ON CERTAIN STATEMENTS IN “RECIDIVISM OF COMMUNICATIVE CARTOGRAPHY UNDER THE GUISE OF AUTOMATION”

Several researchers, including some affiliated with the Moscow Institute of Geodetic, Aerial Photographic, and Cartographic Engineers, an important center of geodetic and cartographic training in the USSR, continue the debate on automation in cartography featured in the preceding issue of Mapping Sciences and Remote Sensing (1986, No. 4, pp. 274–288). They advocate continuation of some of the more promising research directions outlined in Ye. Ye. Shiryayev's book, criticize certain of its ideas regarding cartographic communication, generalization, and raster digitizing, and call for increased attention to the role of the geodetic sciences in the training of cartographers. The current debate stems from lack of adequate definitions for many concepts involved with cartographic presentation, inadequate development of a theory of automation, and lack of coordination in research among concerned organizations. Translated from: Geodeziya i kartografiya, 1986, No. 7, pp. 37–42.     

DEVELOPING THE CARTOGRAPHIC SKILLS OF GEOGRAPHY STUDENTS (Organization of laboratory work in the “Cartography” course)

The authors describe the content and objectives of laboratory work in the general cartography course at Moscow University. The course is taken by all third-semester geography students, with laboratory work designed to develop basic skills in mapping and map use rather than supply professional cartographic training. A lab syllabus, designed as a model for similar courses throughout the USSR, permits comparison of Soviet emphases with those prevailing in North American universities. Considerable attention is devoted to development of evaluative skills (selection of suitable projections, methods of presentation, etc.) and recognition of basic sources of cartographic information. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1984, No. 5, pp. 43-48.     

THE CENTROGRAPHIC METHOD OF STUDYING SPATIAL STRUCTURE

The authors focus on modern applications of the centrographic method of geographic research and mapping—both in terms of how centrography may aid in the cartographic representation of certain distributions and in terms of how cartographic devices (e.g., centrograms) may be used in the more effective identification of centers. A brief history of the method's development in Russia and the USSR is followed by examples of the use of centrograms in simultaneously comparing shifts (a) of distinct but related phenomena and (b) of the same phenomenon but at different scale levels. A variety of centrograms are presented and analyzed. Translated by Jay K. Mitchell, PlanEcon, Inc., Washington, DC 20005 from: Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, seriya geograficheskaya, 1990, No. 2, pp. 92–105.     

THE CLASSIFICATION AND MAPPING OF IMPRECISE GEOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS

The author describes problems with traditional statistical and cartographic methods employed in the classification and mapping of ambiguously or vaguely defined features. Using a series of maps on the same subject (the foreign trade relations of European countries and the USSR), he demonstrates that greater attention should be paid to potential changes in the distribution of mapped objects depending on the criteria selected and the classification algorithms employed, argues that multiple classification strategies be used to determine optimal strategies for visually representing imprecise systems, and provides recommendations for their graphic representation. Translated by Kurt E. Engelmann, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1989, No. 3, pp. 16–23.     

THE WORLD ATLAS OF SNOW AND ICE RESOURCES

The World Atlas of Snow and Ice Resources, scheduled for publication in the late 1980s, is an extensive cartographic summary of current knowledge about snow and ice. Roughly 750 maps organized under 17 broad themes cover topics such as glacier morphology, temperature and precipitation conditions in glacier formation, avalanches, meltwater runoff, sea ice, and past glaciation. The organization of the project is described along with the contents of major thematic sections, and examples of the use of basic initial maps to validate information used in more complex derivative maps are provided. Translated from: Materialy glyatsiologicheskikh issledovaniy, USSR Geophysical Committee Publication No. 51. Moscow: Mezhvedomstvenniy geofizicheskiy komitet, 1984, pp. 89-95.     

THE RELATION OF CARTOGRAPHY TO THE LAWS AND CLASSIFICATION OF SCIENCE

The chairman of Moscow University's Cartography Department addresses questions about cartography's place in the system of scientific knowledge, qualifications as a science, subject matter, and methods of analysis. Critiques of recent theoretical works both within and outside the USSR lay the groundwork for the author's view of cartography: a multifaceted, interdisciplinary field of knowledge using maps for the presentation and investigation of natural and socioeconomic phenomena. Although few if any strictly cartographic laws exist at present, map use methods are applied widely for the discovery and analysis of laws in other disciplines. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1984, No. 6, pp. 3-10.     

