Χαρτογραφική Σύνθεση και Απόδοση σε Ψηφιακό Περιβάλλον

Abstract

Σκοπός του βοηθήματος είναι να καλύψει θέματα που προκύπτουν κατά τη σύνθεση ενός χάρτη σε ψηφιακό περιβάλλον, ο οποίος ενδέχεται να προορίζεται για έντυπη αναπαραγωγή, θέαση στην οθόνη είτε για δημοσιοποίηση στο διαδίκτυο. Καλύπτει τα ακόλουθα στάδια: • Σχεδιασμός και υλοποίηση χαρτογραφικής βάσης δεδομένων • Γεωαναφορά • Ψηφιακή καταγραφή γεωγραφικών δεδομένων• Αναζήτηση και αξιοποίηση χωρικών δεδομένων σε περιβάλλον διαδικτύου • Έλεγχος ποιότητας χαρτογραφικών δεδομένων • Αλλαγή συστήματος αναφοράς συντεταγμένων • Δημιουργία Ψηφιακού Μοντέλου Εδάφους και εφαρμογές • Χαρτογραφική Γενίκευση • Σχεδίαση χαρτοσύνθεσης • Δημιουργία υλικού έντυπης αναπαραγωγής • Δημοσιοποίηση χαρτογραφικών δεδομένων και σύνθεση χάρτη σε περιβάλλον διαδικτύου. Ο ρόλος του είναι διττός καθώς περιλαμβάνει τη θεωρητική ανάλυση κάθε φάσης συλλογής, επεξεργασίας και χαρτογραφικής απόδοσης και παράλληλα περιέχει συγκεκριμένες προτάσεις και λύσεις που επιτρέπουν στο φοιτητή να εφαρμόσει τις βέλτιστες πρακτικές της χαρτογραφίας και να πετύχει εκπαιδευτικά την αφομοίωση της χαρτογραφικής γνώσης. Παράλληλα για κάθε φάση περιλαμβάνονται αναλυτικές οδηγίες υλοποίησής της στο πλαίσιο λογισμικού Συστημάτων Γεωγραφικών Πληροφοριών π.χ. ArcGIS αλλά και λογισμικού ανοικτού κώδικα όπου αυτό είναι δυνατό π.χ. QGIS, Geoserver. Το βοήθημα αυτό μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί σε προπτυχιακά και μεταπτυχιακά μαθήματα που εντάσσονται στα γνωστικά αντικείμενα της Χαρτογραφίας και των Συστημάτων Γεωγραφικών Πληροφοριών. Ακόμα θα μπορούσε να χρησιμοποιηθεί από κάθε μάθημα που χρησιμοποιεί γεωγραφικά δεδομένα και χάρτες σε ψηφιακό περιβάλλον για εφαρμογές όπως Τεχνική Υδρολογία, Κτηματολόγιο, Περιβαλλοντικές Μελέτες, Γεωλογία κ.α.. Απευθύνεται επίσης σε επαγγελματίες μηχανικούς ή άλλους επιστήμονες των γεωεπιστημών που επιθυμούν να εφαρμόσουν τα θέματα που καλύπτει. Το υλικό του βοηθήματος είναι σύμφωνο με τη διεθνή πρακτική για τη διδασκαλία της Χαρτογραφίας και των Συστημάτων Γεωγραφικών Πληροφοριών.

