Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
2.1 GIS fundament: data-based map construction
At this development stage of GIT high-performance GIS have established
themselves as the core component of a map production environment. GIS
provide digital storage, processing and analysis functions of relevant geo-
topographic base data as well as attribute datasets of varied geographic and
thematic resolution. The actual construction of atlas maps and compilation
of complete atlases is performed by object-related combination of data
stocks stored in the GIS database. The generation of analogue map-like
graphics from selected atlas datasets makes use of the standard presenta-
tion functionality of GIS. Any manipulation of the digital atlas datasets can
be visualised, thus adding to the variants of GIS maps. If required, the
resulting compilation can be supplemented individually by external geodata
for specific application projects or at users' requests. Today, a substantial
number of digital atlases and AIS are based on this production concept
(Asche 2009a,b).
The interconnection of database and map graphics is considered the key
asset of GIS, whereas, the lack of map visualisation quality complying
with cartographic principles of (thematic) is the fundamental disadvantage
of GIS in map production. In fact, the vast majority of resulting maps is
suboptimal to inappropriate and thus would rather count as map-like repre-
sentations. An unsystematic and cursory analysis of the map graphics of
GIS-based AIS (national, regional or thematic atlases) confirms this find-
ing (cf. Asche 2007, 2009a, b).
2.2 VIS complement: quality map visualisation
To compensate the shortcomings of GIS map visualisation, the GIS basis
is complemented with a high-performance VIS system. In a map produc-
tion environment this essential component ensures professional carto-
graphic map modelling and visualisation. GIS and VIS components are
coupled via software link which, in principle, permits a bidirectional data
and graphics transfer. The software link (e.g. MaPublisher) primarily
allows for geodata stored in the GIS database in separate layers to be
imported into the VIS component in the existing configuration. This facili-
tates quality map visualisation based on the layer principle familiar from
Desktop Mapping (DTM; e.g. Herzog 1988, Whitehead & Hershey 1991).
Map models professionally visualised from GIS data using DTM software
