summaries
D. Rhind - Geographical Information Systems and
cartography
Computers have transformed cartography in the last twenty
years. Now, however, Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
are developing rapidly and are widely Seen as being of more
general value than Computer mapping Systems. This paper ex-
amines the relationship between GIS and computer-based car
tography and predicts future developments in both as a
consequence of changing technology, economics and
developments in the cartographic market.
J.C. Müller - Trends and Updates in the evolution of the car
tographic profession
Cartography is in a stage of transition. The multipurpose maps
of yesterday, essentially descriptive, static and deterministic are
now conceptually challenged by new map products which are
extremely volatile, Single purpose and probabilistic. The realm
of cartographic activities has expanded towards the portrayal of
highly abstract geographical spaces. The traditional function of
maps as spatial storage device is on the decline, whereas their
communication function and analytical power are increasingly
emphasized.
Parallely, the emergency of do-it-yourseif micro-computer map
ping kits is challenging the integrity of the cartographic profes
sion. An attempt is made to investigate the origin of these
recent developments and to speculate on the practical and
theoretical implications for the cartographic discipline.
F.J. Ormeling - Towards a National Mapping Programme
As budget cuts, reorganizations, mergers, automatisation and
relocation have a destabilising influence at present on official
cartographic institutions in the Netherlands, the call for some
common mapping policy, to base decisions on, is made.
Examples of national mapping policies are Jiscussed, from Nor-
way, where the Norges Kartplan is being e.,,ablished and
developed, from the United States where the USGS is working
along the guidelines of the National Mapping Program, and
from the United Kingdom, where the suggestions made in the
Report on Geographical Information Systems, by the Committee
chaired by Lord Chorley can be regarded as heralding a na
tional policy.
The possible barriers in the Netherlands to the implementation
of such a national policy are scrutinized, and the need for com
mon action, and for Standards, especially in the fields of en
vironmental mapping is pointed out. The Netherlands
Cartographic Society is asked to initiate the discussion on a na
tional mapping Programme.
N.J. Bakker, C.P.J.M. van Elzakker and F.J. Ormeling - A Na
tional Atlas Information System
The final volumes of the 2nd edition of the national atlas of the
Netherlands will be published in 1988. The authors of this arti-
cle are members of an advisory committee for the evaluation of
a possible 3rd edition of the atlas. In its final report, this com
mittee proposed a new national atlas concept, which will be less
static and more dynamic in nature: a national atlas Information
system, maintained by a permanent national atlas bureau. Em-
phasis is no longer on the production of the traditional printed
national atlas, but on the constant dissemination of the spatial
Information stored in a geographic database, in either hard or
soft copy map form or not in graphic form at all, to users on
demand.
In this article, the authors described the special characteristics
of atlas information, the use of the present atlas of the
Netherlands, the consequences of modern developments in
digital technology and telecommunication for spatial information
distribution, the prerequisites and favourable starting-points for
setting up a national atlas information System and, finally, the
many new potential benefits for the use of such a System.
A.H. Verroen Revision and improvement of the 1:10,000
municipal map of Amsterdam
The municipal map of Amsterdam at scale 1:10,000 has a total
size of 228 x 180 cm and consists of nine sheets. The first edi
tion dates from 1910, when the 1:10,000 map of Amsterdam only
consisted of one sheet of 90.5 x 94 cm. Up to 1976 all sheets
were revised at the same time and the map was published as a
whole, but in 1981 a cyclic revision method was introduced.
Shortly after that, in 1983, it was decided to renew the map
completely and to improve its design.
Change detection is based upon aerial photo interpretation with
clear instructions. Within a self-checking system one car-
tographer does all the work for a certain map sheet: photo in
terpretation, editing, scribing, lettering, masking and checking.
All reproduction work is carried out by a specialized team.
The 1:10,000 map is printed in three different forms: printed in
4, 5 or 10 colours with a light-resistant ink. A special index of
Amsterdam street names may be used with the map.
Further improvements are expected in the new edition of the
map, such as better lettering and the use of more Symbols. The
application of computer-assisted methods of map production has
started with the large scale (1:1,000) base map and will soon be
Standard in the preparation of the 1:10,000 municipal map of
Amsterdam as well.
P.P.W.J. van den Brink Resolution maps, the States of
Holland and cartography for water management purposes
16991795
The Netherlands have a long tradition in water management
and also, therefore, in cartography for water management pur
poses. In the author's opinion, the role of Nicolaas Cruquius in
the history of Dutch cartography for water management has
been considerably underestimated. On the basis of new data, he
tries to prove that Cruquius by the integration of mapping
with his characteristic conception of hydraulic engineering
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KT 1988.XIV.2
