Information content- Visualization

[Dr.John.Felleman, Professor <felleman@esf.edu>]

The term "information access" includes at least 2 dimensions. The first
is "physical access" (whether hard copy or digital). In the discussion
there has been much useful give and take on this topic. The other major
dimension involves "cognitive access"- can the end-user understand and
apply the information. The discourse is thin here.

Much (most?) of the environmental issues of interest involve spatial
locations and/or environmental processes. Anyone studying these topics
quickly realizes that the use of visuals (maps, graphs, photos,
diagrams...) is essential to understanding problems and potential
solutions. The publics' visual literacies far exceed their textual and
numerical literacies. However, other than embracing GIS and the
Internet, the EPA has little or no policy regarding the centrality of
visualization in effective public participation. What policy does exist
appears to be of the black and white Xerox hard copy vintage. Without
content and design guidelines, the EPA States and Locals, and
consultants do thier own thing. As a result, Regulations, Impact
Statements, Web sites, superfund projects etc. all represent an ad-hoc
hodge podge of use/misuse/disinformation regarding locations, plume
pathways, designs, error/uncertainty ...and other critcal
visualizations.

I'd appreciate some discussion on this topic.

Thanks,

Dr. John Felleman
Professor
State University of New York
College of Environmental Science and Forestry