The Cybercartographic Atlas of Antarctica

1
The Cybercartographic Atlas of Antarctica

• D.R.F. Taylor
• Carleton University
• SCAR WG-GGI (Canada)
• XXVII SCAR, Shanghai, PRC
• July 2002

2
Presentation Overview

• Background
• Goals of the Cybercartographic Atlas of
  Antarctica
• Organizational model
• Methodology
• Current Contributions

3
History of the Cybercartographic Atlas of
Antarctica

• Grew from Latin American cybercartographic atlas
  project
• Formally adopted by SCAR WG-GGI, July 2001
• Two workshops held December, 2001 and May, 2002
• Significant international cooperation and
  contribution during early stages
• Currently seeking major funding with some measure
  of success

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Cybercartography

• Multisensory
• Multimedia delivered across telecommunications
  networks
• Highly interactive
• Part of an information/analytical package rather
  than a stand-alone product
• Compiled by teams of individuals from different
  disciplines
• Involves new partnerships among research centres,
  national mapping agencies, private sector, NGOs
  and educational institutions.

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Cybercartographic Atlas Description

• A Cartographic Information System that uses a
  variety of Information Technologies including
  GIS, however the map is the primary interface
  rather than a simple output or display device.
• Presents information at global, continental and
  local scales
• Potential user communities include scientists,
  policy makers and the general public

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Goals of the Cybercartographic Atlas of
Antarctica Project (CAAP)

• Create an innovative new product and methodology
  to compliment discovering, utilizing, presenting
  and distributing existing information and data
  about Antarctica to a wide variety of users,
  including scientists, decision makers and the
  general public
• Facilitate increased cooperation and information
  exchange between Antarctic stakeholders under the
  terms of the Antarctic treaty
• Through international cooperation, to develop and
  link National Atlases of Antarctica

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General Themes of the Atlas

• Antarctic Environment A holistic interpretation
  of the human and physical Antarctic environment
• Geosciences
• Life sciences
• Physical sciences
• Human Activity

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General Themes of the Atlas cont..

• Antarctic Treaty System
• Human Impact
• Marine Management Fisheries
• Built environment
• Tourism
• Education and general knowledge for the public
  including
• History
• Virtual participation of users in real-time

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OrganizationalModel
Users

• Discovery

• Integration

Providers

• Representation

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Potential CAAP Model
User / Providers
Providers
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Users
User / Providers
Providers
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Content

• Geographic
• Interactive maps
• Remote Sensing Imagery,
• Real-time geo-locationing (i.e. GPS tracking
  signal)
• Process models
• Multimedia
• Pictures (informal, collections, art)
• Sound oral history, sound archives, symphonies
• Video,movies, animation, live Webcam
• Text
• Books, articles, references
• Near real-time expedition feedback i.e.
  electronic Chat

13
Methodology

• Distributed system
• Adoption of interoperability, metadata, archiving
  and production standards
• User centred design with the potential for
  multiple user interfaces
• Use of alternative interfaces termed abandonware

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Sample of Current Projects

• Antarctic Geodesy
• Chinese Atlas of Antarctica
• Decline of Elephant Seals
• Ice Shelf Breakup
• Human Activity in Antarctica

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Antarctic Geodesy
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Antarctic Geodesy

• Focus Comprehensive examination of geodesy in
  Antarctica. A review of geodesy from the era of
  astronomic observations to the present use of
  millimetre accuracy space geodesy
• Geographic Coverage Continental
• Content description Maps, satellite imagery,
  geodetic control points
• Managing group GIANT

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Chinese Cybercartographic Atlas of Antarctica
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National Contributions Chinese Atlas of
Antarctica

• Focus An Atlas providing a broad coverage of a
  variety of topics related to Antarctica
• Geographic Coverage Global, Continental, Local
• Content description Maps, Satellite Imagery,
  Multimedia
• Managing group Chinese Antarctic Center of
  Surveying and Mapping, Wuhan University

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The Impact of Climate Variability on Elephant
Seals
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The Impact of Climate Variability on Elephant
Seals

• Focus An investigation of the observed and
  potential effects of global warming and rare
  ecological events on the life cycle of the
  Elephant seal
• Geographic Coverage Continental, Local
• Content description Maps, satellite imagery,
  graphs, scientific literature, Webcams, GPS
  tracking of seals
• Managing group Argentinean-Belgian cooperation

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Ice Shelf Breakup
Image credits NASA - Goddard Space Flight
Center Scientific Visualization Studio/NSIDC
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Ice Shelf Breakup

• Focus An investigation of the nature and
  potential causes of recent ice shelf breakups
• Geographic Coverage Regional - Ross, Larsen,
  Bellinghausen
• Content description Maps, animation time
  series, text, near real-time satellites
• Managing group ?

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Human Activity in Antarctica
Near Real-time Event Tracking
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Human Activity in Antarctica

• Focus Presentation of the movement of people
  and goods on the Antarctic continent.
• Geographic Coverage Global, Continental, Local
• Content description Airstrips, Stations
  (Webcams), Protected Areas (location,
  photographs, management plans), treaty text,
  historic monuments, tourist ships, meteorological
  information
• Managing Group Hub (Carleton University) in
  association with other partners

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Future of the Atlas

• Project schedule
• Several projects currently in progress
• Development phase
• Tentative start of production January, 2003
• Demonstration of initial site expected for SCAR
  XXVIII/COMNAP XI international conference, July,
  2004

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Invitation to Participate

• SCAR Groups
• IAATO
• CCAMLR
• COMNAP
• Others