this conversion process does produce the great majority of working cartographers
active in the field, however narrow their specialization or limited their scope.
Training and technical schools
All nations reporting have various training and technical schools, either govern-
ment supported or privately maintained, which produce cartographic technicians
and draftsmen (or draftswomen). This training is designed to supply to the carto
graphic industry and profession the Compilers, researchers, revisors, and draftsmen
who accomplish the necessary but tedious processes which comprise the bulk of
the work inherent in the production of the map or chart. The types of training
offered vary wide and ränge of the entire spectrum of practical and applied car-
tography. Until the past two decades many of the prominent cartographers of the
United States, particularly in government service, had received only this type of
training and progressing by on-the-job learning and pioneering.
Other sources of cartographic training
With the tremendous growth of the cartographic industry and its wide application
to so many fields from amusement parks to highway departments, elements within
these activities have been forced to provide their employees first with map-using
training and ultimately with map-making training as well.
Examples are too numerous to mention but one which should not be overlooked
is the training received by members of the armed forces of all nations - the Single
largest training corps in the world. The effectiveness of the armies, navies, and air
forces of the world depend to a frightening degree upon the quantity, quality, and
availability of maps and Charts. Where such a need exists, means to satisfy that
need always arise. The result is a pool of trained talent available upon completion
of service.
Conclusions
The obvious conclusion to be drawn from this brief discussion of the types of
academic training available is that the current efforts are, with few exceptions,
inadequate to keep pace with the proliferation of need for the professional carto-
grapher, the sub-professional cartographer, and the technicians and specialists.
The trend is both rising and broadening in scope and, conversely, narrowing into
specialized training in almost all nations polled. Yet there is a time gap in training
which may take decades to close.
433
BRICE BURROUGHS*
The author of this communication, prepared for the Third International Conference on Carto-
graphy, April 16-22, 1967 at Amsterdam, is Mr. brice burroughs (U.S. Naval Oceanographic
Office).
K.N.A.G. Geografisch Tijdschrift I (1967) Nr. 5
