Thematic variables are commonly used to encode additional information such as population density within the spatial layout of a map. Such «themes» are typically encoded using colour-maps. We will explore techniques for using this thematic information to directly define spatial transformations so that areas of map regions are proportional to their thematic variables, thus making the view more consistent with the thematic encodings. Our method emphasizes interactivity as a primary mechanism for allowing the user to better realize the distribution of the thematic variable, rather than relying on static views of the map.
Alan Keahey, Edward L. Robertson