Guidance in the Visual Analytics of Cartographic Images in the Decision-Making Process

Abstract

This paper considers the task of organizing a rational interaction between a geographic information service (GIS) and a user who analyzes spatial data. The purpose of the analysis is to develop a solution to an applied problem in conditions of incompleteness and uncertainty of information about both the final goal and the solution procedure. The work considers an interactive visual analysis of a space region, where the GIS delivers data from cartographic sources and the user compiles and analyzes the cartographic representation of the workspace in real-time. The task of guiding the analysis process to maintain its intelligent orientation is formulated. The meaning of the analysis process is associated with achieving situation awareness of the user, which will ensure the adoption of higher quality decisions. A control method based on the selection of an adequate context from the set of contexts described in the GIS has proposed. A two-component context model has proposed in the form of a kernel and a set of valid kernel transformations preserving the meaning of the context. The intelligent orientation of the analysis has stabilized using the proposed presentation. The problem of determining the optimal number of GIS contexts has considered which minimizes the complexity of the analysis and relation has obtained for its calculation. The problem of maximizing the utility of cartographic images generated by GIS at the user’s request has formulated. A representation of the analysis workspace by skeleton and environment has proposed, which has used to ensure maximum utility. The results of an experimental study of the layout of an intelligent system for managing the analysis are presented too.