12.12.2012 Views

Geoinformation for Disaster and Risk Management - ISPRS

Geoinformation for Disaster and Risk Management - ISPRS

Geoinformation for Disaster and Risk Management - ISPRS

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

The International Cartographic<br />

Association (ICA)<br />

What is Cartography <strong>and</strong> geographic<br />

In<strong>for</strong>mation?<br />

A map is a symbolised image of geographical reality,<br />

representing selected features or characteristics,<br />

resulting from the creative ef<strong>for</strong>t of its author's<br />

execution of choices, <strong>and</strong> is designed <strong>for</strong> use when<br />

spatial relationships are of primary relevance.<br />

Maps <strong>and</strong> geographic in<strong>for</strong>mation (GI) have special<br />

power through their ability to connect <strong>and</strong> integrate<br />

data sets by the inherent geographical location, <strong>and</strong><br />

present the in<strong>for</strong>mation contents in a user‐friendly<br />

<strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>able visual <strong>and</strong> tactual way. Such<br />

ability has long been recognized as an intrinsic<br />

property of the map artefact, as well as<br />

contemporary geodatabases. The power of maps <strong>and</strong><br />

geographic data h<strong>and</strong>ling has been recently<br />

recognized in many real world applications <strong>and</strong><br />

strategic decision making situations related to<br />

current topics like crisis management, early warning<br />

systems, ef<strong>for</strong>ts <strong>for</strong> supporting sustainability <strong>and</strong><br />

decreasing global poverty.<br />

(From the ICA Research Agenda)<br />

1<br />

123

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!