Cartographic Content Research Articles

Pedagogical proposal of tactile graphical framework for delimiting permanent preservation areas for the visually impaired

One of the biggest challenges for visually impaired people is learning cartographic content. Among the cartographic contents, the conceptualization and delimitation of preservation areas is an applied example with extreme relevance for environmental education. This article presents the process of developing a tactile graphic scheme for environmental education for visually impaired people regarding the delimitation of permanent preservation areas around springs and rivers. The creation of the teaching resource used easily acquired materials and followed format recommendations indicated by academic literature on tactile maps. The didact resource has textual content in Braille and Roman numerals, as well as legend and graphic scale in high relief. Special care was taken so that the teaching resource can be used in an inclusive manner, involving, at the same time, blind, partially visually impaired and students with full vision, to promote an inclusive educational environment. This resource can be a useful tool for teaching cartography topics applied to environmental conservation contexts.

Digitalization of geographic higher education: problems and prospects

The article addresses the relevant issue of today – digitalization of geographic higher education. The future of geographic education in the digital world depends on the use of digital technologies, which are dramatically changing approaches to teaching geography. The generalization of scientific literature and the analysis of pedagogical experience allow the authors to define the concept digitalization of geographic. The article explores some challenges in the implementation of digital technologies in geographic disciplines in higher education: narrowing geographic education digitalization to the use of various gadgets; the application of general purpose digital technologies; underestimation of GIS technologies during the study of geography; occasional use of VR, AR technologies and mobile applications of geographic and cartographic content; the lack of educational and methodological support and proper technological availability. The authors pay special attention to the prospects for the development of geographic education digitalization, which are envisioned in the introduction of “Digitalization of geographic education” into the curriculum of future geography teachers training; the use of high-quality free educational resources (ArcGIS Online, QGIS); the creation of own geo-information platforms (“Digital Geography”); and updating of the material and technical base of the scientific research laboratory on the methodology of teaching geo-information technologies.

A new standardized methodology for analyzing cartographic information on old maps

This article presents a new methodology for analyzing old maps that was used to identify and interpret cartographic symbols on selected maps. It analyzes fifty-eight maps, originating from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries and showing the territory of Slovenia. The basic criteria for selecting the maps were authorship, scale, and the territory depicted. The study included maps at a medium scale of 1:200,000 to 1:900,000. Approximately eighty entries were made for each map, and several thousand pieces of data were obtained, which then required a uniform and systematic examination of all cartographic symbols on the maps selected. Before the nineteenth century, changes in symbols for vegetation, relief, transport networks, and explanatory elements were the most evident. The article concludes by highlighting the reliability of cartographic content as a source for research. The new method for examining maps makes it easier to determine the cause-and-effect relationship of cartographic elements to map content.

Consideraciones teórico-metodológicas sobre la identificación de Lugares de Interés Didáctico para la enseñanza del paisaje

This article raises the importance of geographical contributions to the didactics of landscape and the recent significance of the identification of various proposals and criteria for the recognition of specific places or enclaves that favor its teaching. Starting from a mixed method based on the interrelation of theoretical and cartographic contents, together with explorations and field work, the design and selection of a set of indicators is approached that can be applied to the teaching of landscape through its interpretation and possible environmental and cultural assessment. It is proposed, from the Didactics of Geography, the definition of the Place of Didactic Interest, as well as a methodology for its recognition, selection and evaluation for its possible application in different territorial areas and curricular contexts. For this purpose, the identification of 13 criteria, grouped into 5 levels, focused, firstly, on the importance of close contact with the territory and the object of learning as educational reasons outside the classroom and, secondly, on the importance of the education of the student's gaze, necessary for the understanding and appreciation of their environment or study areas and determining for the acquisition of a significant landscape education. It concludes considering the Places of Didactic Interest as strategic enclaves from which to promote the reading, interpretation and explanation of the landscape, as well as one of the main tools for the design of itineraries with adaptation of curricular contents in Geography.

