Electronic Atlases

Electronic atlases are intentional combinations of maps or data sets structured in such a way that given objectives are reached. In the recent history of cartography, atlases deserve a prominent status among cartographic products due to the variety of their thematic content, the rather friendly appearance, and their utilization by a wide spectrum of users. Advances in information technology and more specifically in geographic information systems and digital mapping, have altered the traditional way of using maps and thus have a considerable impact on every aspect of electronic atlas design, content, and functionality. Considerable effort has been made in the production of electronic atlases, and successful systems are available with fascinating design and functional characteristics.

One way of understanding our neighbors better is to compare them with ourselves. The visualization of geostatistical data in electronic atlases with the support of basic analytical tools is the most effective way to represent quantitative and qualitative aspects of spatially distributed phenomena as well as their thematic and geographical relations.

Menno-Jan Kraak and Ferjan Ormeling consider atlases to be a higher form of cartography compared with maps and charts because their production involves both an extra planning and an extra structural dimension. Initially, electronic atlases emulated the appearance of paper atlases and were sequential “slide shows.” The more advanced electronic atlases have high interactive mapping capabilities that allow users to manipulate atlas data, to combine them with their own, and to examine spatial and thematic data dynamically, thus developing different representations. The distinction of electronic atlases into view only, interactive, and analytical is only an indication of the course followed until we reached the point where an electronic atlas is expected to virtually cover all realistic needs of the user community; from changing color schemes and the number of classes to combination, query, analysis, and dynamic presentation of geographic and statistical data sets. On the other hand, the increasing demand for sophisticated data presentation and manipulation is further stimulated by developments in scientific visualization, graphic user interface design, cognitive—usability, multimedia, and exploratory data analysis.

Another consequence of the technological change is the ability to access maps and related information via the Internet, which has changed people's daily lives. The Internet can serve as a source of spatial data, thematic data, finished maps, and software for exploring and analyzing data. Despite the increasing trend of accessing, processing, and displaying information via the Internet, a well-designed electronic atlas should not be restricted in this mode of operation. The system should enable the user to be capable of using the electronic atlas as a stand-alone—where the atlas will be stored on a removable medium such as a DVD—supported by an Internet alternative, which will provide the updating of the geographical and statistical data.