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Date: | Sat, 9 Oct 1993 17:29:18 EDT |
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----------------------------Original message----------------------------
GISes are often used to to produced ugly maps--as has been
pointed out GIS instructors rarely teach cartography. I would
also add the cartography teachers don't often know the
capabilities of GISes like ARC/INFO--anybody who makes a bad map
with ARC/INFO has not used the full capabilites of the system (or
has bad taste, or hardware limitations). That ARC/INFO is hard
to use is expensize and hard to use is true, but I'm under the
impression that email lists like UIGIS-L (User Interface) exist
to help address that problem. Undoubtedly, there will be (if not
already) easier to use systems that are just as capable.
As to the complete replacement of paper maps, obviously not. As
has been pointed out, computers have not replaced books and other
paper documents--however how many of those documents are still
produced on typewriters? Part of the intent of the National
Spatial Data Infrastructure is to allow the rapid and cost
effective update of map products; by storing data digitally,
rather than on mylar, map products can be changed easily. The
control of these changes is a known issue; addressing this is
part of the FGDC's charter. This will, I think, also makes mass-
produced maps like the 7.5' series, for the most part, obsolete.
More coal on the fire, Alan Brenner
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