A bivariate Wurman Dot approach to mapping job density and commuting inflows

Abstract

Commuting to work is a key form of everyday mobility. This study introduces a bivariate Wurman Dot method to visualise the relationship between commuting inflows and the Job Density Index (JDI) in Slovakia. Using 2021 Population and Housing Census data and a hexagonal grid, both indicators are visualised through a combination of symbol size and a bivariate colour scheme. The method reduces biases typical of choropleth and proportional-symbol maps by minimising shape heterogeneity, preventing symbol overlap, and enabling joint interpretation of absolute and relative labour-market indicators. The resulting visualisation reveals the hierarchy of employment centres, peripheral labour markets, and spatial mismatches between labour demand and commuting intensity, demonstrating the analytical value of the approach.