Cartographic Perspectives Number 9, Spring 1991

24 cartographic perspectives Number 9, Spring 1991 Taylor, D.R.F. (editor) (1991). reenchantment with formalism global positioning systems, Geographic Information Systems: and positivism - a result of the photogrammetry, remote sensing, Tlte Microcomputer and Modern current technological focus in the digitizing, and the various digital Cartograplty (Modern Cartogra field - and sees such an approach data storage media. While pro phy, Volume One). Pergamon as 'sterile and limiting.' This viding a valuable review of the Press, 251 pp. ISBN 0-08-040277-1 technological focus does not, aforementioned topics, the chapter (Softcover $39) ISB 0-08-040278-X Taylor argues, hold much promise is marred by its strict focus on (Hardcover $100) as a future for cartography. physical geographical data; Reviewed by john B. Krygier, Instead, Taylor suggests, we need cartography and GIS are not only Penn State to concoct anew a 'cartographic tools for physical geographers. theory.' Citing the work of Brian Chapter three, by David Coll, The preface of Geographic Informa Harley, who has urged sensitivity Developments in equipment and tion Systems: The Microcomputer and to the social context within which techniques: Microcomputer Modern Cartography succinctly maps and cartography and cartog graphics environments reviews explains the book's intent: to raphers are inextricably nestled, general microcomputer graphics consider the impact of the micro and Theodore Roszak, who has principles and the current status of computer and Geographical forcefully argued against the "cult graphics hardware and software. Information Systems on cartogra of information" and for a focus on While comprehensive for what it phy. In a surficial way the empha "relevance, coherence, and in does cover, the chapter is limited sis of this volume is GIS. The title sight," Taylor urges a new focus by its focus on DOS-based graphic proclaims it in brash letters; the on three concepts: cognition, environments. The chapter could Library of Congress subject communication, and visualization. have been improved by the classification is under 'Geographic We do not know enough, Taylor thinning out of some of the DOS Information Systems' (no mention argues, about the cognition of details and the addition of infor is made of cartography); and 'GIS' maps. The glut of data which is mation on alternative graphics is referred to countless times in the piling up all around us is useless environments. The following twelve chapters in the book. Yet unless we can find ways to expand chapter by Bengt Rystedt, The this is not a book about GIS. Or is understanding with it. Under cartographic workstation adds to it? This quandary is touched on in standing does not just "emerge" Coll's discussion by briefly ex the introductory essay by D. R. from heaps of data. A renewed panding upon the notion of the Fraser Taylor, the editor of the focus on how to communicate the microcomputer workstation in book. Is GIS part of cartography, information we have is also cartography. or is cartography part of GIS, or important. New products, new Chapter five, by Donna Peuquet, are they somehow separate? The displays, and new forms of geo Methods for structuring digital quandary is left unresolved, and graphic information presentation cartographic data in a personal the book, while providing some must be established and we must computer environment is an excellent reviews of the current seek to understand how people adaptation of an article published status of various areas of cartogra communicate with and work with in Cartographica (21:4, pp. 66-113). phy, is a reflection of a discipline such media. Visualization, which Basic concepts and definitions, that is itself a bit confused about involves high technology linked to cartographic data models, the exactly what it is and where it is issues of communication and nature of cartographic data, and going. cognition, is, argues Taylor, a basic cartographic data models are Taylor, in the volume's engaging fertile meeting ground for all discussed. introductory essay, makes the case aspects of cartography. In the Chapter six, by C. Peter Keller for re-examining and redefining end, Taylor concludes, cartogra and Nigel Waters, Mapping the nature of the discipline of phy will be judged by the value software for microcomputers cartography. In the process he society attaches to the products it provides a relatively comprehen manages to touch on many of the produces. These products must be sive review of software of interest current questions which have been intriguing, imaginative, useful, to cartographers. Software is raised regarding the impact of the and interesting - these, Taylor grouped into nine categories: microcomputer and GIS, as well as argues, are human and not techno paint, CAD, thematic mapping, some broader foundational logical problems. GIS, image analysis, locational debates. Taylor's opinion about Chapter two, by Y.C. Lee, analysis/ electronic atlases, projec GIS and cartography is clear: GIS Cartographic data capture and tion packages, application soft is a technique, cartography is a storage provides a review of the ware, and digital charting. Each discipline. Taylor laments the current status of total stations, category of software is described Number 9, Spring 1991 cartographic perspectives 25 and examples noted; an eleven provides an interesting discussion experiment with Hypercard, page table summarizes several of the myriad of technical, politi details two projects the authors hundred software packages, cal, and human problems sur undertook using the HyperCard available reviews, cost, and rounding the creation (or lack of software environment. The company. Notable exceptions creation) of digital data standards. authors argue (as Taylor and from the categorization scheme While many problems are evident, Slocum and Egbert in their respec include graphic design software Evangelatos is optimistic that tive chapters also argued) that and multimedia software. agreement on standards will come there must be more effort put into Chapter seven, by Barbara in the not so distant future. He devising new methods of commu Buttenfield and David Mark, assumes that a true "spatial nicating geographic information. Expert systems in cartographic science" is emerging and solidify The notion of hypertext, the 'non design, provides a status report on ing and that this will provide sequential disposition of informa what we know about expert "good standards." tion' is seen as a way to enhance systems in the production of Chapter nine, by Terry Slocum multiple associations between locational and navigational maps. and Stephen Egbert, Cartographic different pieces of information. A Other types of maps are excluded, data display, provides a review of fine line between unstructured and since the rules structuring these developments in cartographic structured information must be maps have "seldom been ad display hardware and software, maintained, giving the user dressed in the literature" and are, and reviews new techniques in maximum freedom of navigation well, not easy to figure out: static, interactive, and animated while not allowing them to get "where formalized descriptions of mapping. The chapter notes mired down and lost. The integra rules are not common, alternative several important developments tion of maps, graphs, pictures and approaches may substitute for, or including the continuing develop text as well as links to digital data perhaps augment the expert ment of software packages which bases and video disks is discussed. systems approach." With that out allow non-programmers to con While the details and subtleties of of the way, a useful review of struct complex cartographic HyperCard programming and expert systems terms and defini representations and the increasing project construction are not detail tions is provided along with a emphasis on developing new ed, the chapter provides a solid detailed description of progress on cartographic display and analysis introduction to the possibilities of and potential for expert systems in methods (as opposed to just HyperCard and related hypertext cartography. The application areas attempting to replicate traditional software for cartography. include generalization: simplifica cartographic techniques). Devel Chapter eleven, by Hinrich tion (reduction, selection, reposi opments in static maps (univariate Claussen, Vehicle navigation tion), classification (aggregation, and bivariate choropleth maps, systems, details progress to date partition, overlay), enhancement continuous data maps, 3D maps), on vehicle navigation, route (interpolation, smoothing, gener interactive mapping (interactive planning, and associated software alization), symbolization (encod choropleth maps, interactive and hardware. ing strategy, conceptual con multimedia systems, electronic The final chapter, by Jean straints, situational constraints), atlases), and animated mapping Philippe Grelot, Cartographers and production (plotting, layout, (3D maps, spatio-temporal repre and microcomputers, concludes displacement, label placement, and sentations, vehicular navigation the book with a discussion of the visual contrast). The chapter systems, and visualization) are impact of technology on cartogra provides a proposal of where work reviewed. The chapter concludes phy, on the shift to the "image-less needs to be done and where there with comments on the implications map," the recomposition of is potential for progress

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