1.3.2. Map Types

There are two main groups in which screen maps can be divided:

• Static Maps
• Dynamic Maps

Each of these groups can be subdivided into:

• View-only Maps
• Interactive Maps

See also the following illustration

Map types according to (KRAAK et al. 2001)

Web Map Types

• Static Maps

  • view only

    Static view-only maps are only looked at. Interactions by users are not possible.
    Scanned maps, for example, are put as bitmap images on the internet. This form of presentation is a widespread way to make maps more widely accessible.

    Static, view only map (Schweizer Weltatlas 2004)
    

  • interactive

    Static maps can also be interactive. Interactions, for instance, are provided by offering the user to click on various links, to zoom or pan into the map, to switch on or off some layers, etc. By this way, the user can choose the appearance or the theme of the map.

    

    Experience it in the following example by activating or disactivating various layers or by exploring the different navigation options. (If you have a slow internet connection you should better have a look at the navigation elements of the application "Navigation Tool", because it takes quite long to load the application)

    Static, interactive map. Student work at IKA ETH (Cron et al. 2005)
    

• Dynamic Maps

  • view only

    A dynamic view-only map may be realized in terms of a slideshow, by animated GIF images, etc. Images are shown one by one and the web browser software continuously repeats the sequence.

    Dynamic, view only map
    

  • interactive

    Dynamic interactive maps often contain dynamic processes via animations. Animations, in turn are frequently displayed by certain media players (Apple Quicktime, for example). Interaction options, however, are often limited to pause, play, stop, backward and forward buttons as the following example demonstrates (animation works only in Internet Explorer).

    Dynamic, interactive map. Student work at IKA ETH (Münch et al. 2005)