Location Based Navigation Service Technology: Development of an Optimization Algorithm for Multivariate Contextual Cartographic Content in Location Based Navigation Service

User response or reaction to navigation applications is influenced by relevance in geographic information, in terms of cartographic context and content delivered within a definite time, providing a direct impact to outcome or consequence based on decision making and hence user reaction. Location Based Navigation Services (LBNS) have continuously advanced in cartographic visualization, making maps interpretation easy and ubiquitous to any user, as compared to pre-historic times when maps were a preserve of a few. Despite rapid growth in LBNS, there exist challenges that may be characterized as technical and non-technical challenges, among them being process of conveying geospatial information to user. LBNS system deliver appropriate information to a user through smartphone (mobile device) for effective decision making and response within a given time span. This research focuses on optimization of cartographic content for contextual information in LBNS to users, based on prevailing circumstances of various components that constitute it. The research looks into Geographic Information Retrieval (GIR), as a technical challenge centered on a non-technical issue of social being of user satisfaction, leading to decision making in LBNS, hence response and outcome. Though advanced technologically, current LBNS on information sourcing depends on user manual web pages navigation and maneuver, this can be painstaking and time consuming that it may cause unnecessary delay in information delivery, resulting to delayed information response time (DIRT). This in turn may lead to unappropriate decision making with erroneous reaction or response being taken, resulting in loss of opportunity, resources, time and even life. Optimization in LBNS is achieved by a mathematical relationship developed between user status, mobile device variables against cartographic content. The relationship is in turn applied in LBNS android application to fulfill optimization solution for user consumption.

Assessing geography knowledge in primary education with mental map analysis: a Balearic Islands case study

ABSTRACT The article underscores that the cartographic language used in social science textbooks for primary education in Spain is unsuitable and does not meet the demands of the official syllabus. Consequently, pupil literacy in geography with regard to regional geography is markedly ethnocentric. To demonstrate this, the cartographic content of textbooks is compared to the knowledge pupils have acquired on regional realities towards the end of this education stage. Specifically, certain aspects of mental maps of the Balearic Islands produced by year six primary pupils at twelve Majorcan schools are analysed. Based on this school cartography, a diagnostic exercise is performed on island pupils’ literacy in geography in their last year of basic education. The use of spatial analysis tools enables us to conclude that there is low-level intersectionality between academic knowledge (insufficient) and ethnocentric knowledge (majority) – symbolic proof that the educational philosophy at most Spanish schools provides significantly poor learning.

Cartographic content analysis of compelling climate change communication

ABSTRACT Maps are a key way to communicate climate change. The goal of these maps is to make climate change relatable, tangible, and understandable. However, little research has assessed the content of these maps and the aspects of these maps which attract readers, reduce complexity, and make climate change tangible. One way to evaluate maps of climate change is through the concept of vividness, a term from the communication literature. This article examines the content and vividness of maps of climate change to answer the following: which media organizations publish these maps? What is the design and content of these maps? Did these maps convey climate change vividly? Using content analysis and multidimensional scaling (nMDS) this research showed that producers of climate change maps are often not the publishers of this same content. These maps primarily showed topics which were relevant to audiences in the United States. There was a wide variety of different cartographic designs used. And finally, maps were vivid when they employed the eight aspects of vividness presented in this paper: legend design, symbolization, layout, projections which were appropriate for the data, visual salience, visible change over time, color use which aligned with color connotations, and novel design styles.

Like it! Maps as a Subject and a Springboard for discussion in social media

Abstract In the modern world of mass information being reduced to colourful images, maps have the chance to become a medium that transmits important information in an attractive format. Due to time pressure, many cartographic publications that have a short life span on the internet contain a lot of methodological errors. Viewers receive an image that is hard to interpret, incomplete or even incorrect. The author aims to summarize and classify the cartographic content of social media, while bearing methodology, the role of the cartographer and users’ reactions to that content in mind. The springboard to online discussion is mainly a map topic. Their design or methodology is of little interest in most cases. This may be due to insufficient knowledge of how forms (their correctness and quality) shape messages. Hence the role of the cartographer is important, what can be seen – among methodological remarks – as one of conclusions. It seems that map-makers are becoming more expert, and are guiding map lovers and amateur cartographers towards creating good, effective and elegant maps.

