ABSTRACT
Earthquakes represent one of the most destructive natural hazards, posing serious risks to human life, infrastructure, and the environment. While seismic maps have long been used to communicate the distribution and impact of earthquakes, advances in digital cartography now enable more dynamic and engaging visualizations. This chapter provides an empirical assessment of dynamic point symbols as tools for representing seismic data in both space and time. Drawing on cartographic theory, geovisualization methods, and usability research, the study evaluates animated versus static symbols through both large-scale online surveys and controlled laboratory eye-tracking experiments. Effectiveness, efficiency, and visual behavior metrics are combined with subjective user assessments to provide a comprehensive evaluation of how people interact with animated maps. By integrating methodological rigor with practical design insights, this chapter addresses the opportunities and challenges of applying motion, size, color, and temporal variables to earthquake mapping. The findings aim to inform cartographers, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialists, and researchers working on user-centered geovisualization, while also offering evidence-based guidelines for improving public communication and decision support in the context of natural hazards.
