地图符号是地图学的重要组成部分。当前有关地图符号的研究,主体均集中在地图符号的视觉图形方面,而对地图符号的概念语义缺乏足够的重视。本文提出了一种语义驱动的层次化地图符号设计方法,即以语义关系作为符号图形构造的基准,通过语义关系控制地图符号的图形构成,以充分发掘地图符号的概念语义成分在符号设计中的内在价值。重点论述了本体层次的语义特征提取、符素设计、聚合语义结构建模和语义驱动的符号生成4个关键步骤。利用本文符号设计方法对现有符号标准进行改进设计和认知实验。结果表明,该方法在符号认识效率方面表现较优,且在模拟信息传输过程中体现了较为稳定的高传输效率,具备有效提升地图符号的信息感知效率的潜力。

Research of map symbols is an important part of cartography. Currently, the main research of map symbols was focused on the visual graphics but paying little attention to the semantic. This paper puts forward a method of semantic-driven hierarchical map symbols design. In this method the semantic relation of map symbols is as a benchmark to the construction of symbol graphics, and the symbol graphics is controlled by semantic model. So we can fully exploit the intrinsic value of the semantic components of the map symbols in its design activities. We mainly focused on such four key steps of the method. The first one is semantic feature extraction. We systematically summarized the semantic feature of the map symbols by using ontological level concept. Second step is about morphemes design. The concept, design principles of morphemes and its important role in map symbols design was discussed. The third is about modeling of the associative semantic relation. In this step the modeling methods was discussed and a practice that show how to construct an associative semantic model based on common map symbols for the public geographical information was conducted. The fourth is semantics-driven generation of map symbols. The processes and characteristics of a symbol's generation was analyzed. An existing map symbol standard was improved by using our symbol design method. And a group of cognitive experiments have been done which show that the propound method has a superior performance in cognitive efficiency and relatively stable and high transmission efficiency in the analog process of information transmission. In conclusion, the semantic relation of the geospatial objects is the core of the method of semantic-driven hierarchical map symbols design, which is aimed to improve the graphic design and understanding of map symbols. Characterized by the symbol design oriented ontology domain, this method makes the map symbols more semantic-evident for better recognition, understanding and application.