Flowmapper.org: a web-based framework for designing origin–destination flow maps

Abstract

FlowMapper.org is a web-based framework for automated production and design of origin-destination flow maps. FlowMapper has four major features that contribute to the advancement of existing flow mapping systems. First, users can upload and process their own data to design and share customized flow maps. The ability to save data, cartographic design and map elements in a project file allows users to easily share their data and/or cartographic design with others. Second, users can generate customized flow symbols to support different flow map reading tasks such as comparing flow magnitudes and directions and identifying flow and location clusters that are strongly connected with each other. Third, FlowMapper supports supplementary layers such as node symbols, choropleth, and base maps to contextualize flow patterns with location references and characteristics. Finally, the web-based architecture of FlowMapper supports server-side computational capabilities to process and normalize large flow data and reveal natural patterns of flows.