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Level and development ofnational atlas cartography

Ormeling Ferjan

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Sources:

F.J.Ormeling - Neue Formen, Konzepte undStrukturen von Nationalatlanten.Kartographische Nachrichten1994-6, pp 219-226

N.J.Bakker, C.P.J.M. van Elzakker andF.J.Ormeling - National atlases anddevelopment. ITC Journal 1987-1, pp 83-92

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objective of national and regional atlases 1Early development (1899-1940): Infrastructure, visualisation of trade and socio-economic

statistics, selected physical themes

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objective of national and regional atlases 2Early development (1899-1940): Infrastructure, visualisation of trade and socio-economic

statistics, selected physical themes1950 untill 1980s: Detailed overview, highlighting positive and

characteristic aspects Länderkundliches Schema Scientific inventory Business card

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Theoretical development:-IGU Commission on National Atlases1956-1976-Joint IGU-ICA WG on environmentalatlases 1976-1984-ICA Commission on national and regionalatlases 1985-

1960 K.A.Salichtchev – Atlas Nationaux 1964 K.A.Salichtchev – Regional Atlases 1968(?) I.P.Zarutskaya -Kompleksnye

regionalnye atlasy 1976 Lehmann: Regionalatlanten 1980, 1984 Vazquez Maure+Bickmore:

Environmental Atlases

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Salichtchev (1960): national atlases

Standard themes Standard sequence Standard legend Standard scales Equivalent projections

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objective of national and regional atlases 3

1980-2000: post-Salichtchev

Problem-oriented Also negative themes produced for a larger audience

Written on high-school levelComments on methodsComments on map patternsEasier to handle (size)Easier to navigate

International comparisons

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National atlases published1988-1993

National atlases produced 1988-1993 or before

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Traditional structure, butalready changing concepts:

National atlas of Hungary (butextensive comments on themesand map patterns)

National atlas of Italy (dynamic,zoom effect)

National atlas of Switzerland(beautiful but not challenging)

National atlas of Belgium (but alsoapplication-oriented maps)

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structures Division into Theme groups Within each theme: hierarchy between general

(synthesis) maps and more specialised, analyticalmaps (Economic Atlas of Ontario)

Hierarchy between detailed maps and simplifiedimages (France)

Hierarchy between national and regional and localatlases (Québec)

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Divorce in France

Divorce inFrance

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fem life expectancy

Lifeexpectationof females inFrance

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Lesdiplômésdel'enseig-nementsupé-rieur

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Cervical cancer,’92-96FEWER CASES OF UTERINE CANCERGynaecological health controls havehelped to discover the preliminary stagesof uterine cancer so that cancer neednever develop. This is one significantreason why both the occurrence of thisdisease and mortality from uterine cancerhave decreased in Sweden. It is moredifficult to explain what underlies thegeographical differences shown on themap. Studies have indicated that peoplewho have had many sexual partners run agreater risk.National averages, no. of cases/10,000:1.0Stockholm: 1.2Infant mortality, Europe, 1993-97

Map comments

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Infant mortalityEurope

Infant mortality Atlas of Sweden

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Nais:zoom+anchor mapEaseofnaviga-tion

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Nais zoom + anchor map

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Nais zoom

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Nais zoom

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Median income nais

explanations

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National atlas of Quebec

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Regional atlas of Quebec

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Atlas der Schweiz: navigation

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Atlas der Schweiz: newprojects

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Atlas objectives

National atlas of Hungary National atlas of Italy National atlas of the Netherlands National atlas of Switzerland

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Atlas objectivesNational Atlas of Switzerland

Provide insight into the country’seconomic and social structures

Spot changes Comparisons with other Europen

countries Enjoyable graphics Be an information and education

vehicle for large public Provide know-how (?)

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Atlas objectives:National atlas Hungary:

Wants to document environmentalaspects of economic developments

Wants to contribute to safeguardfor human health the naturalresources

Wants to provide starting point forfurther research

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Atlas objectives:National atlas Italy Wants to visualise the radical changes that

modified the country since 1945 into apostindustrial society

Wants to be oriented to current problems –urbanization,pollution

Shows thematical links Shows the situation of Italy in Europe and the

world Large % synthesis maps Large % of maps that show developments

(dynamic)

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Atlas objectives:National atlas of the Netherlands

Wants to show what affects the population of thisdensely inhabited West-European river delta, so it

Starts with the people Only presents what is relevant for them Presents it in20 handy volumes Gives comments on map method and map

patterns And allows for separate sales of theme-volumes

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issues Can a country spend so much money on a national

atlas if it is not also made accessible for thegeneral public? Should there be different accessmodes?

Does the atlas show whether the environment isunder control?

Does the atlas show whether all inhabitants haveequal access to the nation’s resources?

Does the atlas show whether the nation’sinhabitants are performing better or worse thanthose of other (neighbouring) countries?

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Issues (continued)

Should users be able to customize maps? Should users be able to add their own datasets? Should users be able to analyse datasets? With

GIS functions? With thematic toggle,relative/absolute toggle

Should it be possible that map elements arequeried?

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Production mode ’88-93

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Update inventoryW

W

W web-version

M

M

M

W

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Webversions

National atlas USA http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ NAIS Canada http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/index.html National Atlas Sweden http://www.sna.se/e_index.html National Atlas Switzerland

http://www.karto.ethz.ch/neumann/atlas/ National atlas of Quebec

http://www.atlasduquebec.qc.ca/atlas/accueil.htm