Maps of Minsk of the late XVIII – early XIX century as the sources on social topography of the city

This article examines the maps of Minsk of the late XVIII – early XIX century as the sources on social topography of the city. Socio-topographic approach in history implies combining topographic data and social research. City maps have been traditionally viewed as the sources for reconstructing urban topography. However, they often contain valuable data on population of the city, thus it is suggested viewing the maps of Minsk as the carriers of two types of information – topographic and social. Having prepared a review of twenty city maps, the author demonstrates the context of their emergence and provides brief description. The importance of city maps for reconstruction of its topography is underlined. Bases on studying the cartographic content of maps, the author reproduces the image of Minsk of the late XVIII – early XIX; determines the records on social characteristics of urban population. The meaning of cartographic sources for examination of social topography of Minsk is defined.

Maps under the global condition: a new tool to study the evolution of cartographic language

Maps under the global condition: a new tool to study the evolution of cartographic language

Scope of Information in the Legends of Topographical Maps in the Nineteenth Century – Urmesstischblätter

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to determine the informational resource of maps (two folios) of the Urmesstischblätter with reference to the legend (three editions). Visual analysis was used as the basis for acquiring information that could be gleaned from the legends, contents of the folios, marginalia and later map. The information gathered was grouped applying the geoinformational method. The informational resource of the folios was determined by identifying separate objects present on the map with reference to the legend (number of separations in the legend), taking into consideration the geometrical type of objects. In addition, the informational resource of a folio was also defined by the number of features of these objects that can be obtained (from the legend, cartographic content, marginalia, Messtischblätter) with reference to cartographic measurement levels.

Vario-scale data structures

The previous chapter presents state-of-the-art in map generalization at NMAs’ and continuous generalization. There is a noticeable technological shift towards continuous generalisation which supports interactive map use where users can zoom in, out and navigate more gradual way. Despite some research efforts there is no satisfactory solution yet. Therefore, this chapter introduces the truly smooth vario-scale structure for geographic information where a small step in the scale dimension leads to a small change in representation of geographic features that are represented on the map. With this approach there is no (or minimal) geometric data redundancy and there is no (temporal) delay any more between the availability of data sets at different map scales (as was and is the case with more traditional approaches of multi-scale representations). Moreover, continuous generalisation of real world features is based on the structure that can be used for presenting a smooth zoom action to the user. More specific, Section 3.1 and 3.2 provide historical overview of the development and the theoretical framework for vario-scale representations: the tGAP-structure (topological Generalized Area Partitioning). Section 3.3 describes the initial effort to generate the better cartographic content; the concept of constraint tGAP. Section 3.4 explains the 3D SSC (Space-Scale Cube) encoding of 2D truly vario-scale data. Section 3.5 shows idea how to combine more level of details in one map. Section 3.6 summarizes the open questions of the vario-scale concept and it indicates research covered in following chapters. Finally, Section 3.7 presents vario-scale data research in parallel to this PhD for progressive data transfer. Then, Section 3.8 summarises the chapter.

Livro Didático de Geografia: estudo da linguagem cartográfica

Resumo: O artigo objetiva socializar a pesquisa sobre o livro didático de Geografia dos anos finais do ensino fundamental (ciclos III e IV) em relação à linguagem cartográfica. O estudo, qualitativo, avaliou a relação dos textos discursivos e atividades com os mapas, sob o foco da consciência espacial cidadã. O referencial teórico teve como pressupostos: a concepção de uma Educação Geográfica comprometida com a cidadania do educando; e as representações cartográficas nos livros didáticos enquanto instrumentais metodológicos. Os resultados evidenciam que, de maneira geral, a Coleção apresenta os elementos essenciais dos mapas, apesar de ocorrerem ainda incorreções e insuficiências; e a articulação de textos e atividades com mapas é deficiente.

