Multimedia Mapping

Multimedia mapping refers to the integration of computer-assisted mapping systems and multimedia technologies that allow the incorporation of both spatial geographic (i.e., geospatial) information in digital map format and multimedia information. The term multimedia implies the use of a personal computer (PC) or the Internet with information presented through the following media: (1) text (descriptive text, narrative, and labels), (2) graphics (drawings, diagrams, charts, snapshots, or photographs), (3) digital video (television-style material in digital format), (4) digital audio sound (music and oral narration), and (5) computer animation (changing maps, objects, and images). Multimedia technology has been extensively used by commercial encyclopedia CD-ROMs, such as Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia CD-ROM, to provide a multisensory learning environment and the opportunity to improve the understanding of a concept.

Multimedia mapping has gone through several stages. The first stage was the development of interactive maps and electronic atlases during the 1980s. The interactive map is a computer-assisted form of map presentation and is characterized by an intuitive graphical user interface that allows the [Page 1952]user to manipulate the map features through a computer mouse. The link to multimedia information is achieved through superimposing “hotspots” on the cartographic features of the map or on scanned aerial photographs. Interactivity becomes a key feature of the interactive maps, which allow the user to explore more detailed information in the area predefined by the map developer. Examples of early electronic atlases include the BBC's Domesday Project and Goode's World Atlas.

The second stage was the development of the hypermap in the early 1990s. Coined by Laurini and Milleret-Raffort (1990), the term hypermap describes a multimedia hypertext document with geographical access. In other words, the hyper-map is an interactive, digital multimedia map that allows users to zoom and find locations using a hyperlinked gazetteer. The underlying principle of the hypermap is the concept of hypertext. Hypertext represents a single concept or idea. By activating predefined hyperlinks, it is possible for the user to connect a hypertext to other nonlinear text information. If the hypertext is linked to multimedia information, the term multimedia hypertext or hypermedia is used. Therefore, the hypermap is also called cartographic application of hypertext or hypermedia mapping. The development of hypermaps was made possible with Apple's Hypercard software, developed for the Macintosh computer and released in 1987. Examples of hypermaps include the Glasgow Online digital atlas and Hypersnige.

The third stage involves the integration of a hypermedia system (which features hypertext, hyperlinks, and multimedia) and a geographic information system (GIS), namely, hypermedia GIS. GIS is a digital mapping and analytical tool that is used to capture, retrieve, manipulate, and display geographic information and features linking of cartographic features with their alphanumeric attributes to perform spatial analysis. Recently, there has been increasing interest in integrating multimedia information in GIS. Shunfu Hu (1999) developed an approach for integrating multimedia data with a GIS database for an area in Everglades National Park. The multimedia database contains descriptive text, ground photographs, digital video clips, and audio segments highlighting the characteristics of Everglades plant communities, individual species, and invasive exotics, as well as plant-animal interactions, hurricane damage, and postfire vegetation succession. It is linked to a GIS database that includes detailed vegetation maps, satellite imagery, and scanned aerial photographs. The integrated multimedia approach system was implemented in two steps: (1) an interactive multimedia system designed to manipulate multimedia information such as hypertext, hyperlinks, scanned photographs, digital video, and sound was developed in a Microsoft Visual Basic programming environment and (2) a GIS application program to manipulate spatial data was constructed using Visual Basic and Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) MapObjects software. The hypermedia GIS approach provides a unique way to represent geospatial features and associated information on interrelationships between flora, fauna, and human activities in Everglades National Park.

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