Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
very simple graphic products consisting of lines and points only. From
another aspect, the number of cadastral map sheets is so large that this step
took quite a long time (depending on the size of the country and the ratio of
urban areas, where the cadastral maps have importance). In most countries
when these cadastral maps were digitised they were also used to create the
first GIS databases.
Topographic maps are much more complicated as graphic products (many
different features, symbols, lot of lines and area symbols, most of the line
symbols are curves, such as contour lines and water lines, several text
elements). This is why digitizing topographic map sheets required much
more preparation and experience. Technical development was also necessary,
because digitizing tablets were not the most suitable devices on the input side.
The on-screen digitizing (using scanners) is a more suitable procedure on the
input side, but handling large raster images required more modern computer
infrastructure. The first digitised state topographic maps were only the digi-
tized versions of the paper maps, and in the beginning they were not intended
to be databases.
The last step of the process was the conversion of the digitized maps into a
real GIS database: building topology, linking database elements to map
features, connecting different databases, establishing spatial data infrastruc-
ture. Meanwhile the updating process of state maps has also changed. The
mapping campaigns (surveys) were mostly replaced by continuous updates of
the database usually based on regular orthophoto campaigns. The topography
as it was known before the digital era has nearly disappeared (the real
fieldwork and controlling measurements became obsolete), or at least the
NMAs do not want or they are not able to afford this process, but rather offer
the users the newest orthophotos and digital terrain models.
Cartography 2.0 can also have its share using web 2.0 features like
crowdsourcing (to collect update information provided by the users them-
selves) and volunteered geographic information. Nevertheless, only few
countries of the world can really integrate these opportunities to their spatial
data infrastructures. The development is very rapid and the most developed
countries will solve this challenge in the near future.
Acknowledgement The present study was sponsored by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund
(OTKA No. K100911).
References
Faby H, Koch A (2010) From maps to neo-cartography. In: 3rd international conference on
cartography and GIS, 15-20 June 2010, Nessebar
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