GEOLOGIC INTERPRETATION OF ANTARCTICA'S MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS WITH SPACE IMAGERY

This paper demonstrates how ice-surface relief identified on space imagery can be used in mapping selected elements of the geologic structure of the Antarctic Peninsula. The mapping procedure is based on the fact that all major subglacial relief forms appear, albeit in subdued form, on the surface of slow moving and relatively thin ice sheets. Since subglacial bedrock relief reflects geologic structure, particular surface configurations of ice identified on space imagery can be used as indicators of major structural elements. Examples of the procedure, including imagery of ice relief and corresponding cartographic representations of underlying structure are provided for faults and ring structures. Translated from: Antarktika, AN SSSR Mezhduvedomstvennaya komissiya po izucheniyu Antarktiki, Doklady komissii [USSR Academy of Sciences Joint Commission on Antarctic Research, Commission Report], No. 24. Moscow, 1985, pp. 50-55. An article demonstrating the application of these methods in the compilation of a geologic map for a part of the Antarctic Peninsula will appear in a later issue.     

Typology of Meteorological Weather Forecast Maps Printed in World Newspapers

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of the analysis of more than 150 different printed newspaper weather forecasting maps, representing 91 global, national, regional and local daily news periodicals from 33 countries in 4 continents. The classification attention focused both on the character of the localizing background layer of the analysed maps as well as on the meteorological thematic layer. The results identify 12 types of background localizing maps and 47 used types of presentation of meteorological forecast information, only 19 of which were used repeatedly in more than one newspaper. All the findings were documented on comparable cartographic models. Conclusions suitable for practical applications are demonstrated in the discussion.     

AN EXPERIMENT IN SYSTEMATIZING THE CARTOGRAPHIC IMAGES OF GEOMORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES

The authors attempt to identify and standardize the cartographic symbols (“images”) used to represent a variety of specific geomorphological features. A large number of cartographic representations of landform features found on geological-geomorphological maps are classified in terms of their basic pattern/configuration and the level of complexity within each major pattern type. It is argued that the pattern or configuration of a cartographic symbol used to represent a geomorphological feature should represent the spatial structure of that feature with sufficient reliability to serve as a key to an understanding of its genesis. Translated from: Geomorfologiya, 1987, No. 2, pp. 62-66.     

CARTOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AGROINDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

The authors describe how cartographic research methods can be integrated with geographic information systems and automated mapping systems for the purpose of monitoring and analyzing negative impacts of agricultural and food processing activities on the environment. The paper also outlines basic research trends in ecological-geographical mapping and the content and types of cartographic products derived from mapping environmental impacts of the agroindustrial complex. A final section focuses on principles for the mapping of specific aspects and/or consequences of agroindustrial activity, e.g., soil erosion, agricultural chemical concentrations, water conservation issues. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA 22308 from: Geografiya i prirodnyye resursy, 1991, No. 3, pp. 5–11.     

AUTOMATED MAPPING FROM SCANNER IMAGE INTERPRETATION

A methodology for the interpretation and mapping of lineaments and related geological features from medium-resolution, Meteor satellite scanner imagery is described. Special emphasis is placed on improving traditional methods of transferring information interpreted from remote sensing materials onto a cartographic base through compensation for the special character of geometric distortion on scanner imagery and selection of appropriate map projections for the cartographic base. This boils down to the development of computer models for correlating control points on a scanner image and map base, and algorithms for the plotting both of that base and the thematic image elements that are the focus of interest. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1986, No. 3, pp. 35–40.     

USE OF THE CARTOGRAPHIC METHOD IN THE STUDY OF CHANNEL PROCESSES

A second paper on floodplain and channel mapping describes how the “cartographic method” (the use of maps to derive information about the world not readily available through other means of investigation) is applied through the use of special maps depicting the sizes and types of river channels, the character of floodplains and of channel deformation, and the general conditions responsible for channel evolution. The uses, strengths, and limitations of channel maps at small, intermediate, and large scales are discussed, as well as methods of cartographic presentation that have proven most effective. Translated from: Geografiya i prirodnyye resursy, 1986, No. 3, pp. 99-108.     

CARTOGRAPHY ON THE EVE OF A NEW MILLENNIUM

One of Russia's foremost cartographers surveys the status of cartography on the eve of the 21st century, in a review of research presented at a plenary session of a recent national cartographic conference of the Russian Federation. The focus is on how changes in scientific paradigms (toward a so-called phenomenological paradigm) have been accompanied by the appearance of new products and modes of communication and information transmission. These, in turn, have generated needs for new programs of mass-based cartographic education and new scientific production institutes for the design and testing of new mapping technologies. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA 22308 from: Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, seriya geograficheskaya, 1998, No. 1, pp. 8-17.     

