THE SEMINAR

ENTITLED

“METHODS OF GEOVISUALIZATION”

Submitted by

“POOJA RATHOD”
(P19WR020)

GUIDE

Prof. P. G. Agnihotri
Dr. P. V. Timbadiya

Submitted to

P.G. SECTION IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
S. V. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-SURAT
GUJARAT (INDIA)
2019-20
 P.G. Section in Water Resources Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
S.V. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, SURAT

Certificate
This is to certify that the Seminar entitled “METHODS OF GEOVISUALIZATION”
submitted by POOJA RATHOD Roll no. P19WR020 of M. Tech. (2nd Semester) Water
Resources Engineering of the Civil Engineering Department, Sardar Vallabhbhai National
Institute of Technology, Surat is carried out under my guidance. Her work is satisfactory
during academic year 2019-20.

Guide
Dr. P. G. Agnihotri Dr. P. V. Timbadiya
Professor Associate Professor

Dr. P. V. Timbadiya
PG In-Charge, WRE Professor & Head
Associate Professor Civil Engineering Department

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 P.G. Section in Water Resources Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
S.V. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, SURAT

Seminar Approval
Certificate
This is to certify that the Seminar entitled “METHODS OF GEOVISUALIZATION”
submitted by “POOJA RATHOD” (Admission No. P19WR020) is approved.

Panel of Examiners

Internal Examiner (Guide) _________________

External Examinar ____________________

Chairman ____________________

Date:

Place:

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 Acknowledgement

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my guide P. G.

Agnihotri and co-guide P. V. Timbadiya as well as our H.O.D. M Mansoor
Ahammed who gave this golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the
topic “Methods of Geovisualization”, from which I came to know about so
many new things I am really thankful to them.

I would also like to thank our department‟s Ph.D. scholars, my parents and
friends who helped me a lot in finishing this project by giving me guidance and
suggestions.

POOJA RATHOD

P19WR020

M.Tech. (SVNIT)

Water Resource Engineering

Department of Civil Engineering

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 Abstract
This report presents the various methods of giovisualization. It enables the use
of human visual memory and the capability of perceptual processing of data. It
permits a better interaction between user and the information system and lead to
the discovery of new bunches of knowledge.

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 Table of contents
Certificate…………………………………………………………………...…………….......ii

Acknowledgement………………………………………………..………………………….iv

Abstract…………………………………………………...…………………………….…….v

Table of content…………………………..…………………………………………….……vi

Table of figures…...…………………………………………………………………………vii

GEOVISULAZITION ............................................................................................................... 1

METHODS OF GEOVISULIZATION ..................................................................................... 2

1. Classification and reclassification.............................................................................. 2

a. Classification.......................................................................................................... 2

b. Reclassification ...................................................................................................... 3

2. Map comparison......................................................................................................... 5

3. Chart ........................................................................................................................... 6

4. Report ......................................................................................................................... 6

5. Layout ........................................................................................................................ 6

6. 3D visualization ......................................................................................................... 9

Conclusion…………………...………………………………………………………………11

References………………...……………………………………………………...………….12

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 Table of figures
Figure 1 classification of roads considering the width (source: https://maps.google.com) ....... 2
Figure 2 different types of classification applied on same data (remote sensing and GIS: B.
Bhatta) ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Figure 3 state map generated from district map (source: www.mapsofindia.com) ................... 3
Figure 4 examples of reclassification (remote sensing and GIS: B. Bhatta) ............................. 4
Figure 5 difference between classification and reclassification (source:
https://maps.google.com) ........................................................................................................... 4
Figure 6 different maps of same area placed side by side to compare visually (remote sensing
and GIS: B. Bhatta) .................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 7 cell-by-cell automated comparison of raster data (remote sensing and GIS: B.
Bhatta) ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Figure 8 different types of chart................................................................................................. 7
Figure 9 radar chart of rainfall forecasting ................................................................................ 7
Figure 10 example of layout (remote sensing and gis: B. Bhatta) ............................................. 8
Figure 11 example of DEM (source: http://www.gisresources.com/confused-dem-dtm-dsm/) 9
Figure 12 example of DTM (source: http://www.gisresources.com/confused-dem-dtm-dsm/) 9
Figure 13 example of DSM (source: http://www.gisresources.com/confused-dem-dtm-dsm/)
.................................................................................................................................................. 10

