Visualization of Life Patterns through Deformation of Maps Based on Users’ Movement Data

Abstract

This paper proposes a system for visualizing individual and collective movement within dense geographical contexts, such as cities and urban neighborhoods. Specifically, we describe a method for creating “spatiotemporal maps” deformed according to personal movement and stasis. We implement and apply a prototype of our system to demonstrate its effectiveness in revealing patterns of spatiotemporal behavior, and in composing maps that more closely correspond to the node-oriented “mental maps” traditionally used by individuals in the act of navigation.