Brewer Cynthia A
Department of Geography, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802-5011, USA.
Am J Prev Med. 2006 Feb;30(2 Suppl):S25-36. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2005.09.007.
Maps and other data graphics may play a role in generating ideas and hypotheses at the beginning of a project. They are useful as part of analyses for evaluating model results and then at the end of a project when researchers present their results and conclusions to varied audiences, such as their local research group, decision makers, or a concerned public. Cancer researchers are gaining skill with geographic information system (GIS) mapping as one of their many tools and are broadening the symbolization approaches they use for investigating and illustrating their data. A single map is one of many possible representations of the data, so making multiple maps is often part of a complete mapping effort. Symbol types, color choices, and data classing each affect the information revealed by a map and are best tailored to the specific characteristics of data. Related data can be examined in series with coordinated classing and can also be compared using multivariate symbols that build on the basic rules of symbol design. Informative legend wording and setting suitable map projections are also basic to skilled mapmaking.
在项目开始时，地图和其他数据图形可能在产生想法和假设方面发挥作用。在评估模型结果的分析过程中，以及在项目结束时研究人员向不同受众（如当地研究小组、决策者或相关公众）展示其结果和结论时，它们都很有用。癌症研究人员正在将地理信息系统（GIS）绘图作为众多工具之一来提升技能，并正在拓宽用于调查和说明其数据的符号化方法。单个地图只是数据众多可能表示形式之一，因此制作多张地图通常是完整绘图工作的一部分。符号类型、颜色选择和数据分类都会影响地图所揭示的信息，并且最好根据数据的特定特征进行定制。相关数据可以通过协调分类进行系列检查，也可以使用基于符号设计基本规则的多元符号进行比较。提供信息的图例措辞和设置合适的地图投影也是熟练制图的基础。
