Mapping with a sense of place: a crowdsourced image-based color generation approach

Maps are crucial for conveying the character and atmosphere of places. While maps that evoke a sense of place are increasingly recognized as important, existing methods often rely on subjective design choices, which can be inefficient and lack scalability. This paper proposes a method for generating place-aware colored maps using crowdsourced images to realize mapping with a sense of place. Feature colors of place extracted from these images are used to create colored maps that balance legibility, harmony, and imageability. To evaluate the method’s effectiveness, we conducted two comparative experiments: one comparing place-aware colored maps with Google Maps, and another with an aesthetically rich baseline—the “Hopper” style from Snazzy Maps. Evaluation was based on participants’ performance in map-reading tasks and their perceived sense of place. Results show that our colored maps perform similarly to Google Maps in map-reading tasks but significantly outperform both baselines in evoking a stronger sense of place. This indicates that place-aware colored maps effectively evoke a sense of place while maintaining basic map functionality. This research introduces a framework for mapping with a sense of place, offering a new approach to color generation that enhances user engagement through intuitive connections to place characteristics.