Expert Systems in Cartographic Design

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the expert systems in cartographic design. Map design is a good example of the type of problem that expert systems are often used to solve; in fact, an expert systems approach may be essential if computers are to produce high quality maps with little human intervention. Computer production of maps is essential in a number of real-time mapping tasks, especially in support of navigation and in conjunction with geographic information systems (GIS); Frank identifies cartographic experts as crucial to the applications of GIS for data analysis and depiction. The chapter focuses on the application of expert systems for reference and locational maps. The broader question of expert systems for the design of more abstract maps, such as statistical maps, has seldom been addressed in the literature. It seems clear that an expert system for design of reference maps, locational maps, and some navigation aids may be more feasible in the short term than a system to generate locational maps and purely thematic and analytical graphics. The chapter presents design criteria for a cartographic expert system that focuses on the problems of map execution, including compilation and production of base features, and thematic overlays of locational information.