Normalizing the pandemic: exploring the cartographic issues in state government COVID-19 dashboards

Autor: Aaron M. Adams, Xiang Chen, Weidong Li, Chuanrong Zhang
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Maps, Vol 19, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 17445647
1744-5647
DOI: 10.1080/17445647.2023.2235385
Popis: ABSTRACTGovernment agencies have utilized Web Geographic Information Systems (GIS) dashboards to collect and disseminate spatial information on COVID-19. However, not all maps on these dashboards adhere to established cartographic principles. This article explores the extent of the cartographic issues by surveying state governments’ official COVID-19 websites in the United States on February 11, 2021. The results indicate that out of the fifty states, thirty-one (62.0%) incorrectly used unnormalized data in choropleth maps, sixteen (32.0%) used normalized data, and three (6.0%) did not employ choropleth maps. Among states using normalized data correctly, we identified other cartographic problems, including inappropriate data class divisions and suboptimal enumeration units. As dashboards serve as authoritative sources for health information, issues in map creation can influence public perception of the health crisis. These findings underscore the need for map standards to ensure the accuracy and reliability of health information in the Web GIS era.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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