STATE OF THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT MAPPING PROJECT

An international team of cartographers describes the initial concept and methodological principles underlying an IGU-sponsored project to compile a map of the state of the world's environments on the basis of a unified approach and guidelines. The project, which is to involve cartographers and Earth scientists throughout the world, is to provide a comprehensive characterization of the condition of marine and terrestrial ecosystems at a scale of 1:15,000,000 and is to be made available in both digital and paper formats. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA from: Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, seriya geograficheskaya, 1999, No. 1, pp. 108-113.     

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.     

A CONCEPT FOR THE MAPPING OF MULTI-STATE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

The paper investigates the use of maps in obtaining, based on the cartometric and geographic analysis of form, information about the content of multi-state social and economic systems. Examples of specially compiled maps of multi-state systems are described and various considerations in map design and compilation are discussed: scale selection, identification of typologies and design of map legends, principles for the location of geographic features on the map, and stages in cartographic research and mapping of multi-state systems. Translated by H. L. Haslett, Leamington Spa, UK from: Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, seriya geograficheskaya, 1990, No. 3, pp. 98–103.     

论测绘仪器在促进测绘事业发展中的作用

本文主要论述了测绘仪器在促进测绘事业发展中的地位与作用，说明加快发展我国测绘仪器的必要性，同时提出了发展我国测绘仪器的建议。     

MAPS OF USE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE BURYAT REPUBLIC

A team of Russian geographers describes the development of a program for mapping land use/resource development and the condition of the environment in Russia's Buryat Republic. Three ecological maps recently compiled in the Republic, using a single cartographic base and employing standardized methods, are described. The last such map is a map of environmental use that reflects both a resource-development and an environmental-protection perspective. The article includes detailed examples of the legend of the latter map. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA from: Geografiya i prirodnyye resursy, 1998, No. 3, pp. 23-29.     

THE SLIDE-RULE IN COAST-LINE MAPPING

Abstract

The use of depression angles from a high station to map coasts, lake shores and smooth-flowing rivers has always been attractive, but direct plotting on a plane-table was rarely practised in such cases until Dr John Ball introduced his well-known method, which has been used by the Survey of Egypt for much of the Egyptian Red Sea coast.     

THE ROLE OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY IN THE NATIONAL MAPPING ACTIVITIES OF THE ORDNANCE SURVEY OF NORTHERN IRELAND

Since 1960, photogrammetry has played a leading role in the acquisition of survey data within the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland. The decision to create a digital topographic database for Northern Ireland has changed the philosophy and practice of photogrammetry within the organisation and these changes are discussed in this paper.     

THE MAPPING OF NORTHERN GREENLAND

Approximately 110 sheets of orthophotomaps at a scale of 1:100000 covering all the ice, free area (300000 km²) of northern Greenland are to be produced by the Geodetic Institute of Denmark. Super-wide angle photography at a scale of 1:150 000 was acquired in 1978. Individual models are set up in a Wild B8S stereoplotter and, after carrying out aerial triangulation, a numerical method of absolute orientation is used. A digital ground model of the entire area is established in order to enable the interpolation of contour lines, for automatic plotting and to produce control data, for the orthophotoprojector. a Wild OR1. Methods of data handling and control, accuracies and typical errors are discussed.     

THE FUTURE PROSPECTS OF DATA ACQUISITION BY PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OTHER AIRBORNE SYSTEMS FOR LARGE SCALE MAPPING

This paper was the first to be presented at the Thompson Symposium 1984 which had as its theme “The future of photogrammetry”. The paper considers only the acquisition of imagery for large scale mapping and similar purposes. It discusses the role of the standard metric aerial survey camera and makes some proposals for the wider use of smaller format cameras. It also reviews the position with regard to other possible sources of imagery such as vidicon and solid state cameras.     

AN EXPERIMENT IN MAPPING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE STEPPE MARMOT USING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS

A method for mapping the distribution of a common steppe mammal, the steppe marmot, is described, based on the interpretation of air photos of its life activities (i.e., burrows). Air photos at 1:30,000 scale are used in the compilation of a map of the density of marmot burrows, which permits close and more efficient investigation of the spatial correspondence of marmot habitats and natural conditions and facilitates the selection of routes and areas of sampling in advance of marmot population counts. Translated by Kurt E. Engelmann, Seattle, WA 98195 from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1989, No. 3, pp. 94–99.     

USE OF A CENTER-PERIPHERY MODEL IN MAPPING SOCIAL-TERRITORIAL DIFFERENCES

General principles underlying the study of spatial inequality are outlined from a Soviet perspective before more specific coverage of guidelines for its portrayal in cartographic form. Questions addressed in the development of a center-periphery model for isarithmic mapping of socioeconomic differences in Hungary include selection of appropriate indices and samplings of data points for mapping, and methods for data normalization and comparison. Examples of both aggregate and more narrowly focused maps of living conditions are included. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1985, No. 4, pp. 68-74.     

二滩、官地库区土地覆盖类型图制作方法研究

利用航空彩红外正射影像镶嵌图,用光谱角分类与目视解译相结合的方法,对二滩、官地库区进行土地利用调查工作,取得了较好的效果。     

THE MAPPING OF FLOODPLAIN VEGETATION ON A LANDSCAPE BASIS

A “genetic” principle for the identification of morphological units on a floodplain landscape is applied to the mapping of vegetation and, more specifically, to a study of the spatial distribution of forest vegetation within the Ob' River floodplain. Aspects of the problem which are discussed include the identification and ranking of floodplain units and their components and appropriate scales for image interpretation and mapping. The principles and procedures outlined are applicable to the mapping of other floodplains. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, VA 22308 from: Geografiya i prirodnyye resursy, 1989, No. 2, pp. 78–84.     

REMOTE SENSING METHODS IN THE STUDY AND MAPPING OF NATURE RESERVES

A Siberian geographer outlines the major aspects of a program to map the climatic and ecological state of ecosystems in the Lake Baykal region of southern East Siberia. A methodology for the classification of micro- and mesoclimates is outlined that is based on the structural characteristics of the underlying terrain surface, the character of air flows into the region, and extensive study of natural conditions in the region. Translated by Edward Torrey, Alexandria, Virginia from: Geografiya i prirodnyye resursy, 2000, No. 2, pp. 104-112.     

THE POTENTIAL OF NIGHTTIME SPACE IMAGERY IN ANALYSIS AND MAPPING OF URBAN SETTLEMENT

A procedure is described for the use of nighttime space imagery in the mapping of an urban settlement hierarchy in the Federal Republic of Germany. City “brightness” values provide surrogate measures of urban settlement density, which are then mapped isarithmically. The resulting statistical surface is then divided into regions (first- and second-order settlement systems), and the map compared with one produced by quantitative (cluster analysis) techniques. The two regionalization schemes produce remarkably similar results, although the map compiled from the space image contained a greater number of regions, and was more detailed in other ways. Translated from: Vestnik Leningradskogo Universiteta, seriya geografiches-kaya, 1984, No. 6, pp. 112-114.