Scaling the Interactive Dot Map
Kyle E. Walker · Cartographica The International Journal for Geographic Information and Geovisualization · 2018
Dot maps are effective for cartographic visualization of categorical data. Recent advances in Web mapping technology have facilitated the development of interactive dot maps, in which users can pan and zoom to view data distributions for different areas. This interactivity, however, introduces multiple cartographic challenges, as design decisions that are appropriate at large scales can lead to clutter and illegibility at small scales. This article considers these challenges in the context of an applied example – an interactive dot map of educational attainment in the United States. It covers the methodology of the map’s creation as well as how it addresses the cartographic challenges of interactive dot mapping.