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Automatic Metro Map Layout Using Multicriteria Optimization

Stott, Jonathan, Rodgers, Peter, Martinez-Ovando, Juan Carlos, Walker, Stephen G. (2011) Automatic Metro Map Layout Using Multicriteria Optimization. Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 16 (1). pp. 182-196. (doi:10.1109/TVCG.2010.24) (KAR id:30781)

Abstract

This paper describes an automatic mechanism for drawing metro maps. We apply multicriteria optimization to find effective placement of stations with a good line layout and to label the map unambiguously. A number of metrics are defined, which are used in a weighted sum to find a fitness value for a layout of the map. A hill climbing optimizer is used to reduce the fitness value, and find improved map layouts. To avoid local minima, we apply clustering techniques to the map the hill climber moves both stations and clusters when finding improved layouts. We show the method applied to a number of metro maps, and describe an empirical study that provides some quantitative evidence that automatically-drawn metro maps can help users to find routes more efficiently than either published maps or undistorted maps. Moreover, we found that, in these cases, study subjects indicate a preference for automatically-drawn maps over the alternatives.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1109/TVCG.2010.24
Additional information: The pdf contains both the main paper and the appendices.
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming,
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Computing
Depositing User: Peter Rodgers
Date Deposited: 21 Sep 2012 09:49 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:08 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/30781 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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