GEOGRAPHY IN 21ST

CENTURY

Mani Singh | President (MapXL) | Compare Infobase

Limited

6th century BC – 21st Century

AD

History of geography began from clay tablets during

Babylonian times to mapmaking from horseback in the

1800s to digital maps produced by computers.

An example of the mix of passion and

technology – Earth Atlas…

Technology is the catalyst

Metal Plate with the map

Map on the proofing table

Checking the map sheets

How a map is marked up

Digital Geography

“Digital geography has enabled people to think

about geography in abstract ways using

databases and visualization”

- Jack Dangermond

Usages of Digital Mapping

Change Detection: Mapping, quantifying & analysing spatio-temporal changes in agriculture, forest, urban, climate etc.

Network Analysis – Routing, vehicle tracking

Proximity Analysis – Dumping Grounds, Dealership locations

Exploration – The Valley of Khans Project

The Valley of Khans

A nondestructive archaeological survey

utilizing digital tools from a variety of

disciplines, including

digital imagery,

computer vision,

nondestructive surveying, and

on-site digital archaeology.

The goal is to identify archaeological sites

without disturbing them–in the area of

Mongolia's most sacred heritage–Genghis

Khan's homeland.

My brush with Geography past two

decades…

1991

PCX Maps

Delivered in 5”1/4 floppy disk

1998

JPG Maps

Raster map images for websites

2000

Interactive Flash Maps

Vector maps with interactive data

2004

GIS Mapping

Geo referenced vector maps for

data representation &

analysis

2010

Mobile Maps & Apps

Highly interactive and delivered

through mobile devices.

Expanding mediums, Changing Horizons

Map Making Process

One to many

Web publishing through MapServer/Image Maps

GIS Analysis like proximity analysis, network analysis

Maps for mobile applications

Publication of Atlases, tourist maps

Central GIS Database

Online Mapping

MapsofIndia.com & MapsofWorld.com are

thematic map portals.

Maps published online for free/paid usage in

JPG files.

Interactive education map tools like IKAAILand

Information Mapping for events like elections,

epidemics

Custom Mapping

Publishing projects

Location mapping projects

Proximity Analysis

Thematic mapping projects

E-commerce

Online map store selling published map

products from publishers world-wide

North America – National Geographic, Replogle

Europe – Gardners

Australia – Hema Maps

India – SatNav Technologies

Mobile Apps

World Altas for iPads

My Quiz for iPads/iPhone & Androids

City Guides for iPhones/iPads – Bangkok,

Manhattan

A map never gets finished

Thank you!!!