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 GEOVISULAZITION
Geovisualization (geographic visualization) include tools and techniques to visualize the
spatial features. It is about GIS data visualization which refers to presentation of data with
help of maps, DEMs, vector data, tabular information and virtual reality in either 2D or 3D
presentations, static or animated, in soft or hard copies. Here, GIS (geographic information
system) is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage and present the
geographic data.GIS includes interactive maps and other views that operate on the geographic
data sets. Maps provide us easy and simplest visualization and are available at many levels
like maps on mobile devices, web maps in browsers. Maps are used to convey geographic
information as well as to perform number of tasks like compilation, cartography, analysis,
querying and field data collection. Other interactive views other than maps are charts,
schematic drawings, multimedia outputs, etc.

MacEachren (1995) used the term „geographic visualization‟ to describe the use of maps for
setting up a context for visual information processing, which can lead to formulation of
research questions and hypotheses, and thus it is not intended to visual representation only
but also for geospatial analysis. In this report we will discuss some methods used for
geovisualization in GIS.

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 METHODS OF GEOVISULIZATION

1. Classification and reclassification

It is the simplest method which can be use for visualising existing data as well as for creating
a new data layer with new attribute table.

a. Classification
Classification aggregates data and map features using a classification and number of classes
(Chang 2002).Thematic map is an example of it which focuses on specific theme or subject
area as physical phenomena like temperature variation, population density, rainfall
distribution, etc. For example, we can classify all roads of a city as per the width ranges and
create a thematic map as shown in fig. 1.

Figure 1 classification of roads considering the width (source: https://maps.google.com)

As per the fig.2 classification can be executed on the following basis:

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Generalization: It is representation of map features according to their specific class. It results
in reduction of the level of detail.

Ranking: It is representation of map features by valuation of attributes or table specified.

Selection: It highlights the selected features.

Figure 2 different types of classification applied on same data (remote sensing and GIS: B. Bhatta)

b. Reclassification
It is to reassign the new thematic values to the units of spatial features, which results in a new
merged dataset. In other words, data falls within one class according to their classification are
merged to create a new data layer. For example we are having a district map in which all
districts are associated with specific state, if we merge the all districts according to their state
then we can get a new data layer as state map. See fig.3

Figure 3 state map generated from district map (source: www.mapsofindia.com)

It is executed in a same way as we explained earlier in classification. See fig.4

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 Figure 4 examples of reclassification (remote sensing and GIS: B. Bhatta)

There is a distinct difference between classification and reclassification that is in

classification the map features are displayed according to their class, whereas in
reclassification new data layer is created according to the class of map features by dissolving
the boundaries of same class or keeping the selected features and removing others in a new
data layer. See fig.5

Figure 5 difference between classification and reclassification (source: https://maps.google.com)

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 2. Map comparison
Map comparison is used for finding the similarity or dissimilarity between two or more maps.
This process can be done visually by human interpreter and digitally by computer. There are
some advantages and disadvantages of these processes.

By placing two or more images side by side we can visually compare them and recognize the
local as well as global similarities and logical coherence, patterns, etc. interpretation by
human might be differ from person to person, or time to time. It is hard or even impossible to
directly describe the perceptive judgement made by an observer. Finding out the objective
criteria for similarity is more difficult. That means we cannot decide that the square is more
similar to triangle or circle. See fig.6

Figure 6 different maps of same area placed side by side to compare visually (remote sensing and GIS: B. Bhatta)

Comparison of maps mathematically can be done by software which can evaluate some
criteria for similarity. But it is not having the flexibility to act sensibly and switch from one
criterion to another one when there is requirement of it which can be easily done by human
interpreter.

Rigidity of software can be seen in following fig.7 Cell by cell comparison will be done for
conclusion by software but human can immediately identify the dissimilarity. Despite of this
disadvantage there are many reasons to perform automated comparison. Objectivity and
repeatability are the two important properties of automated method. Objectivity gives
comparison results for a larger validity and repeatability is required when numbers of maps
are there for comparison according to the same standard.