Vario-scale data structures

The previous chapter presents state-of-the-art in map generalization at NMAs’ and continuous generalization. There is a noticeable technological shift towards continuous generalisation which supports interactive map use where users can zoom in, out and navigate more gradual way. Despite some research efforts there is no satisfactory solution yet. Therefore, this chapter introduces the truly smooth vario-scale structure for geographic information where a small step in the scale dimension leads to a small change in representation of geographic features that are represented on the map. With this approach there is no (or minimal) geometric data redundancy and there is no (temporal) delay any more between the availability of data sets at different map scales (as was and is the case with more traditional approaches of multi-scale representations). Moreover, continuous generalisation of real world features is based on the structure that can be used for presenting a smooth zoom action to the user. More specific, Section 3.1 and 3.2 provide historical overview of the development and the theoretical framework for vario-scale representations: the tGAP-structure (topological Generalized Area Partitioning). Section 3.3 describes the initial effort to generate the better cartographic content; the concept of constraint tGAP. Section 3.4 explains the 3D SSC (Space-Scale Cube) encoding of 2D truly vario-scale data. Section 3.5 shows idea how to combine more level of details in one map. Section 3.6 summarizes the open questions of the vario-scale concept and it indicates research covered in following chapters. Finally, Section 3.7 presents vario-scale data research in parallel to this PhD for progressive data transfer. Then, Section 3.8 summarises the chapter.

O LIVRO DIDÁTICO DE GEOGRAFIA: ESTUDO DA LINGUAGEM CARTOGRÁFICA SOB O FOCO DA FORMAÇÃO DA CONSCIÊNCIA ESPACIAL CIDADÃ

RESUMO: O artigo relata pesquisa realizada sobre o livro didático de Geografia dos anos finais do Ensino Fundamental (6º ao 9º ano) quanto à linguagem cartográfica. Trata-se de estudo qualitativo, como análise documental, avaliando a relação dos mapas com textos discursivos e atividades, sob o foco da consciência espacial cidadã. O referencial teórico assumiu uma concepção de Educação Geográfica comprometida com a cidadania; e as representações cartográficas enquanto instrumentais metodológicos carreadores das relações de conteúdos com a especialidade geográfica. Os resultados evidenciaram que a Coleção apresenta os elementos essenciais dos mapas, apesar de ocorrerem incorreções e insuficiências, também na articulação de textos e atividades com mapas; e há incongruências entre a teoria e a prática quanto à concepção de Geografia na Coleção, trazendo no Guia do Docente uma visão mais atualizada e voltada à formação da cidadania e, nos livros dos alunos, uma perspectiva tradicional, informativo-descritiva.

Continuous Road Network Generalization throughout All Scales

Until now, road network generalization has mainly been applied to the task of generalizing from one fixed source scale to another fixed target scale. These actions result in large differences in content and representation, e.g., a sudden change of the representation of road segments from areas to lines, which may confuse users. Therefore, we aim at the continuous generalization of a road network for the whole range, from the large scale, where roads are represented as areas, to mid- and small scales, where roads are represented progressively more frequently as lines. As a consequence of this process, there is an intermediate scale range where at the same time some roads will be represented as areas, while others will be represented as lines. We propose a new data model together with a specific data structure where for all map objects, a range of valid map scales is stored. This model is based on the integrated and explicit representation of: (1) a planar area partition; and (2) a linear road network. This enables the generalization process to include the knowledge and understanding of a linear network. This paper further discusses the actual generalization options and algorithms for populating this data structure with high quality vario-scale cartographic content.

