Automated Cartography and Electronic Geographic Information Systems

Abstract

Until some decennia ago the exclusive means to store and present the geographic distribution of land attributes like vegetation was as a classical map: a two-dimensional piece of paper with colours and/or symbols. Since then it became possible to store such data in a computer memory digitalized and ready for retrieval in map form at any moment (see Tomlinson, 1968). There are three more important aspects of this development:

• A map is a final document that cannot be converted or amended after it has been printed. Data in an electronic memory, however, can be alterated anytime depending on the system used. The geographical data stored can be converted and amended whenever needed or wanted.

• The electronics do not only give storage possibilities, but also make it possible to study coincidences to bring several data of land together in their mutual relationship.

• It is possible to generalize or transform data in a special way or format wanted by the user, like combinations of attributes (land evaluation) or exclusive retrieval of special aspects, in the course of special studies.