hal-05222791 Communicating the risk of erosion : the effects of map-based communication on risk (…)

This study firstly aims to understand the impacts of map representations of coastal erosion on risk perception and affects of lay citizens. Secondly, it aims to study the effect of differing design of cartographic features on observation and interpretation of the message conveyed by different maps. Seven maps were presented to the participants (N = 50), varying according endogenous (abstraction, regalian cartridge) and exogenous characteristics (background, colours). A questionnaire interrogated risk perception and affect before and after observation, while eye-tracking data were recorded during the observation of each map. This experiment shows that communicating erosion risk by maps reduces perceived knowledge of risk but also reduces fear of the risk. The abstraction level significantly impacts observation patterns: correlation maps seem to guide visual attention in a more relevant way and to convey the message more clearly and effectively than other types of maps. But there is no influence of the other characteristics even if interviews show that colours seem to influence the message interpretation