Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.1
Cross-national comparison of the use of associative colours and pictorial symbols in Dutch,
German and English strategic spatial planning instruments
Dutch
German
English
'Unplanned' areas
Generally yes
Generally yes
Varied
in colour?
(except
ORA
)
Associative colours
Settlements/
Red shades
Red shades or
Varied (grey or
built-up areas/
black/grey
red shades)
urban areas
Transport network/
Varied
Varied
Varied
development axes
Nature protection
Generally green
Generally green
Varied
areas
Water
Blue
Blue
Varied
Use of pictorial
Scarcely (and then
Scarcely
Yes
symbols
mainly geometric)
Much use of arrow
symbols
most cases settlements and built-up land are represented in red shades or
black/grey. The English planning instruments are also notable for sometimes inap-
propriate use of colour, such as blue to depict road infrastructure.
There is a difference between Dutch and German plans on the one hand and
English key diagrams on the other in the use of pictorial symbols. While the pictor-
ial symbols used in the former are often geometric, such as stars or circles, there is
more use of pictorial and associative symbols in the English plans. This, together
with the great variation in, and often unsuitable choice of, colours indicates that
cartographic representations are often not prepared by professional cartographers
and/or that there is confusion about the intended audience for the key diagrams.
The widespread use of arrow symbols in Dutch strategic spatial plans is intended
to communicate dynamic elements such as (ecological or transport) connections,
and, increasingly, network functions.
LINGUISTIC STRUCTURE
THE RELATION BETWEEN TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS
The analysis of the 'linguistic structure' of cartographic representations in Dutch,
German and English strategic spatial plans confirms the observations made above:
while much emphasis is put on the visualisation of spatial policy in Dutch and
