Dot maps are important tools to analyze the spatial density of a phenomenon. During the process of map design, a certain quantity N of occurrences is established to be represented by a point. The objective of this study was to create a method to group data by point, an algorithm to a grouping definition and the assessment of both method and the algorithm producing an example using the cases of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) in Brazil, with data of the National Program of STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and AIDS, that enclose cases from 1980 to 2010, to generate a series of multi-temporal maps, using as a guide in the process of grouping points the hierarchic division of the Brazilian territorial space used by IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). Also the main steps on designing this type of map project are detailed, presenting best practices, when already established in cartography literature, and also some current trends and gaps in research on this topic. The algorithm proved to be an efficient tool to automate de process of generating dot maps distributed in a geography-based way, and propitiate the visualization of the phenomenon through time.
Dot Maps; AIDS; Multi-temporal Analysis
