Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
4.7). While the indicative nature of the
ORA
is expressed through a highly abstract
and generalised cartographic representation of policy, the other plans show a
much greater level of detail and therefore certainty - not least because of the
required underlying topographic map bases which allow a more precise location of
policy options and the level of scale. There is a high degree of uniformity at
Länder
level. Generally, there is a preference for saturated and solid colours in German
strategic plans - even for the indicative
ORA
.
Key diagrams in English RPGs/RSSs by definition have to be diagrammatic
and should not indicate precise locations, and the analysis shows that this has on
the whole been achieved (Figure 4.8). Yet there are a few elements which might
give a contradictory message, and these are primarily related to the outline of the
territory, which in some cases is comparatively detailed, and the use of strong
colour. The lack of generalisation of the territorial outline might be related to the
use of Geographic Information Systems or digital mapping software, which do not
usually allow for a significant generalisation. Likewise, the use of potentially inap-
propriate colours (including the use of difference in value, i.e. an ordered appear-
ance from low to high, instead of difference in colour) can give an insight into the
production process, and that the person in charge of preparing the key diagram
might not necessarily be a cartographer familiar with Bertin's 'graphic variables'
(cf. Plate 1).
The cross-national comparison of the level of abstraction of the cartographic
representations used in Dutch, German and English strategic spatial plans is shown
in Figure 4.9. This is a generalised synthesis of the individual country analyses
(Figures 4.6-4.8), and is therefore indicative: it is clearly dependent on the criteria
for analysis (as set out in Boxes 4.1 and 4.2), their application and the sample of
planning documents chosen (as the cartographic style varies over time in some
planning traditions more than others). Figure 4.9 shows that the different functions
of the plans are reasonably well communicated through the level of abstraction of
'policy maps' in different countries and at different spatial scales, though the
approach is more consistent in some countries than in others. Cartographic
representations in Dutch and English strategic spatial plans are considerably more
varied than in German plans. In the Netherlands, the national plan is clearly the most
abstract, thus communicating the indicative nature of the strategy and the hierarchy
of planning. At provincial level, there is considerable variation between the strategies
with regard to the level of abstraction of cartographic representation. Overall,
however, the indicative nature of Dutch spatial plans in comparison with the binding
nature of German plans at regional level is evident when comparing the respective
cartographic representations of spatial policy. The approach to visualising spatial
policy at regional level is even less consistent when analysing English plans. There
is much variation with regard to the level of abstraction in key diagrams, which
