NACIS 2018

All talks in this session are 10 minutes each.

GeoVisualization Methods in Spatial History 
Presenter: Nil Tuzcu, Harvard University
This presentation will focus on the making process of the web mapping project - "Istanbul Urban Database (IUDB)". The project is an interactive online mapping platform that blends a wide range of historical data including maps, master plans, photos, and transportation routes, allowing users to explore and interact with spatio-temporal layers of Istanbul's past. I will introduce the emerging web-based spatial technologies and historical GIS that are currently used for spatial history projects as well as discuss how the IUDB situates in the broader digital humanities theoretical ground.

Cartographic Education at the Department of Geomatics (University of West Bohemia, Plzeň, Czechia)
Presenter: Otakar Čerba , University of West Bohemia
This presentation introduces a general conception of cartographic education provided by the Department of Geomatics (University of West Bohemia, Plzeň, Czechia). This conception follows from mathematical cartography (as exact backgrounds of cartography) through the creation of various types of maps (supporting of cartographic production and creativity) to web applications dealing with maps. The particular classes are realized by the traditional approach (lectures and seminars), but it is strongly supported by methods and tools following constructivism and other advanced pedagogical schools. The gained cartographic knowledge and skills are applied in students' final thesis as well as international research projects.

A Brief History of Nonprofit Mapping at GreenInfo Network
Presenter: Tim Sinnott, GreenInfo Network
Since our founding in 1996, GreenInfo Network has assisted over 1,000 public interest groups and agencies with mapping, data, analysis and other information technology projects. We work with 80-100 public interest clients annually throughout the US and internationally. Join us to rediscover the history of GreenInfo's mapping efforts from humble beginnings to modern cartographic applications.

From Cartographic Contrast Design to Neuro-geographical Contrast Cognition
Presenter: P. William Limpisathian, University of Oregon
As cartographers, we contend that visual contrast is crucial to establishing perceptual differences that allows the reader to distinguish features on a map. Yet the central task of determining the most optimal configuration of visual contrast continues to seemingly elude us. Additionally, much of the theoretical underpin of our understanding of cartographic visual contrast stems from Gestalt psychology dating back to the 1920s. With the advancement of neuropsychology, classical psychological theories are increasingly being reexamined under new experimental light. Thus, this presentation will briefly reexamine the literature on cartographic visual contrast and frame it against related research from neuroscience.

Cities, towns, villages, boroughs: populated places through scale
Presenter: Elaine Guidero, U.S. Geological Survey
Copresenters: Lindsay Decker, Maria McCormick; U.S. Geological Survey
Ongoing research at the U.S. Geological Survey into modifying data for multi-scale mapping has resulted in the creation of an attribute called VisibilityFilter (VF). Populated places in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) seem suited to a straightforward application of VF using population. However, this process is not as simple as it might appear. Populated places have a complicated categorization, and filtering on population alone leaves overly dense urban areas and blank rural areas. VF for GNIS populated places involves working with the different populated place categories and leveraging information from other datasets to eliminate under- and over-crowding through scale.

English-to-Chinese Map Label Conversion: 1 Year In
Presenter: John Sylak-Glassman, Mapbox
While dynamic digital maps commonly offer English labels for most of the world, such a complete map label layer is lacking for most other languages. Over the past year, we've built a system to automatically convert English map labels into Chinese using deep learning and natural language processing (NLP) with humans in the loop. This talk presents our experiences and the progress we've made. We discuss variability in judgments of what constitutes a correct map label, unique aspects of using deep learning language technology for cartography, and the advantages of working with a modular system that incorporates human judgment.

Accessing and visualizing geoscience data from many sources in the Flyover Country mobile app
Presenter: Shane Loeffler, University of Minnesota
The Flyover country mobile app is a tool for answering the question of 'what's that?' when looking out of the airplane window from 30,000 feet, while on a road trip or hike, or when a scientist is assessing a new field area. To do this, many sources of information have had to be integrated, presenting many challenges both in visualization and data compatibility.  Here we present challenges and solutions for accessing and visualizing content from a wide variety of geoscience sources.

Connecting People with the Arctic Refuge
Presenter: Marty Schnure, The Wilderness Society
We only save what we love, and we only love what we know. How can we make maps that help someone come to know and love a place, and inspire them to help protect it? How about a faraway place they’ve never been to and will likely never visit? Marty Schnure has been trying to figure this out for a while, most recently in her work to defend the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil development. In this lightning talk she will share a series of maps she has made to try to connect people with this wild, threatened place.