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL SPATIAL IMAGES

A review of the Soviet and foreign literature on nontraditional cartographic images (cartograms) sets the stage for a critique of the position that they are only distorted versions of conventional maps. The author argues that nontraditional images are a legitimate form of cartographic presentation, employing a special non-spatial (topologic) system of measurement. As such, they are uniquely suited for the portrayal of certain kinds of information (i.e., socioeconomic) where elucidation of quantitative relations among features is more important than their faithful geometric representation. Procedures for transforming traditional images into nontraditional ones are described. Translated from: Izvestiy a AN SSSR, seriya geograficheskaya, 1984, No. 5, pp. 121-133.     

THE CONCEPT OF SPACE AND ITS PRESENTATION ON MAPS: THEORETICAL ASPECTS

The author defines cartographic space, i.e., the space encompassed by geographic maps, as the entire “geographic” envelope. Maps as spatial models of the concrete three-dimensional space of this envelope [increasingly this space is viewed as four-dimensional, when the element of time is included] depict geosystems of various levels and complexity and serve as an essential basis for analyzing their properties, internal processes, and relationships. The author argues against divorcing the study of cartographic space from an understanding of the content of the objects being mapped, and critically evaluates positions of other Soviet and East European cartographers on the “dual role” of the cartographic space of maps. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1986, No. 2, pp. 3-9.     

THE ECOLOGY OF RUSSIA ON MAPS

An overview paper, providing general information on research in the field of ecological mapping, surveys the cartographic study of ecological problems occurring in Russia at present and defines priority problems for the future development of this field. Among the criteria used to categorize the inventory of the ecological cartographic products of Russia are map topic, scale, time of compilation, format, and regional distribution. The survey was carried out under the auspices of the Russian Federation Ministry of Science, Higher and Intermediate Education, and Technical Policy at the Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with specialists of many institutions and organizations of the country—The Siberian Section, Institute of Geography; the Russian State Library; and others. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA 22308 from: Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, seriya geograficheskaya, 1994, No. 1, pp. 107-118.     

The Differentiation of Point Symbols using Selected Visual Variables in the Mobile Augmented Reality System

On the basis of initial studies devoted to a better understanding of how the public user (a pedestrian in the city) perceives cartographic symbols in the mobile augmented reality system, we present an attempt to determine the threshold values of differentiation for three visual variables. The variables of size, transparency, and focus were implemented into image point symbols representing five types of objects. The set of symbols was designed in accordance with the rules of cartographic design taking into consideration an analysis of 19 professional tourist works. The symbols were presented on the screen of a mobile device in a system imitating the augmented reality system against four different backgrounds: white, a wall, and two typical urban landscapes. The results of an internet survey conducted using a tablet at four locations in Poznan (Poland) allowed us to determine the following: threshold differentiation values for the analysed variables, indication of the dependence on the type of background displayed on the mobile device in augmented reality, and the advantage of using a combination of visual variables.     

心象地图在制图传输中的作用

制图传输是制图学的重要研究领域。本文从认知制图的角度,探讨了心象地图在制图传输中的作用;着重分析了心象地图和地图之间的内在联系,指出了人的认知制图能力的客观存在是制图传输得以进行的真正原因;在此基础上,提出了制图传输的扩展模式,增加了从读图者到次读图者之间的传输过程,并从内容和形式等方面分析了它的特殊性,以期完善制图传输模式。     

基于XML Web服务的地图增量更新模型研究

从地图表达数据可持续利用的角度,提出基于XML Web服务的地图增量更新模型。分析基于Web服务的地图增量更新的原理、关键技术以及实现过程,并结合GML、XSLT表达规则、SVG地图符号及JavaScript设计,实现基于XML的地图表达数据增量更新的原型系统。     

DEVELOPMENT OF CARTOGRAPHIC THEORY IN EASTERN EUROPE

The development of cartographic theory in Eastern Europe and its implications are discussed in depth by one of the most prominent Soviet geographers and cartographers. Professor Salishchev who heads the Department of Cartography at Moscow University, was the President of the International Cartographic Association. Translated from: Geodeziya i kartografiya, 1983, No. 10, pp. 51-56.