http://www.edparsons.com/2008/08/cartography-and-the-power-of-the-image/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:58:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 http://www.edparsons.com/2008/08/cartography-and-the-power-of-the-image/#comment-152119 Joe Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:15:18 +0000 http://www.edparsons.com/?p=519#comment-152119 The link doesn't work out of the UK unfortunately. The link doesn’t work out of the UK unfortunately.

]]> http://www.edparsons.com/2008/08/cartography-and-the-power-of-the-image/#comment-152095 Caitlin Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:11:58 +0000 http://www.edparsons.com/?p=519#comment-152095 There's just something about imagery that really captures people's attentions. I've noticed that over the years being in GIS, especially with the increased access to higher resolution imagery - I can present a well though out map but nothing seems to make people more aware than slapping an orthoimage behind the data. It's almost become a prerequisite for any large scale map our group produces. Even before that, the very first images of the earth captured from space really mesmerized people. There’s just something about imagery that really captures people’s attentions. I’ve noticed that over the years being in GIS, especially with the increased access to higher resolution imagery - I can present a well though out map but nothing seems to make people more aware than slapping an orthoimage behind the data. It’s almost become a prerequisite for any large scale map our group produces. Even before that, the very first images of the earth captured from space really mesmerized people.

]]> http://www.edparsons.com/2008/08/cartography-and-the-power-of-the-image/#comment-152054 Steve Chilton Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:43:20 +0000 http://www.edparsons.com/?p=519#comment-152054 I too longed for some maps to be used as well as aerial photos, although the animations were in effect map-like images. I think the reason for the lack of map use in these situations is possibly because they need time to digest, and there is never enough time – it needs to move on to the next topic before losing people’s attention. For myself I wanted time to dwell on the imagery. I wanted to be able to explore the gaps in the flight paths that were referred to. Not necessarily to work out where the military installations were but to assess the areas of the country that were flight-free. Similarly I wanted time to take in where the taxi drivers were going when the main link roads became too busy. I haven’t had time to investigate whether the website has the animations, and whether they are available as slider-controlled animations – surely a useful adjunct to the programme if provided. I actually think that maps can be easier to interpret than aerial photos, particularly with adequate time to do so. Map symbolisation is now highly codeified, and on topographic and transport mapping should be highly recognisable. I am sure the UK’s transport patterns could be well illustrated with the aid of maps of the tube network, and national rail network. Similarly, the flight paths overlaid on a map might have allowed identification of swathes of urban areas not affected. After all with current technologies the actual map elements can be animated where necessary. Maybe I am trying to apply too much geographical analysis to what was in fact an excellent example of the use of new graphical techniques to show interesting patterns and features of our daily lives. I am prompted to this train of thought by both watching the programme and by recently purchasing Simon Foxell’s excellent book “Mapping London: making sense of the city”. The many and varied cartographic examples, over a range of dates and topics, allow some fascinating insights into the development of London, in my view rather better than was shown by the second strand of the Britain from Above series that concentrated on the use of post-war RAF aerial imagery and recent comparable imagery to do the same. But then I have all the time in the world to pore over the imagery and text in the book – and certainly will do so. I too longed for some maps to be used as well as aerial photos, although the animations were in effect map-like images. I think the reason for the lack of map use in these situations is possibly because they need time to digest, and there is never enough time – it needs to move on to the next topic before losing people’s attention. For myself I wanted time to dwell on the imagery. I wanted to be able to explore the gaps in the flight paths that were referred to. Not necessarily to work out where the military installations were but to assess the areas of the country that were flight-free. Similarly I wanted time to take in where the taxi drivers were going when the main link roads became too busy. I haven’t had time to investigate whether the website has the animations, and whether they are available as slider-controlled animations – surely a useful adjunct to the programme if provided.
I actually think that maps can be easier to interpret than aerial photos, particularly with adequate time to do so. Map symbolisation is now highly codeified, and on topographic and transport mapping should be highly recognisable. I am sure the UK’s transport patterns could be well illustrated with the aid of maps of the tube network, and national rail network. Similarly, the flight paths overlaid on a map might have allowed identification of swathes of urban areas not affected. After all with current technologies the actual map elements can be animated where necessary. Maybe I am trying to apply too much geographical analysis to what was in fact an excellent example of the use of new graphical techniques to show interesting patterns and features of our daily lives. I am prompted to this train of thought by both watching the programme and by recently purchasing Simon Foxell’s excellent book “Mapping London: making sense of the city”. The many and varied cartographic examples, over a range of dates and topics, allow some fascinating insights into the development of London, in my view rather better than was shown by the second strand of the Britain from Above series that concentrated on the use of post-war RAF aerial imagery and recent comparable imagery to do the same. But then I have all the time in the world to pore over the imagery and text in the book – and certainly will do so.

]]> http://www.edparsons.com/2008/08/cartography-and-the-power-of-the-image/#comment-152050 Nick Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:05:42 +0000 http://www.edparsons.com/?p=519#comment-152050 I felt that the program would have been all the better for some maps - even for some still images of the GPS traces (ie still image with moving traces) that would have allowed consideration of what they represented rather than a fleeting and impressionistic sense of the beautiful dance of data, goods etc around the country. Once you understand a map, it's much easier to see what's represented than in an aerial photo. Interestingly though, most of the GPS traces were against a very dark aerial photograph, rendering them almost maplike. I felt that the program would have been all the better for some maps - even for some still images of the GPS traces (ie still image with moving traces) that would have allowed consideration of what they represented rather than a fleeting and impressionistic sense of the beautiful dance of data, goods etc around the country. Once you understand a map, it’s much easier to see what’s represented than in an aerial photo. Interestingly though, most of the GPS traces were against a very dark aerial photograph, rendering them almost maplike.

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