to place emergency incidents in their proper context. to identify resources at risk. to identify available response resources. to evaluate how public safety is affected. to identify resources with whom to coordinate. to identify possible pollution sources.

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6 IRIS v1 (2009) aka The Map of Everything 85 datasets in 1 geodatabase IRIS v2 (2011) 147 datasets in 1 geodatabase OR-IRIS IRIS v3 (2015) Now with more everything 256 datasets (and counting) in 5 geodatabases

7 OR-IRIS evolution Main Data Structure Remains Unchanged Arranged by Theme However, Data Within Each Is Greatly Expanded

8 OR-IRIS evolution A theme may have many categories, denoted by 5 Categories within the Theme = 38 Data Layers Total >250 datasets

9 Each data layer has duplicate files to Enable viewing at different scales OR-IRIS evolution Duplicate files are transparent to the user, but allow for different labeling and symbology.

10 A goal was to use symbology standards when they are available. OR-IRIS Symbology when it s appropriate to use them. Only a single standard of significance in this space FGDC HSWG Emergency Management and Hazard Mapping Standard (2005) ANSI INCITS Homeland Security Map Symbol Standard (2006)

11 Standardized Symbols History of the ANSI standard Proliferation of maps during Hurricane Andrew (1992) Hurricane Fran (1996) NYC 9/11 attack (2001) Maps produced by many groups / jurisdictions. Confusion resulting from no agreement about symbol definitions.

12 Standardized Symbols History of the ANSI standard In response, FEMA asked Dr. Ute Dymon of Kent State University to produce a symbology standard to be used during such events.

13 Crisis Maps Standardized Symbols often generated during an event and need to be interpreted quickly under pressure. Assumption is that no legend is available, or map users don t have time to consult legend.

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15 Emergency Operations Center Fire Hydrant Fire Origin Flammable Liquid

16 Standardized Symbols Evaluating the standard In , M.K. Akella at Penn State University investigated how well the standard met its goals. Subset of 28 symbols presented to 50 California firefighters. Comprehension >85% for 6 / 28 symbols. Comprehension <50% for 14 / 28 symbols. Critical confusion with 2 symbols.

17 Standardized Symbols Findings from Akella study Familiar symbols had highest comprehension rates. Using a picture as a symbol (replicative symbology) is not sufficient to produce high comprehension.

18 Standardized Symbols Evaluating the standard In 2010, A.C. Robinson et al. investigated the adoption rate of the ANSI standard within DHS. Found low adoption rates. None of the 14 study participants reported adopting the standard as a whole.

19 Standardized Symbols Findings from DHS study poor fit to the unique missions of each group. overly complex graphical icons that are ambiguous. (includes scale mismatch) symbol design characteristics that reflect incompatible mission and format constraints. Mismatch between existing standard and participant mission needs.

20 ANSI standard symbols Standardized Symbols Intended for Emergency Management and First Responder use but designed for a different kind of mapping than IRIS limited number of symbols designed for large spatial scale mapping (representational, detailed symbols) short time scale (hail, rioting, air hijacking) post-event Mismatch between standard and IRIS mission needs.

21 IRIS characteristics OR-IRIS Symbology Includes many themes not covered by ANSI standard. Themes must be distinguishable when turned on in arbitrary combinations symbologies must mesh well. High symbol density. Must function at both large and small scales. No short-term temporal component. Intended for use both by first responders, post-event. planners, pre-event. End users may not be expert map readers in general, but may be expert IRIS readers.

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24 OR-IRIS Symbology Our heuristic for point symbols Do not attempt to adopt ANSI standard. Define shapes per IRIS category, similar to what the ANSI standard does.

25 OR-IRIS Symbology Our heuristic for point symbols At small scale, use geometric symbols. At large scale Use associative symbol if it is familiar to people who are likely to use IRIS. Use a (perhaps modified relative to small scale) geometric symbol otherwise. Don t avoid using symbols that incorporate letters or numbers when appropriate

26 Types of point symbols OR-IRIS Symbology Abstract or Replicative Dymon, U.J. (2003) An analysis of emergency map symbology. International Journal of Emergency Management, 1, Geometric, Associative, Pictorial MacEachren, A. M. (2004). How maps work: representation, visualization, and design. Guilford Press.

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32 OR-IRIS Symbology IRIS uses associative symbols Distinctive symbol shapes that are not representational / replicative. Interpretation is reinforced by repeated exposure.

33 Police Stations Fire Stations Hospitals Medical Facilities Places of Worship

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36 OR-IRIS Symbology Example: BLM land-ownership colors Convention, not standard. Poor match between BLM and IRIS land-ownership categories. Some BLM colors interfered with colors used for other themes in IRIS. BLM color palette well suited for its intended purpose, but didn t integrate well into IRIS symbology.

37 BLM Color Model Standard IRIS v3.0

38 OR-IRIS Symbology Example: oil spill response For themes that are very specialized, we tried to adopt symbology customary in that community largely intact. Don t care that symbology is not representational, because the target audience knows it.

39 Lower Columbia River Geographic Response Plan (2015) IRIS 3.0

40 OR-IRIS Symbology Example: DOGAMI tsunami inundation data No official standard in this area, but IRIS users likely to have access to DOGAMI maps, which use a selfconsistent set of symbols. DOGAMI maps use unusual color scheme. Well designed, but baffling on first viewing. Needed something that non-expert map readers would interpret correctly on first exposure. Data organization constraints prevented exact duplication of DOGAMI symbology. Only one of very many layers. Organization trumped symbology.

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42 IRIS using DOGAMI symbology

43 IRIS using custom symbology

44 OR-IRIS Symbology NAPSG Incident Symbology in development National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Draws on DHS / ANSI standard, but also other sources. Will evaluate for IRIS v4.0.

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