December, 1998 (Vol. 27, No. 2)
Refereed Papers
Hardie, A.R. (1998) The Development and Present State of Web-GIS, Cartography, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 11 - 26.
Cartwright, W., Fraser, D. and Pupedis, G. (1998) Hypereducation: Prospects for Delivering Region-Wide Cartographic Science Programmes on the Web, Cartography, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 27 - 40.
Jiang, B. (1998) Visualisation of Fuzzy Boundaries of Geographic Objects , Cartography, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 41 - 46.
Sandison, D., Hickey, R.J., Wright, G. and Metternicht, G. (1998) Four-Dimensional Visualisation of Smog in Perth, Cartography, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 47 - 54.
Contemporary Cartography Papers
Dawson, B. (1998) A Cost Effective Approach for Accurate Medium-Scale Mapping in a Large-Scale Project: The Mid-West – Gascoyne Imagery Project, Cartography, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 55 - 61.
Hydrographic Sciences Australia Pty Ltd. (1998) Raster Data Centre: Electronic Chart Processing for the Hydrographic Service, RAN, Cartography, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 63 - 69.
The Development and Present State of Web-GIS.
Andrew R Hardie
Department of Land Information
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Melbourne, Australia
Abstract
The World Wide Web offers the prospect for a true distributed information system. Much of this information has a spatial framework, and so there is a need for
mapping and GIS applications on the Web. However, with Web technology being deliberately designed to be simple, the prospects for such applications were
limited. In the short existence of the Web many tools have become available which make it possible to overcome these limitations, so that the functionality of a
non-distributed GIS is almost achievable. This paper reviews the development of the technology that has made this viable, and looks at some further developments
and issues, such as cartographic design, which will play a part in the future of Web-GIS.
Hypereducation: Prospects for Delivering Region-Wide Cartographic Science Programmes on the Web
William Cartwright, David Fraser and Gita Pupedis, MMSIA
Department of Land Information
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Melbourne, Australia
w.cartwright@rmit.edu.au
david.fraser@rmit.edu.au
g.pupedis@rmit.edu.au
Ferjan Ormeling
Cartography Department
Faculty of Geographical Sciences
University of Utrecht
Utrecht, The Netherlands
f.ormeling@frw.ruu.nl
Abstract
Education in the cartographic sciences has developed according to the demands of individual ‘marketplaces’, along corridors deemed appropriate by controlling
authorities and within achievable lines dictated by educational realities. With the advent of new technological tools for remote delivery a global view now challenges
the ‘local’ view of educational design. The provision of programmes that satisfy a national or regional demand may be necessary to ensure the survival of
programmes in the cartographic sciences in times of minimum class sizes and questionable viability of some programmes. A national and regional perspective is
therefore needed to ensure that future programmes both meet the needs of the Australian mapping industry and the requirements of a geographically fragmented
regional mapping industry.
This paper provides an overview of programmes offered in the Asia-Pacific region and also within Australia. It also proposes the means by which programmes could
be delivered regionally and nationally using the tools offered by contemporary educational packages and available communications technology.
Visualisation of Fuzzy Boundaries of Geographic Objects
Bin Jiang
Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis
University College London
1-19 Torrington Place, WC1E 6BT, London
Email: b.jiang@ucl.ac.uk
Abstract
The linguistic notions such as very low, low, not low, low or medium are commonly used to name classes in current geographic information systems (GIS). These
sorts of linguistic notions are frequently utilised in the social sciences as well. There is little doubt that the social sciences require a formal and even a mathematical
framework for handling graded categories with blurred boundaries. In the past decades, much effort has been made to model the kind of fuzziness (or possibility)
from the field of mathematics. Geographers and GIS professionals have started to treat this issue since a decade ago. This short article provides detailed discussions
with a case study on how to visualise fuzziness, involving colour surfaces, coloured contour lines and 3D model simulation. The author’s argument is that effective
visualisation of fuzzy boundaries might facilitate the understanding of geographic objects with indeterminate boundaries.
Four-Dimensional Visualisation of Smog in Perth
Dan Sandison, Robert J Hickey, Graeme Wright and Graciela Metternicht
School of Spatial Sciences
Curtin University of Technology
PO Box U1987
Perth, WA 6845
Abstract
Geographical Information Systems (GISs) are typically limited to the representation of two dimensional data and most have difficulty showing the volumetric (3D)
nature of many environmental phenomena. In a truly dynamic environmental model, time must also be handled. Time slices can be used to model environmental
objects and can be used for the foundations of 4D visualisation and animation.
A four-dimensional GIS has been employed to analyse air quality data in Perth, Western Australia. The air-quality data were derived from output of a model
developed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in Perth. This dataset consists of an array of 12 800 points defined in three dimensions which were
reformatted for input into Voxel Analyst (Intergraph). Each six to fifteen minute sample was mapped as a time slice in order to develop a complete smog picture for
the whole day showing spatial extent and pollution levels. These slices were then visualised through animation.
Mapping air quality in a dynamic and volumetric nature provides a better understanding of the complexities involved. Further, through visualisation and animation,
four-dimensional plumes of smog can be examined and their potential paths predicted. Ultimately, this greater understanding will allow environmental decision makers
to improve plans for appropriate action to reduce smog.
A Cost Effective Approach for Accurate Medium-Scale Mapping in a Large-Scale Project: The Mid-West – Gascoyne Imagery Project
Brian Dawson, MMSIA
Geological Survey Division
Department of Minerals and Energy
100 Plain Street
East Perth WA 6004
email: b.dawson@dme.wa.gov.au
Stephen Maughan
McMullen Nolan and Partners Surveyors
9/23 Richardson Street
South Perth WA 6151
email: stevem@mapsurv.com.au
Revised version of paper presented at 9th Australasian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
July 1998.
Abstract
The Geological Survey Division (GSD) of the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) of Western Australia is undertaking a project aimed at acquiring
up-to-date, accurate, high resolution satellite imagery to provide a quality mapping base for GSD products. One outcome of the project will be provision of digital
topographic data in a region where current mapping is at small-scale and in insufficient detail to support geological mapping and mineral exploration. The information
will be made available to the community for use in mining exploration, agriculture, conservation, land management, development and tourism.
Raster Data Centre: Electronic Chart Processing for the Hydrographic Service, RAN
Hydrographic Sciences Australia Pty Ltd
The Australian Hydrographic Office, RAN
Abstract
During the past decade the maritime community has identified huge advantages in having electronic chart products available for navigation and allied applications,
such as command, control, communication and intelligence (C3I) functions. Various standards for intelligent vector spatial data are in the process of implementation
for both civil and military purposes. The Hydrographic Service Royal Australian Navy (HSRAN) is at the forefront in defining and adopting those standards,
however, the standards are still crystallising and conversion will take many years.
In 1995 Hydrographic Sciences Australia Pty Ltd (HSA) and HSRAN undertook a feasibility study to provide a bridge to the forthcoming vector chart regime by
defining and developing an electronic raster chart data product (now named seafarer). HSA however, conceptualised a more substantial facility known as the Raster
Data Centre (RDC) which not only created and maintained the Seafarer product, but also provided many other advantages and cost savings to HSRAN. The RAN
Hydrographer, Cdre Willis, agreed to commit to this concept and contracted HSA to design, develop and operate the Raster Data Centre.
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