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 in carto­ of new data display techniques on cartographic knowledge, and the graphic expert systems as well as cartographic research and educa­ market context of cartography. an extensive bibliography of tion. In sum, the chapter provides Grelot sees the microcomputer, sources. a good starting point for those satellite data, and data processing Chapter eight, by Timothy interested in the new media (and techniques as democratizing Evangelatos, Digital geographic adaptations of more traditional cartography, of making it available interchange standards, takes a media) in cartographic display and to "a large number of individuals." detailed look at why digital their possible implications. A shift to the image-less map - standards have not been successful Chapter ten, by Jean-L. the virtual map - is evident as is to date and provides a review of Raveneau, and others, Micro­ the associated shift in interest current national and international Atlases and the diffusion of away from the image and toward standards activities. Evangelatos geographic information: An the cartographic object in the 26 cartographic perspectives l\iurnber 9, Spring 1991 database. Increasingly we focus system" which can replace the structure the exhibition and guide on knowing how to use software human cartographer "may be a the presentation of the maps as opposed to knowing how to problem which can be effectively include 1) the geographic realities work through map projection addressed only by a multi-investi- and misconceptions in the maps of equations or classification alga- gator team over a period of several the Encounter period, 2) the rithms - they are encoded in the to many years"; in chapter eight science and technology of map- computer. More "thematic" we hear that an all-inclusive set of making in the fourteenth, fifteenth, specialists, cartographers with spatial data standards is just and sixteenth centuries, 3) the some application area who use around the corner; and in the final Encounter as a religious crusade, cartographic software, are evident; chapter we are told of the fact that 4) the wealth of the New World as the "technique is not an end in geographical research can be done a force behind the Encounter, S) itself." at home and "it is no longer the geopolitics of maps in the In sum, I found myself feeling a necessary to go into the field" - Encounter, and 6) the way maps bit confused by Geographic Informa- this asserts that modern technolo- reflect the Old World's and the lion Systems: The Microcomputer and gies have essentially made the New World's growing awareness Modern Cartography. On one hand, map into the landscape. Borges of each other. the book provides a series of and Baudrillard would blush. I am Seeking to answer not only the informative chapters which intrigued by these contradictions, question "What does the map provide reasonably complete and how they reflect upon cartog- show?" the Exhibition also asks, reviews of important develop- raphy as a discipline. Do we "What did the maps mean to the ments in cartography. Carta- accept Taylor's and Harley's men and women of the Encounter graphic practitioners and students critical approaches to formalism, period?" and "What do they mean interested in cartography will be positivism, and scientism or do we to modern Americans?" Through interested in the reviews and their accept these to be the most practi- its extensive interpretation the bibliographies. On the other hand, cal and popular means of many Exhibition will present maps as I was intrigued by the seeming cartographer's endeavors? Can documents of human interaction. contradictions in the book as a both exist at the same time within For further information, please whole. The outward GIS camou- cartography? Can either 'side' contact: Mark Warhus, Program flage of a book about cartography learn something from the other? Manager, The Office for Map (I assume it won't sell if it just says Can there even be a dialogue? History, American Geographical cartography) is curious. More Does anyone even care? Interest- Society Collection, University of interesting is the fact that the ing questions raised by an interest- Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box editor defined a three part focus ing book. 399, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201. for the future of cartography in the (414) 229-4101. introductory chapter: cognition, GENIP News, November 1990 communication, and visualiLatiun. Communication was part of the cartographic events ORDNANCE SURVEY focus of chapters nine, ten, and BICENTENARY eleven; cognition was generally The Ordnance Survey will eel- ignored, and visualization men- COLUMBIAN ENCOUNTER ebrate its bicentenary in 1991, in tioned only briefly. Taylor also The University of Wisconsin- hopes of raising public awareness detailed the problems with neo- Milwaukee is to be the home of a of the Survey and its activities. ., positivism and neo-formalism, major exhibition of rare maps for The key event will be an evening problems which have also been the 1992 Columbus function in the Tower of London attacked in the larger arena of the Quincentennial. Including re- on June 21. The Tower, where the philosophy of science. Yet much search, exhibitions, and public Ordnance Survey was located for of the book is about as positivistic programs, this regional project will its first 50 years, will also provide and formalistic as you can get: in be directed by Professor J. Brian the site of a major exhibition of chapter two we hear of "improve- Harley of the Department of Ordnance Survey past, present and ments in the visibility, resolution, Geography and the Office for Map future, between May and Septem- and accuracy of space sensors and History in the American Geo- ber 1991. The Royal Mail is to transmitters", in chapter five we graphical Society Collection of the issue a set of commemorative hear about "the more perfectly the Golda Meir Library. stamps in honor of the Survey. model represents reality"; in The Exhibition will highlight Moving forward into the 21st chapter seven we hear that the many rare maps of the age of century the Survey will be aiming development of a "full expert Columbus. The themes which will to: maintain the National Data