Cartographic Software Capabilities and Data Requirements: Current Status and a Look toward the Future

In this article, we suggest that a universally accepted cartographic software program does not currently exist and has never existed, but mapping software capabilities are improving, and cartographers should be involved software developments for map making. We describe the current state of software development and explore what an ideal solution for the future would be. In a related vein, GIS and other data are not generally designed for cartography, but we are learning how they can be, and cartographers should also be involved in the modeling of GIS and other data used for map making.