Generalisation

Generalization
 =Cartographic generalization
 The selection and simplified representation of detail
appropriate to the scale and/or purpose of the map (ICA
1973)
 Generalization is the process of reducing the information
content of maps due to scale change, map purpose, intended
audience, and/or technical constraints. (Slocum et al)
 To fit portrayal of selected features to the map scale and to
the requirements of effective communication (Robinson et
al 1995)
 Generalization is "the reduction of detail or simplification
of reality“.
 Reduction of the complexity of a map to ensure its fitness
for use.
 maps cannot retain 'all detail', and if they could, they would
be too complex to understand.

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Generalization
 Is an umbrella term for several processes, all
intended to remove unnecessary detail.
 Because maps cannot show everything,
mapmaker must select which features to show
and which to omit.
 Features need to be simplified to be legible at
smaller scale.
 Data need to be classified, divided into smaller
groups of similar values.
 Finally symbol must be chosen to represent
features on the map.

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Purpose of
Generalization
 the reduction in scope, amount, type and
cartographic portrayal of mapped or encoded data
 maintenance of graphical clarity at the target
scale
 Basic principle of map generalization is to
emphasis salient object AND omit less important
ones
 Ensure readability AND preserve geographical
meaning of the map as faithfully as possible.

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Generalisation and
symbolisation
 The elements of generalisation
 The controls of generalisation
 Classification, simplification and exaggeration
manipulations
 Symbolising geographical features

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Selection and Generalisation
 Selection - to limit our concern to those classes of
information that will serve the map’s purpose
 Which elements remain depends on the purpose
of the map : topographic, thematic etc
 How many elements remain depends mostly on
map scale: if map scale is halved, then the total
map area size is reduced by 4, and the number of
elements: points, lines and areas are reduced
accordingly

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Generalisation Concepts
 Classification - order, scale and group features by
their attributes
 Simplification - determine important
characteristics of feature attributes and eliminate
unwanted detail
 Exaggeration - enhance or emphasise important
characteristics of the attributes
 Symbolisation - use graphic marks to encode the
information for visualisation and place them into
a map
 Induction-making inferences from
interrelationships among features on map.

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The Elements of
Generalisation
 Classification
 Qualitative attributes
 Quantitative attributes
 Simplification
 Exaggeration
 Symbolisation

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 Effect of Scale on
Visual Perception
 There is a practical level of detail asssociated with any scale. Traditionally
on printed maps, one could identify a 'minimal resolvable unit' of about
0.5 mm. This translates for common scales to these amounts in metres:
1:20,000    10          1:50,000    25         1:250,000    125    1:1,000,000      500

That is, if your map or display is for example at 1:50,000 it is not

reasonable to be able to depict a feature or detail smaller than about 25
metres in size. Data captured at one scale are not transferrable to widely
different scales. Data captured at a larger scale are too detailed for smaller
scales, and data captured at a small scale are too generalised for larger
scales.
 

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 Classification

Classification of a
point pattern. After
clustering the points,
the cartographer
selects a position
within each cluster
and places a dot to
“typify” the cluster.
The “typical” position
need not coincide with
the position of any of
the original data
points.
From Robinson, et al., 1995

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 Simplification

Simplification by point
elimination. In the
illustrated clusters of
points, one original
point is selected to
represent each cluster
of original points on
the generalised map.
From Robinson, et al., 1995

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Simplification (Cont.)

Reducing map scales

leads to the
consequent
simplifications.
From Robinson, et al., 1995

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Simplification (Cont.)

Reducing map
scales leads to the
consequent
simplifications.
From Robinson, et al., 1995

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 Exaggeration

Two representations of Great Britain and Ireland. (A) simplified

to fit the scale and is suitable for a reference map intended to
give the impression of detailed precision. (B) diagrammatric
generalisation suitable as a base on which to display thematic
data.
From Robinson, et al., 1995

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Generalization-
Point features

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Generalization-
linear features

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Generalization –
Areal features

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The Controls of
Generalisation
 Map purpose and conditions of use
 Map scale
 Quality and quantity of data
 Graphic limits
 Physical limits
 Physiological and psychological limits

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Classification Manipulations

 Point feature methods

 Collapsing
 Typification
 Line feature typification
 Aggregation of areas
 Aggregation of volumes - e.g.
Classification for choropleth maps

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Collapsing

Illustrations of the
collapsing process in
cartographic
generalisation. Each
feature represented in the
left diagrams has lost at
least one dimension in its
portrayal in the right
diagram.
Cited in Robinson, et al., 1995

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 Typification

Representations
illustrating
typification by
classification of
point, line and area
features.
Cited in Robinson, et al., 1995

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Aggregation
of Areas

The original data

area mapped at a
scale of 1:X. (A)
represents a
smaller-scale
agglomeration of
the original data.
(B) represents the
further
aggregation of
areas for an even
smaller-scale
representation.
From Robinson, et al., 1995

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Simplification Manipulations
 Elimination
 Point elimination
 Area elimination
 Smoothing
 Filtering

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Elimination

Simplification accompanied by
scale reduction. Since the scale is
successively reduced from (A) to
(E), an increasing number of points
in the outline must be eliminated.
After Robinson, et al., 1995

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 Elimination (Cont.)

Simplification applied at a constant scale. The four maps (A

through D) represent increasing simplifications of the
coastline and hydrography.
From Robinson, et al., 1995

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 Point Elimination
Simplification of the
outline by point
elimination. The
points indicated on
the map to the left
were retained on the
map to the right
where they were
connected with
straight-line
segments. All points
not selected on the
map to the left were
eliminated in
producing the map
on the right.
Cited in Robinson, et al., 1995

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Line Simplification Process

Successive stages in line simplification process: (1) The

initial line. (2) Point C, having the greatest perpendicular
distance to line AB in (1) is selected for retention. Lines AC
and CB are drawn. (3) The elimination of points between
points A and C, because no perpendicular exceeds the
threshold, and retention of point D, because its
perpendicular distance to line CB does exceed the threshold.
Cited in Robinson, et al., 1995
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 Area Elimination

Simplification by feature elimination. Areas on the left map

are either shown in their entirety or completely eliminated in
the feature-simplified map on the right.
Cited in Robinson, et al., 1995

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 Area Elimination (Cont.)

Simplification by area elimination. Example algorithm using

size and proximity to determine which features to eliminate.
Cited in Robinson, et al., 1995

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