Heattile, a new method for heatmap implementations for mobile web-based cartographic applications

Abstract

Mobile handheld computing devices are becoming a more important part of our digital infrastructure. Web-based map services and visualisations for spatial data are being optimised for use on these new mobile devices. Despite the fast development of mobile devices, compared to laptop and desktop computers they remain slower in terms of processing power and have limited memory capacity. Bandwidth in most areas is still limited, regardless of the fast expansion of high-speed internet for mobile devices. To overcome these two limitations an improvement in existing spatial data visualisations is necessary. This chapter compares existing methods and presents a new approach to generating and delivering web-based heat map visualisations for spatial data that is optimised for mobile devices.