Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
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map use that is private (where an individual generates a map for his or her
own needs) versus public (where previously prepared maps are made avail-
able to a wide audience);
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map use that is directed toward revealing unknowns (where the user may
more generally be looking for something 'interesting') versus presenting
knowns (where the user is attempting to access particular spatial informa-
tion); and
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map use that has high human-map interaction (where the user can manipu-
late the map(s) in substantive ways - such as changing the map that is being
viewed, switching among different maps, superimposing maps, merging
maps) versus low interaction (where the user has limited ability to change the
presentation).
Cartography has traditionally emphasised public use, low interactivity and revealing
knowns, whereas visualisation emphasises private use, high interactivity and explor-
ing unknowns. In a cartographic process where only the end result is public
(printed and disseminated), data exploration, generation and confirmation (or dis-
confirmation) of hypotheses, and the synthesis of these hypotheses are 'hidden'
processes of map use (Crampton, 2001). Yet these processes are extremely crit-
ical, as they determine the content and layout of the product, and are central to
geographic visualisation.
Besides the possibilities that GIS and geographic visualisation offer for the
exploration of spatial data in various applications, including spatial planning (cf. Lut-
terbach, 1998), the technological innovations had two other interesting effects on
the preparation and distribution of maps. These are (1) the 'democratisation' of the
production of maps and (2) the increasing production and dissemination of carto-
graphic products as a result of fast and cost-efficient map production. The 'democ-
ratisation' of the design and production of maps has blurred the cartographer-user
dichotomy, as many cartographic products are nowadays produced by 'carto-
graphic lay people' with the help of software packages, rather than professional
cartographers (Crampton, 2001). This, as Ormeling (2000) has pointed out, often
leads to intuitive-subjective results because lay people often lack the knowledge
and experience necessary for the production of effective maps. Second, the possi-
bilities presented by modern computer technology and software packages for the
fast and cost-efficient production of maps have led to a significant increase in the
production and use of maps, and cartographic products are now standard use in
print media such as newspapers as well as electronic publications. It has been
estimated that ten million maps and cartographic products are generated and dis-
seminated via the Internet daily (Ormeling, 2000).
Several authors, including Crampton (2001), have argued that geographic
