UKCC, ICA and International Map Year 2015-2016

Dr David Forrest Chair, UK Committee for Cartography

UK National Delegate to ICA

A little about me • Lecturer in Geomatics @ University of Glasgow

– Programme Director for: • MSc in Geoinformation Technology & Cartography • MSc in Geospatial & Mapping Science • MSc in Geomatics & Management

– Research on Map design & Data usability

• Former President of British Cartographic Soc. • Chair UK Committee on Cartography • Vice-Chair ICA Commission on Use & User Issues • Self confessed Mapaholic! I

The UK Committee for Cartography

• Origins in Cartography Sub-Committee of Royal Society National Committee for Geography in 1960

• ~1991, British Cartographic Society became official UK adhering body to ICA

• Technically UKCC a committee of BCS Council – In practical terms determines it own membership

• Aims to broadly represent UK cartography – Receives financial support from BCS & RS

UKCC activities

• UK national report to ICA – every 4 years – Published as special issue of Cartographic Journal

• Proposes and responds to ICA matters – Mainly related to General Assembly

• Proposes and votes on ICA Commissions & Chairs • Organises UK contribution to International Map

Exhibition at ICA conferences (every 2y) • Organises UK Petchinik Children’s Map

Competition (every 2 years) • Encourages participation in ICA activities

• Founded in 1959 • Similar status to ISPRS, FIG, etc • Founding member of Joint Board of Geospatial

Information Societies • Full member of ICSU • Represented on UN Committee of Experts on

Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM)

• An association of national cartographic associations

AIMS • to contribute to the understanding and solution of world-wide problems

through the use of cartography in decision-making processes. • to foster the international dissemination of environmental, economic,

social and spatial information through mapping. • to provide a global forum for discussion of the role and status of

cartography. • to facilitate the transfer of new cartographic technology and knowledge

between nations, especially to the developing nations. • to carry out or to promote multi-national cartographic research in order to

solve scientific and applied problems. • to enhance cartographic education in the broadest sense through

publications, seminars and conferences. • to promote the use of professional and technical standards in cartography.

Research Agenda

THEMES • Geographic Information • Metadata and SDI • Geospatial Analysis & Modelling • Usability • Geovisualisation • Map Production • Cartographic Theory • History of Cartography • Education • Society

ICA Commissions • Art & Cartography • Atlases • Cartography and Children • Cartography in Early Warning &

Crisis Management • Cognitive Visualization • Data quality • Digital Technologies in

Cartographic Heritage • Education and Training • Generalisation and Multiple

Representation • Geoinformation Infrastructures

and Standards • Geospatial Analysis and Modelling • Geovisualization • GI for Sustainability

• History of Cartography • Map Design • Map Production & Geobusiness • Map Projections • Mapping from Remote Sensing

Imagery • Maps and Graphics for Blind and

Partially Sighted People • Maps and Society • Maps and the Internet • Mountain Cartography • Neocartography • Planetary Cartography • Theoretical Cartography • Ubiquitous Mapping • Use and User Issues

ICA Commission on Geoinformation Infrastructures and Standards

• Explore research on the impact and use in SDIs of cartography, standards, spatial semantics, ontologies, volunteered geographical information (VGI), virtual globes and other technological developments

• Continue the work on developing conceptual models of an SDI using various modelling techniques, working in the areas of science, technology and standards.

• Participate at the scientific level with other organizations active in SDIs, standards and geospatial quality.

• Develop reports, conference presentations and/or journal articles on our work and help to arrange workshops, conferences or other meetings on SDIs and standards, and present tutorials at them.

• Organize reporting sessions on the Commission's activities at the 2013 and 2015 International Cartographic Conferences.

• Organize and hold full Commission meetings in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, and mini-meetings of the Commission at suitable meetings.

• Continue to serve as the Category A Scientific Liaison for the ICA to ISO/TC211, Geographic Information/Geomatics, and establish liaisons with various SDI organizations.

Activities

• A worldwide celebration of maps and their unique role in our world.

• Organized by the ICA and supported by the UN • IMY provides opportunities to demonstrate,

follow, and get involved in the art, science and technology of making and using maps and geographic information.

• http://mapyear.org/ • Official launch at ICC Rio, August 2015

• Aims – Making maps visible to citizens and school

children – Showing how maps can be used in society – Showing how IT can be used with GI to produce

maps – Showing the necessity for Geographic Information

Infrastructures • Targeted at the public, children, professionals

and governments

The World of Maps

• Book produced to support IMY • Chapters cover a variety of cartographic topics

and issues • Introduction and reference work on

contemporary mapping • Available in English, French & Spanish • Free to download:

http://mapyear.org/the-world-of-maps-book/

The World of Maps 1. Cartography 2. Map Use and Map

Reading 3. Geographic Information 4. Map Design 5. Topographic Maps 6. Thematic Maps 7. Atlases 8. Geographic Names 9. Map Projections and

Reference Systems

10. Map Use at the United Nations

11. Setting One’s Course with a Nautical Chart

12. Maps for Orienteering 13. Printing Maps 14. Web and Mobile

Mapping 15. Geographic Information

Access and Availability 16. Volunteered GI 17. Education 18. Further Information

UK and International Map Year

• Dr David Fairbairn, U of Newcastle on International Steering Group

• UKCC taking lead in organisation – Discussion taking place, put plans still being

formalised • Plans for touring map exhibition • Some events similar to London Mapping Festival

– Next meeting of UKCC 6th July • Re-Launch of BCS Better Mapping workshops

London – October 2015; Glasgow – January 2016; Manchester, Cardiff & London in 2016

Mapping Together

• Joint Symposium of British Cartographic Society and Society of University Cartographers

• Park Inn by Radisson, York, Sept 8-10, 2014

What can you do? • Help promote International Map Year at

conferences, meetings, etc. • Use IMY logo on promotional material & websites

– http://mapyear.org/logos/ • Volunteer to run an event

– Eg. information session on maps and mapping at a school; youth organisation; Rotary club, etc.

• Other ideas and suggestions welcome

http://mapyear.org/

Dr David Forrest david.forrest@glasgow.ac.uk