A CARTOGRAPHIC SIMULATION MODEL OF THE EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The principles of systems mapping are employed in a model simulating the effects of human activity on the environment. The model takes the form of series of maps which are organized within three basic units or “blocks.” Block I contains general preliminary maps of land use and environmental change within an area which can serve as a basis for subsequent forecasting and proposals for improving land use. Block II contains maps that take stock of, evaluate, and predict human impacts on specific environmental components, and show the spatial distribution of measures proposed to ameliorate these impacts. Block III consists of maps synthesizing the component-related information of the preceding block for the purpose of providing summary assessments about the condition of the environment and land use conflicts in an area and targeting areas deserving the most comprehensive reclamation efforts. Methods of compiling the various maps are described in detail. Translated from: Izvestiya AN SSSR, seriya geograficheskaya, 1986, No. 2, pp. 114–127.