Atlas concepts

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Atlas concepts

• Ferjan Ormeling

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Emergence of atlas conceptsissues are

• Easier handling of geographical information
• Standardization
• Improving legibility and atlas navigation
• Enabling comparisons

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Ptolemy (AD 90-170, Alexandria) Geography

• Projections for world maps
• Projections for regional maps
• Sequence of regional maps
• Co-ordinate systems
• Co-ordinates of 8000 places

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Standard map sequence

• Sequence initiated by Ptolemy

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Lafreri, Rome 1560

• Bound map book
• Same sheet dimensions

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Ortelius 1570 Theatrum Orbis Terrarum

• Unity in printing
• Selection of the best sources
• Map commentaries
• Map use comments
• frontispiece TOT

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Atlas definition

• systematic and coherent collection of
  geographical data, in analog or digital form,
  representing a particular area and one or more
  geographical phenomena, based on a narrative,
  together with tools for navigation, information
  retrieval, analysis and presentation (Koop 1993

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Life of an atlasBlaeus Atlas Maior
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Ptolemy (90-170AD) -Division of the world
into parts -Standard sequence of the
parts Lafreri (1560) -Unity in
format Ortelius (1570) -Unity in
printing -Selection of the best
sources -expository function Mercator
(1595 and -Unity in contentsWaghenaer
(1584) -Standard legend -Good
legibility -Diversity in function 
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Mercator (1512-1594) Atlas sive cosmographicae
meditationes de fabrica mundi et fabricati figura
(1595)

• Legibility
• Standard legend
• Unity in contents
• ltfrontispiece Atlas

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Names for map books

• Geographia
• Theatre (Theatrum)
• Mirror (Speculum)
• Itinerario (route book)
• Tabulae (maps)
• Atlas

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Atlas structures -centrifugal -centripetal -co
nfrontation -linear interrupted -free
(hyperlinks)
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Atlas structure

• Composition
• -Volume
• -Nature
• -Coverage
• Arrangement sequence in which maps have been
  placed
• Sequential priority
• Compositional bias

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Map sequence Indonesian school atlases
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Structure composition and arrange-ment, or
relative numbers of maps and their sequence
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Titelpagina Wytfloet
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Titel-page Wyt-flietsAtlas of theAme-ricas
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Topical sequence interAtlas
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Scale tool for providing a hierarchy Indonesian
school atlas
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Tools for structuring atlases

• traditional atlases digital
  atlases
• Scale tool X X
• Geographic sequence tool X -
• Topical sequence tool X X
• Time machine X X
• Superposition tool X X
• Colour coding tool X -
• Graphical emphasis tool X X
• highlighting tool - X
• Layering tool - X

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Arrangement

• Geographical sequence
• Thematical sequence
• Temporal sequence

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Atlas narrative
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Atlas scenario Swedish School Atlas
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Other atlas concepts

• Atlas as a collection of true maps
• Atlas as a geography machine and time machine
• Atlas as a superior spatial data storage and
  query tool
• Atlas as an isolating device
• Atlas as a tool for spatial comparisons
• -geographical
• -temporal
• -topical

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Geographical comparison
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Atlas types -geographical atlases (comparison
between areas)-historical atlases (comparison
between dates)-national/regional atlases
(comparison between themes)-topographic atlases
(comparison with reality/environment)-thematic
atlases (also comparison between areas) 
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 Atlas information systems1. national atlas
information systems (topical comparisons)2.
historical atlas information systems (temporal
comparisons)3. reference (world) atlas
information systems (geographical
comparisons)4. economic (world) atlas
information systems (geographical
comparisons)5. physical (world) atlas
information systems (geographical
comparisons)6. physical planning atlas
information systems (topical/temporal
comparisons)7. educational atlas information
systems (topical/geographical comparisons)
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Teaching atlas use is teaching atlas access and
map comparison
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Teaching atlas use

• Atlas access
• -Indexes
• -Contents
• -Legends
• -Glossaries
• -Links
• Map comparison
• -Thematical
• -Geographical
• -Temporal

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Relatability
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Relatability
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Different kinds of comparisons
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comparability

• Equal reference systems
• Equal degree of generalisation, aggregation level
• Similar map types
• Similar survey dates
• Equal scale