summaries
P. C.J. van der Krogt - From Atlas to atlas
Keywords: historic cartography; atlas cartography; background.
The word 'atlas' is derivedfrom a book, published in 1595 and
entitled Atlas sive Cosmographicae Meditationes de Fabrica
Mundi et Fabricati Figura. It was a posthumous issue ofthe unfi-
nished cosmography of Gerard Mercator, containing a study
about the Creation, part 1, and 107 maps, 'Pars altera', part 5
(parts 2-4 have never been issued). The name Atlas is explained by
the author in the preface. Mercator named his cosmography after
the mythological king of Mauritania, the Titan Atlas, because he
was the first to study celestial phenomena. Mercator used the
Greek historian Diodorus ofSicily as a source. On the title page
of the work of 1595 Atlas is represented as a scholar studying glo-
bes.
The Atlas of 1595 in its entirety cannot been considered as an
atlas, only the 'Pars alterameets the current definition. However,
subsequent publishers ofthe work emphasized this part so much,
that the first part has been reduced to an introduction. Hence
'atlas' became the name for a book with (geograhical) maps. Per-
haps as a consequence ofthe discovery ofthe so-called Atlante
Farnese, a classical statue of Atlas carrying the heaven on his
Shoulders (part of the myth which was not quoted by Mercator), in
subsequent atlases we often see this Atlas -first carrying heaven
and more recently the world - represented on title pages.
F.J. Ormeling - New formats, concepts and structures for Euro
pean national atlases
Keywords: visualisation; atlas cartography; background.
Based on the national Atlases produced or in production during
the last 6 years, the current trends in thisfield are discussed.
These national atlases move away increasingly from the national
atlas model propagated in the 1960s by the 1GU Commission on
National Atlases, as they are more problem-oriented and intended
for larger audiences, ans as there is increasing attention for envi
ronmental aspects.
National atlas sizes shrink, and current atlases are definitely more
accessible. Aj it is realized that atlases nowadavs have to compete
for attention with TV, video and adventure games, national atlas
scenario's will have to be developed infuture in order to accom-
modate younger users. There is an increased use of texts that
explain the patterns on the map.
The new potential of electronic national atlases lies in their ability
to produce customized maps, to analyze and to compare patterns.
The functions traditionally used to structure atlases (geographical
or thematical sequencing, use of map scale as an indicatrix of the
relative importance ofthe region represented) have been lost in a
digital environment where one may Start browsing wherever one
wants, and where one may zoom in or out to whatever scale. New
structuring tools have to be developed in order to provide the
users with the spatial references they need in order to not to lose
their bearings.
C.P.J.M. van Elz.akker The use of electronic atlases
Keywords: GIS/LIS; atlas cartography; background.
When considering electronic atlases, three aspects of use may be
distinguished: the user-interface ofthe hard- and Software; the
use of the individual maps generated; and the use of the atlas as a
whole in meeting certain Information needs.
This paper deals with the last aspect of use. After a general dis-
cussion on recent developments in atlas cartography, leading to a
definition of electronic atlases and the determination of their
place in the fields of geographic Information Systems and carto-
graphic design packages, the focus will be put on the purpose and
use of electronic atlases. In general it can be stated that they are
used by people with a need for - or interest in - geographical
information. However, a more detailed list is presented of diffe-
rent forms of use in decreasing order ofpassivity and increasing
map design on demand. An electronic atlas which allows a choice
between several modes of use (e.g. narrative mode, browse mode,
aimed search mode, map creation mode, Simulation modelling
mode) is suggested as the Optimum Solution, but, in practice, it is
more important that each individual mode of use is well adjusted
to the needs.
KT 1994.XX.3
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