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 Figure 7 cell-by-cell automated comparison of raster data (remote sensing and GIS: B. Bhatta)

3. Chart
Chart or graph is a common method for statistical analysis and representation of attribute data
in GIS. There are many types of graphs such as column, bar, line, pie which is shown in fig.8
If the data having both actual and forecast data then radar chart can be used which is similar
to pie chart but uses the radius of each pie slice to represent actual values as percentage of
target values. We can see an example in fig. 9 which is showing forecasting of rainfall data of
different cities.

4. Report
It contains only predefined, in the context of database. It is a passive document which
represents data in easy to understand manner for reading and viewing. It contains data from
many related tables/transactions in GIS.

5. Layout
The results of GIS process can be effectively communicated by means of the map.GIS users
have to concern the quality of the map produced. Layouts are the maps we create for printing
or for other media like slides, digital graphic, etc. A layout contains map, title, north arrow,
legend, other text information and even other graphics like charts or photos. Example of
layout is given in fig. 10.

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District School College
Line chart
Dist. A 5 3 10
5
0
Dist. B 2 1
Dist. A Dist. B

School College

3D column chart Pie chart

5

0
Dist. A Dist. B

School College Dist. A Dist. B

Column chart Bar chart

10

0 Dist. A
Dist. A Dist. B 0 2 4 6

School College College School

Figure 8 different types of chart

surat navsari vyara valsad

predicted(mm) 50 30 40 30
actual(mm) 15 10 5 3

surat
60
40
20 predicted(mm)
valsad 0 navsari
actual(mm)

vyara

Figure 9 radar chart of rainfall forecasting

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The main elements of layout are mentioned below:

Frame: It defines the boundary within which the map and map information is displayed. It
should not be thick so as to not distract the users.

Title: It tells what information to look in map. It should contain location of study area and
objective/purpose of study in short and in concise manner.

Legend: It represents what the different symbols in the map are signifying. Greater similarity
in symbols and nature should be there so the explanation will be less.

Scale: It indicates the geographical size of the area. Sometimes scale of the map is
represented in a fraction like 1:30,000.It should always be augmented in a graphical scale bar
so if map is to be enlarged or reduced, fraction in original scale remain same at the new scale
and prevent misleading.

North arrow: It will show the north direction on map. It should be small in size so that the
map cannot clutter.

Figure 10 example of layout (remote sensing and gis: B. Bhatta)

Label: It is piece of text used to give name or value to the geographic entity.

Graphic image: It is like logo of a company.

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Graticules/grids: It is network of horizontal and vertical lines which shows latitude and
longitude of any location.

Index map: It helps to determine location and surrounding of a larger map

Supplementary information: It includes metadata such as name of the creator of a map, time
of creation, etc. for proper interpretation and analysis.

6. 3D visualization
It is presentation of spatial data in higher dimensions of visualization. GIS can be used to
analyze the earth's terrain more realistically. It allows the viewer to quickly recognize and
understand the elevation.3D visualization is taken as standard visualization in GIS and its
output product includes orthorectified imagery, DTMs (digital terrain model), 3D features.

We can see the example of DEM, DTM and DSM in fig. 11, 12, 13 respectively. DEM
includes the elevation of the object and in addition DTM include geographical features like
river and ridge line. DSM include all the features above earth surface such as buildings, trees,
etc.

Figure 11 example of DEM (source: http://www.gisresources.com/confused-dem-dtm-dsm/)

Figure 12 example of DTM (source: http://www.gisresources.com/confused-dem-dtm-dsm/)

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Figure 13 example of DSM (source: http://www.gisresources.com/confused-dem-dtm-dsm/)

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 Conclusion
By using these different methods of geovisualization we can reduce the time to search,read
and understand the information in the form of geospatial data and it supports decision
making. One can enhance the recognition of patterns, relations, trends and critical points, etc.
Knowledge of geovisualization will give a global vision of a situation, a phenomenon, etc.

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 References
Bhatta, B. (2008). Remote sensing and GIS. Oxford University Press, USA.

https://maps.google.com

Nöllenburg, M. (2007). Geographic visualization. In Human-centered visualization

environments (pp. 257-294). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

www.gisresources.com

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