The Use of Mental and Sketch Maps as a Tool to Evaluate Cartography Teaching Effectiveness

The paper describes mental maps and their use in teaching process. The survey conducted among students of geodesy and cartography resulted in 124 sketches. They were analysed from the point of view of cartographic methodology and used methods of presentation. The different elements and methods were counted and helped in evaluation of teaching process effectiveness, showing changes in students’ knowledge of certain rules of cartographic language and design and their applications. As the survey was conducted in relation to courses taught, the results are of great value in increasing the quality of cartographic content of these courses and teaching methods.

Багатофункціональна інтерактивна карта регіону як альтернатива його комплексного електронного атласу

The article is devoted to the justification of principles of multifunctional electronic maps of the region as an effective alternative to its integrated e-atlas. The authors of the publication proved that at the present stage of development of software and hardware geoinformation mapping in thecomputer environment can function static and interactive electronic maps and atlases. The article discloses the essence of the concept of “interactivity” in relation to the works of cartographic content which are implemented as electronic design, determined by the principles of organization of the system where the goal is achieved by information exchange of its elements which are all components of the process of interaction with other systems / person (the user). The current work also provides author’s definition of multifunctional interactive map. This is a dynamic electronic cartographic work, which laid the functionality of the formation of the maintenance of the totality of the in the legend of elements (layers or indicators mapping) the image view in a certain display mode, the formulation and implementation of inquiries, obtain the necessary information from the database in an explicit (or implicit). It forms the basis to the current needs of the user. The authors specify the applicable technological solutions for practical creation of interactive maps based on the functionality of existing software: flash, geographic information systems (GIS) and GIS visualization as the last species. According to the substantiation of authors the versatility of interactive maps is provided mainly through the use of GIS capabilities. The standard functions of interactive maps are identified by the authors as following: a combination of (a display) of content elements (mapping parameters) in accordance with the requirements of the user by drawing samples / query based on the on-screen interface means (due to submitted legend), search capabilities of information database with its updating in real time; a changing of the view image scaling and performing of the formation of the required content of the resulting load mode; navigation and search services with opportunities paving the optimal route, a conducting of the corresponding dimensions on landscape maps of operations and analytical constructions; the existence of hyperlinks to jump to the additional funds, and other necessary information. The authors of the publication specified the advantages of the interactive maps compared to the corresponding complex satin electronic developments. By the authors, it must be taken as the prospective studies which are oriented to the formulating theoretical and methodological foundations of the proposed development of cartographic products with substantiating of implementation of appropriate opportunities in the existing technological solutions.

Teaching science and perceptive abilities of students of different genders

The meaning of the subject Science is to acquire knowledge and to encourage development of pupil's potential. The perceptual abilities of students that come to the fore when processing cartographic content in the framework of the development potential of the work have been analyzed. The research was conducted on a sample of 107 students of the third grade of primary school, of which 54 boys and 53 girls. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in perceptual abilities among students of different sexes. We started from the theoretical assumptions of higher performance males in perceptual abilities. Tests that were used were perceptual abilities IT-1 and spatial abilities KBT. The results indicate that at the age of the third grade pupils, there are no statistically significant differences between pupils of different genders in terms of perceptual abilities.

Maps in video games – range of applications

Abstract The authors discuss the role of the map in various game genres, specifically video games. Presented examples illustrate widespread map usage in various ways and forms by the authors of games, both classic and video. The article takes a closer look at the classification and development of video games within the last few decades. Presently, video games use advanced geospatial models and data resources. Users are keen on a detailed representation of the real world. Game authors use advanced visualization technologies, which often are innovative and very attractive. Joint efforts of cartographers, geo-information specialists and game producers can bring interesting effects in the future. Although games are mainly made for entertainment, they are more frequently used for other purposes. There is a growing need for data reliability as well as for some effective means of transmission cartographic content. This opens up a new area of both scientific and implementation activity for cartographers. There is no universally accessible data on the role of cartographers in game production, but apparently it is quite limited at the moment. However, a wider application of cartographic methodology would have a positive effect on the development of games and, conversely, methods and technologies applied by game makers can influence the development of cartography.