Querying GIS with Animated Spatial Sketches

Presented by Group 4Presented by Group 4

Querying GIS with Animated Spatial Sketches, Volker Haarslev; Michael WesselIn: Proceedings of the 13th IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages 1997, Sept. 23-26, Capri, Italy, IEEE

Press 1997.

Overview A visual query system VISCO (Vivid Spatial Constellations) for A visual query system VISCO (Vivid Spatial Constellations) for

spatial information system is introduced in this paper.spatial information system is introduced in this paper. VISCO is domain specific language for spatial information VISCO is domain specific language for spatial information

systems or databases, typically geographical information systems or databases, typically geographical information systems (GIS).systems (GIS).

It is a sketch-based query language with the support of It is a sketch-based query language with the support of animation to define a approximate spatial constellations of animation to define a approximate spatial constellations of objects.objects.

VISCO uses naive physics metaphor to provide a easy-to-use visual language for users.

VISCO provides a way to make query to the Digital Vector Map visually by sketching.

Example Search for three buildings Search for three buildings

aligned in parallel.aligned in parallel.

Evaluation VISCO has strong metaphor based on naive physical properties VISCO has strong metaphor based on naive physical properties

of objects and provides high closeness of mapping to GIS.of objects and provides high closeness of mapping to GIS. Very good visibility and low hidden dependencies. The whole Very good visibility and low hidden dependencies. The whole

query can be represented by a single sketch sheet (WYSIWYG).query can be represented by a single sketch sheet (WYSIWYG). Good progressive evaluation: users can refine their query after Good progressive evaluation: users can refine their query after

seeing the result. On the other hand, it is highly unlikely to get seeing the result. On the other hand, it is highly unlikely to get the right result at the first place on a very large GIS. It is easy to the right result at the first place on a very large GIS. It is easy to make mistake, more like a try and error game.make mistake, more like a try and error game.

It has terse notation, but with diffuse meaning for the It has terse notation, but with diffuse meaning for the combination of notations. Thus, experience is needed to achieve combination of notations. Thus, experience is needed to achieve consistence query result.consistence query result.

Very low viscosity, users can make changes of their query easily Very low viscosity, users can make changes of their query easily by modify the sketch in the graphical query editor.by modify the sketch in the graphical query editor.