Editing Animated mapping (section)

== Types ==

Animated maps can emphasize the existence of an occurrence at a location, emphasize an attribute of an occurrence, or represent a change in the position or attributes of an occurrence.<ref name=DiBiase1991/> For instance, a flashing symbol may be used to draw the map-reader's attention to a particular occurrence at one location or multiple locations across the map. Maps on the weather channel use animation to emphasize the current and predicted paths of hurricanes.

The use of the Internet has allowed animated maps to become interactive. By seamlessly combining multiple projector images into a complete image.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.klmultimedia.com/Projection-Mapping-Software.html|title=Projection Mapping Software |website=Klmultimedia|date= |language=en-us|access-date=}}</ref> The user can witness representations of changes over time, while manipulating the direction of view, the pace or the parameters of the map displayed.<ref name=MacEachren>{{cite journal |last=MacEachren |first=Alan M. |authorlink=Alan MacEachren |date=1998 |title=Cartography, GIS and the World Wide Web |journal=Progress in Human Geography |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=575–585 |doi=10.1191/030913298670626440|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Animation on maps can be mainly divided into two types: temporal and non-temporal.

===Temporal map animation===
[[File:COVID19 CASES Mar21 May21.gif|thumb|Animated dot density map of COVID-19 cases in Connecticut between March 21, 2020 and May 21, 2020]]
Temporal map animation shows the ongoing gradual changes over time. Temporal maps can also be termed animated timeline maps and can be a useful reference to examine the changes ongoing on each step and analyze the progression occurring gradually as time passes.

There are many purposes which temporal animation might serve to depict: displaying and analyzing geographic patterns, meteorological events, climate, natural disasters, and other multivariate data.

==== Animated mapping of history ====

Animated mapping is extensively used in the construction of animated maps to depict historical events in a cartographic environment, particularly in the subdiscipline of [[Historical geographic information system]]. These were one of the first applications of such maps, documented in Waldo Tobler's 1970 paper.<ref name=Tobler1/> Today, such animations often show the land ownership/occupation of specific groups over time.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beschizza|first=Rob|date=2015-11-30|title=Animated map shows the Civil War's front lines in 5 minutes|url=https://boingboing.net/2015/11/30/animated-map-shows-the-civil-w.html|access-date=2020-11-05|website=Boing Boing|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-27|title=This video beautifully illustrates the history of India from 2800 BC to 2016|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/this-video-beautifully-illustrates-the-history-of-india-from-2800-bc-to-2016_-255787.html|access-date=2020-11-05|website=IndiaTimes|language=en-IN}}</ref>

===Importance of legend in temporal maps===
As in the case of static maps, it would be useful if temporal maps could also be provided with proper legend. Legends for temporal maps should not only tell the time but also let users travel over time. Various manipulations such as traveling to a certain point in time, selecting focus level, etc. should be allowed to enhance user-friendliness.

Using legend in the temporal map will answer important questions related to the entity's existence (if?), the entity's location (when?), time intervals (how long?), temporal texture (how often), the speed at which change takes place (how fast?), and the order of change (what order?).<ref name=MacEachren/>

Depending upon their construction, animated legends may distract the viewer from the animated map. Care must be taken to integrate the legend unobtrusively.

===Non-temporal map animation===
Non-temporal map animation shows changes against some other variables other than time. The variable might be a place, position, generalization level, etc. Non–temporal animation also serves when there is a need to show both the data set and the transformation that has been applied to it for its display.

Non-temporal animation can be of many types according to the purpose they serve:

; Fly through animation
: This type of animation gives the viewer the feeling of flying through the landscape.

; Cartographic zoom animation
: This type of animation shows maps at different focus levels and viewers can change the scale of the map as desired.

; Classification animation
: Different methods of data classification are depicted in this animation.

; Generalization animation
: This type of animation uses a single classification method with multiple classes of data.

Time is an important aspect in both animations. Real-time is depicted in temporal animation and presentation time (time to show the animation) is associated with non-temporal animation.