----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I sent these comments regarding cartography and GIS to Darius Bartlett
in response to his posting about the relationship between the
disciplines. He requested that I post them to the list. I've also
posted his response to my comments and my response to his response...:-)
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Since the emergence of GIS, there has been debate about the "place"
of GIS. Is cartography part of GIS or is GIS part of cartography? Many
in the GIS community, especially those from non-cartographic backgrounds
(i.e. engineers, planners, etc., etc.), consider cartography to focus on
map compilation, design, and production, whereas GIS focuses on spatial
analysis. From this perspective, cartography and GIS have a technical
similarity, but a difference in objectives. This concept of
cartography, as primarily concerned with map design and production,
separates GIS from cartography. From this perspective, cartography is
applied only when mapped output is required. Cartography, according to
this definition, is a small part of GIS.
Although hardcopy maps have long been used to study spatial
patterns, the rise of computer technology has enabled cartographers to
visualize data more efficiently. Because of the increase in this type
of data visualization, more recent models of cartography, including
those of DiBiase, MacEachren, and Dent (to be included in the newest
edition of his Cartography text)incorporate cartographic analysis as
part
of the cartographic process. As emphasized previously, the analysis of
spatial data is the primary focus of GIS. For this reason, many
cartographers
consider GIS a part of cartography that falls primarily within the
private realm
of cartographic thinking. GIS, from this viewpoint, is part of
cartography,
a subdiscipline of cartography.
As a cartographer who uses GIS extensively, I hold the latter
view. I think that people who come from backgrounds other than
cartography don't really understand that it's not just map production.
Interesting discussion. You'll post comments?
Elaine
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His response:
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> At 09:53 18/02/98 -0500, you wrote:
> >Since the emergence of GIS, there has been debate about the "place"
> >of GIS. Is cartography part of GIS or is GIS part of cartography?
>
> There are also parallel debates between GIS and other disciplines,
> I know, but I think the relationship between cartography and GIS is a
> particularly interesting one for a number of reasons. I take your point
> aboyt the different objectives and priorities of the two areas, bit
> there are also the similarities to consider: both make extensive use
> of the visual idiom, and both deal with models (hence simplifications
> and abstractions) of reality.
>
> One further difference I detect is that GIS in Europe (mostly the UK)
> actually grew out of the cartographic community - witness the work of
> the Experimental Cartography Unit at Oxford University, and Terry Coppock's
> use of early GIS to map agricultural census data at Edinburgh. In the
> US and Canada, on the other hand, the origins of GIS seem to lie in
> a need to analyse and visualise data held in - or being built into -
> existing and planned databases. So the starting point here was more
> one of database management and retrieval, rather than cartography per se.
>
> > Although hardcopy maps have long been used to study spatial
> >patterns, the rise of computer technology has enabled cartographers to
> >visualize data more efficiently. Because of the increase in this type
> >of data visualization, more recent models of cartography, including
> >those of DiBiase, MacEachren, and
> >Dent (to be included in the newest edition of his Cartography text)
> >incorporate cartographic analysis as part of the cartographic process.
>
> As does Chris Jones in his recent book ("Geographic Information Systems
> and Computer Cartography", Longmans).
>
> >As emphasized previously, the analysis of spatial data is the primary
> >focus of GIS.
>
> I would say it is A primary focus, but not necessarily THE focus. For a
> start, a lot (a growing number?) of GIS applications seem to be little
> more than spatial search-and-retrieval from databases. The map serves
> only as a means of displaying results.
>
> For this reason, many cartographers consider GIS a part
> >of cartography that falls primarily within the private realm of
> >cartographic thinking. GIS, from this viewpoint, is part of
> >cartography, a subdiscipline of cartography.
> > As a cartographer who uses GIS extensively, I hold the latter
> >view. I think that people who come from backgrounds other than
> >cartography don't really understand that it's not just map production.
>
> But also, a lot of people who don't have cartographic training grossly
> undervalue and underestimate the importance of good, solid, appreciation
> of cartographic principles. There are a lot of maps now being generated
> by GIS users. Very few of them would be 'good' maps in my estimation! I
> believe this is a widespread criticism of GIS from within the cartographic
> professional. My question was partly directed towards seeing if GIS is
> in practice signalling the end (or the decline) of public awareness of
> and respect for the professional cartographer? I hope not, but I fear it
> may be the case....
>
> >Interesting discussion. You'll post comments?
>
> Of course. In fact, most responses have been too long and detailed (and
> interesting!) to summarise, so I would encourage you and others to post
> your responses to the whole list yourself, to see if we can get a good
> open debate going? I think a lot of people would be interested to see how
> the discussion developed.
>
> Darius
> ***************************************************************************
> Darius Bartlett Darius Bartlett
> Department of Geography Roinn na Tireolaiochta
> University College Cork Colaste na hOllscoile Corcaigh
> Cork, Ireland Corcaigh, Eire
>
> Phone: (+353) 21 902835 Fax: (+353) 21 271980
> Mobile (in Ireland): 086 8238043 Mobile (from abroad): (+353) 86 8238043
> E-mail: [log in to unmask] Web URL: http://www.ucc.ie/ucc/depts/geography/djb
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This message was transmitted using 100% recycled electrons....
> ***************************************************************************
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My response to his response:
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> > But also, a lot of people who don't have cartographic training grossly
> > undervalue and underestimate the importance of good, solid, appreciation
> > of cartographic principles. There are a lot of maps now being generated
> > by GIS users. Very few of them would be 'good' maps in my estimation! I
> > believe this is a widespread criticism of GIS from within the cartographic
> > professional. My question was partly directed towards seeing if GIS is
> > in practice signalling the end (or the decline) of public awareness of
> > and respect for the professional cartographer? I hope not, but I fear it
> > may be the case....
I agree completely with this statement. Although a lot of GIS work
is done in the "private realm" without producing any hardcopy output,
those who are required to produce hardcopy for the "public realm" should
be aware of cartographic principles. A few years ago I took a GIS class
offered through the City Planning department of a large university. Map
design and cartographic convention were not even mentioned - the class
stressed spatial analysis and ignored cartographic communication. Other
students in the class who had had no cartographic training were
producing hardcopy choropleth maps using raw data, dot density maps
using non-equal area projections, etc., etc.
As I said before, I consider GIS to be a subdiscipline of
cartography, a subdiscipline that focuses primarily on spatial
analysis. I think that cartography professionals should be more
agressive in "claiming" GIS as part of the discipline of cartography.
Although effective map communication is *very* important, cartographers
should embrace the entire cartographic process instead of narrowing in
on "public realm" output.
Elaine Hallisey Hendrix
Department of Anthropology and Geography
Georgia State University
Phone: (404) 651-1828 Email: [log in to unmask]
Departmental Web Site: http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwgeg