This work describes an online map symbol database and API that will provide developers with access to these symbols. An example application is demonstrated showing one potential use of the Symbol Store (SymbolStore.org) database within the context of mobile event reporting. The example given is unique in that it is not tied to a specific geographic region or event scenario, which is typical of most other event mapping platforms (e.g, Ushahidi, Crowdmap, etc).

1. Mobile Symbol Design and Event Reporting for Mobile Devices:
A Preview of a Mobile Application and Developer API Based
on an Online Symbol Repository
Joshua Stevens
Scott Pezanowski
Elaine Guidero
Anthony C. Robinson
Alan M. MacEachren
NACIS | October 19, 2012

2. Overview
1. Event reporting + current strategies
2. Preview of our mobile app
3. What makes our app possible
4. Symbol design for mobile devices
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

3. Event Reporting
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

4. Event Reporting
• Interest of emergency management, crisis
mapping, and law enforcement
• ...but also the general public
• Played a major role in...
• Haiti earthquake, 2010
• Arab Spring, 2010
• Christchurch earthquake, 2011
• Public demonstrations since (e.g., #OWS)
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

5. Christchurch Recovery Map, Built w/ Ushahidi
Event Reporting
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

6. The Good:
Event maps are popular + utilized
Arab Spring NZ
Haiti
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

7. The Bad:
Event maps are largely desktop-
oriented
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

8. The Ugly:
Event maps typically use the same
abstract symbology
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

9. The Uglier:
Event mapping platforms center on a
single geographic area and/or event
type
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

10. A Preview of Our Mobile App
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

11. Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

12. Streamlined Event Symbolization
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

13. Streamlined Event Reporting
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

14. How MapAlert is Possible
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

15. What Makes MapAlert Possible:
Symbol Store: An online repository of
2,400+ map symbols
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

16. Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

17. Symbol Store Web Services
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

18. Symbol Store Web Services
• Developers can create their own apps to
access the Symbol Store
• Main feature: Search
• Symbol name
• Tags
• Category
• Agency
• Org:Set
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

19. Extended Features
• Edit
• Upload
• Parse and generate style !les, SVG, PNG
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

20. How Symbol Store Web Services Work
Symbol
Your App
Store
Your Parser XML
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

21. Search Example using HTML GET
Request
GET /OurServiceURL/OurService.asmx/SearchLucene?
value=string&timestamp=string HTTP/1.1
Host: www.geovista.psu.edu
Response
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: text/xml; charset=utf-8
Content-Length: length
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ArrayOfAnyType xmlns="http://
www.geovista.psu.edu/">
<anyType />
<anyType />
</ArrayOfAnyType>
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

22. These services were made for you.
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

23. Mobile Symbol Design
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

24. Mobile Symbol Design
• We wanted to learn if mobile symbols were
unique (spoiler alert: they are)
• Reviewed close to 80 separate studies and
manufacturer guidelines (Apple + Google)
• Boiled the !ndings down to some “simple”
recommendations...brief overview here
• Designed mobile symbology to test against
existing DHS HSWG set
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

25. Mobile Symbol Recommendation 1:
Use dark symbols on light
backgrounds.
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

26. Mobile Symbol Recommendation 2:
Size matters. Bigger is (mostly)
better.
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

27. Mobile Symbol Recommendation 3:
Symbols should be simple.
(Can you guess what this is? You shouldn’t have to.)
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

28. Mobile Symbol Recommendation 4:
Visually distinguish interactive and
non-interactive symbols.
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

29. Our Mobile Symbol Design vs HSWG
Fire Riot / Revolt Shooting / Firearm
Wild Fire Chemical Spill Tornado
Bomb Cyclone Biohazard
Bomb Threat Plane Crash Radiation
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

30. Evaluation now Planned for November
• Will compare our symbols to DHS:HSWG on a
tablet device
• Looking at:
• accuracy
• time
• associative relationships
• in!uence of base maps
• interactive a"ordance
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012

31. Thank You - questions & comments
are welcome!
Joshua Stevens, UI+UX and Symbol Design josh.stevens@psu.edu | @jscarto
Scott Pezanowski , Lead Developer spezanowski@psu.edu | @spezanowski
Elaine Guidero, Symbol Design and Metadata guidero@psu.edu | @elaineguidero
Anthony C. Robinson, Co-PI acr181@psu.edu | @A_C_Robinson
Alan M. MacEachren, PI maceachren@psu.edu | @alanGeoVISTA
Mobile Event Reporting + Symbology NACIS | October 19, 2012