Cartography of the Electromagnetic Spectrum: A Review of Wireless Visualization and Its Consequences

Abstract

Visualizations of radio waves are of sudden interest for the regulators of the world. New developments in the area of spectrum policy provide increasingly frequent opportunities for policymakers to puzzle over pictures, charts, figures, maps, and diagrams. These policymakers are driven by enthusiasm for third-party band management, spectrum sharing, license-exempt applications, refarming, and attempts to contrast the efficiency of different methods of spectrum allocation. Choices need to be made about whether bands are "full" or "empty" (among other things), and regulators expect pictures to provide them with the answer. Indeed, regulators, licensees and users in the developed world are all commissioning, producing, and designing visualizations in increasing numbers.

It may seem that the efflorescence of decisions to be made about the spectrum is producing the surge of pictures. In fact, apace with the noisy revolution in wireless has been a quiet revolution in geographic methods. The increasing capabilities of wireless systems, desktop computers, and geographic information systems (GIS) have also combined to entirely transform the kind of pictures available to be puzzled over.

This study reports on an exhaustive archival survey of spectrum visualizations used in policy proceedings in the US over the last 80 years. It then compares these pictures with very recent cartographic efforts. Consistent with other recent work on visualization (e.g., Clarke & Henderson, 2002), in policy terms the new "turn toward measurement" in spectrum cartography is not a turn toward accuracy, but rather a way of concealing major assumptions. These range from self-serving to silly, and include both the calculating and naive. This is the time to pause and rethink our spectrum pictures before we rethink our spectrum.