This book deals with the subject of cartographic composition and rendering in a digital environment and its significance across a wide range of applications in Geoinformatics, which are covered in the following chapters. In the context of the Introduction, the goals of the book are analyzed, and both the topics covered in each chapter and their functional sequence are briefly presented. Additionally, the characteristics of the intermediate results and those of the final product are presented, highlighting the knowledge that the student and, in general, the user will acquire upon completion of the material. Finally, there is a brief presentation of the software recommended in each section of the book, along with a detailed description of the relevant process. For the implementation of the processes of collecting, processing, analyzing, and rendering spatial data, both locally and in a web environment, open-source software such as QGIS and Geoserver is recommended on a case-by-case basis, with concurrent reference to the commercial Geographic Information Systems software ArcGIS. To assist users who are not familiar with these software systems, two appendices are included, providing basic usage instructions for these systems. In this way, users of the book will be able to address individual applications in more than one software environment and simultaneously develop a critical approach for the capabilities of each one of them. Modern technological developments, particularly the rapid growth and widespread use of computers, undeniably affect all fields of science and engineering. This situation can be likened to the Industrial Revolution of the previous century, whose progress nothing could halt. In the field of Cartography, this trend initially manifested through solutions to the "computational" and "design" problems of maps, and subsequently through the creation of organized digital information databases. This new form of information enabled cartographic organizations to effectively utilize the vast amount of data they possess and to produce a series of cartographic products that meet a wide range of needs. Naturally, this penetration primarily influenced the methodology of composition, given that the final product —albeit with different specifications — remained a printed map. It should also be noted that the way and methodology of using the map have not yet fundamentally changed despite the emergence of the "new" form of the map, the "electronic" map, so the traditional form of the map continues to be the most significant tool. The penetration of computer systems into Cartography has created a distinct field of study and research known as "Digital Cartography." This term is not the only one used to describe this field; other terms such as "Computer-Aided Cartography" and "Automated Cartography" are also used. It is important to note that regardless of the term adopted, the human factor plays a crucial role in the map composition process within the cartographic system, as nothing happens "automatically." The dynamic development of internet technologies has also influenced the processes of map composition and rendering, as well as the ability to search for geospatial data online, issues that modern cartographers must be familiar with at a production level. The shift towards Digital Cartography is driven by the widely recognized advantages of having geospatial and cartographic data in digital form. One of the main reasons for this shift is the increasing cost of traditional cartographic work in contrast to the continually decreasing cost of cartographic systems. The continuously improving methods and technology for digitizing, controlling, and designing maps, combined with the growing demand for data in digital form for spatial analysis and static or dynamic cartographic rendering, have significantly boosted their integration into cartographic processes and practices. It is noted that the availability of verified and comprehensive commercial or open-source software effectively addresses various cartographic problems. The dynamic development of internet technologies, both in terms of the cartographic composition environment and the search for the necessary geospatial data, effectively contributes to the evolution of Cartography and the dissemination of cartographic products. A key feature of Cartography in a digital environment is the acceleration of all phases involved in the cartographic process. This acceleration, however, does not occur for the first maps produced by the cartographer, due to the necessity of familiarizing oneself with the software system being used and creating the necessary infrastructure (such as procedures and symbol libraries, etc.). The accuracy achieved in rendering cartographic data is theoretically provided by the system's specifications and its peripherals. This factor, combined with the stability of production quality, gives particular superiority to the new methodology. Map composition in a digital environment offers multiple selection possibilities for the cartographic product at the design phase. The cartographer creates alternative solutions in significantly less time than required for composing a map using traditional methods. Undoubtedly, map composition in a digital environment requires a rather substantial investment before it is realized. The initial investment is quite high and is proportionately divided into expenses for equipment and software. This should not be a deterrent to the implementation of a program initiative, given the positive impacts on the map production program of cartographic agencies. In the first part of each chapter, a summary approach to the theoretical background necessary for a full understanding and proper implementation of the instructions is provided. Therefore, the reader should have knowledge of the principles of Cartography regarding the composition of topographic and thematic maps regardless of scale, the basic projection transformations, the generalization transformation, the design and utilization of geospatial databases, the quality elements of geospatial data, the process of creating 3Dmodels and theirderived elements, the symbolization of point, linear, surface, and three-dimensional spatial entities, the methodological approach to labeling, and the processes of map production and reproduction. Additionally, the reader should be familiar with the algorithmic approach to problems and have basic knowledge of one of the programming languages in use and the functions of the internet.