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perspective the ATB map component is a long-needed tool to advance ver-
satile, cost-effective production of quality maps and atlases thus creating a
realistic business perspective for the majority of cartographic SMEs.
6- Conclusions
The discussion and exemplary application of the ATB map component in
the wider framework of a GIS-VIS map production environment shows
that systematic, rule-based construction of quality maps can both be up-
graded in terms of quality and accelerated in terms of production time. The
modular principle makes it feasible for cartographic businesses, particu-
larly of the SME type, to offer quality map productions services at com-
petitive costs. For the geoscientist a modified ATB provides an effective
map compilation environment facilitating cartographic visualisations
which comply with the fundamental principles of (thematic) cartography
and thus are simply effective. While the sustainability of the ATB concept
is the subject of ongoing research, the importance of such development can
easily be seen, for instance, in a current R&D project with the German
Aerospace Centre (DLR) on a Mars information system. In this project, a
GIS-based visualisation module is developed to provide mars researchers
with a fully operational, easy-to-use mapping tool for quality map produc-
tion (Nass et al. 2010, 2011). At present, no such tools are readily available
in commercial GIS utilised - notwithstanding the recent developments of
“cartographic representations” (e.g. Hardy 2009). Once developed, the
tools discussed in the ATB map module will also benefit earthly cartogra-
phers and scientists.
Acknowledgements
The cooperation of Mario Kluge (Potsdam) in preparing the figures and discussing various issues
of the ATB is gratefully acknowledged.
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