Flow Maps

Goals

The automatic generation of flow maps, i.e. maps of linear movements between places, using curved lines with varying width to show quantitative information and arrows to illustrate direction. The geometry of flow symbols must be optimized to reduce the number of graphic conflicts between flows.

Results

A genetic algorithm for the automatic generation of flow maps was developed. Different types of potential conflicts between flow symbols were identified, and algorithms adjusting the geometry of flows to minimize spatial conflicts were developed. The developed method was implemented as a prototype application in Java.

Prototype software for the automatic generation of flow maps.

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