  With the arrival of digital maps, the ubiquity of maps has increased sharply
and new map functionalities have become available such as changing the scale on
the fly or displaying/hiding layers. Users can now interact with maps on
multiple devices (e.g. smartphones, desktop computers, large-scale displays,
head-mounted displays) using different means of interaction such as touch,
voice or gestures. However, ensuring map functionalities and good user
experience across these devices and modalities frequently entails dedicated
development efforts for each combination. In this paper, we argue that
introducing an abstract representation of what a map contains and affords can
unlock new opportunities. For this purpose, we propose the concept of map
plasticity, the capability of a map-based system to support different contexts
of use while preserving usability and functionality. Based on this definition,
we discuss core components and an example. We also propose a research agenda
for realising map plasticity and its benefits.
