本文从网络地图的特点与功能入手,分析国内外主要地图学网站上的网络地图,结合笔者所进行过的纸质地图与电子地图设计研究及网络地图的设计,总结网络地图的设计特点,提出网络地图的设计原则。认为网络地图不同于一般的电子地图,网络地图的设计应有自己的特点。目前国内外主要地图学网站上的网络地图在地图设计上存在着这样或那样的问题,因此影响了网络地图的信息传输效果,不能发挥其应有的作用。笔者对此进行了分析,结合分析结果,提出了网络地图在界面设计、色彩设计、符号设计、分层设计等方面的设计原则。

A webmap is a kind of map which be browsed, made and used on the World-Wide-Web. Along with the popularization of Internet, a webmap, as a form of spatial information visualization, has been paid more and more attention to. A webmap has charac-teristics with dynamism, interactivity, hypermedia structure and faster distribution, and has functions with graphics operation, map query, interactive mapping, statistics and analysis, and hyperlink web page. Presently, most webmaps are made by program developers in computer company, and less cartographers participate in the mapping, so there are some problems exist on the display effects of webmaps from the angle of cartographic design and affect the information communication of webmaps. Based on the analysis of some cartographic web sites like http://www. go2map. com, http://www. chinaquest. com, http://www. map960. com, http://www. afmap. com, http://www. fhoo. com, http://www. mapquest. com and http://www. atlas, ccrs. nrcan. gc. ca, the authors summarize the characteristics and functions of webmap, then present the principles of webmap design including interface design, color and symbol design, and layer design according to the authors’ design experiences in the both paper maps and electronic maps. The authors believe that researches on webmap design are helpful to improve the display effects of webmaps and enhance efficiency of information communication. Farther researches on webmap design should be carried out from the viewpoint of cognitive science and user-centered.