Classification of Digital Maps
Understanding the different types of digital maps and their purposes in modern geoinformatics and cartographic applications.
General Geographic Maps
Topographic maps (at a scale of 1:200,000 and larger), topographic overview maps (from 1:200,000 to 1:1,000,000), and overview maps (smaller than 1:1,000,000) contain comprehensive data on relief, hydrography, land cover, settlements, economic objects, roads, communications links, and boundaries. In geoinformatics, these maps serve two purposes: to obtain information about listed terrain features and to spatially relate thematic information.
Nature Maps
The most thematically diverse group, including geological structure and subsurface resources, geophysical, relief of earth’s surface and ocean floor, meteorological and climatic, hydrological and oceanographic, soil, geobotanical, zoogeographic, medical and geographic, landscape and general physical-geographic nature protection maps.
Population Maps
Divided into main subjects covering population distribution over the territory and settlement, ethnographic and anthropological characteristics, demographic characteristics, and socio-economic characteristics of the population.
Economic Maps
The most extensive class in socio-economic themes, including industry maps (mining and manufacturing), agricultural maps, natural resources with economic evaluation, land resources, labour resources, material and technical base, farming and livestock production, and forestry maps describing forest resource distribution and use.
Science & Services Maps
Maps of science, training, and population services are closely linked to maps of population, economy, trade, and communications, providing comprehensive coverage of educational and service infrastructure.
Automation in Surveying
Automation of surveying follows two interdependent directions: creation of new technical means ensuring replacement of manual operations with automatic devices and systems, and searching for essentially new technical ideas and solutions.
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Transition to representation of topographic information in the form of a digital terrain model implemented on the computer
Transition to representation of topographic information in the form of a digital terrain model implemented on the computer
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Formalization of surveying parameters as information process in “human-machine” system with development of new technological processes methods
Formalization of surveying parameters as information process in “human-machine” system with development of new technological processes methods
03
Systematic approach to production process organization, expressed in creation of automated mapping systems
Systematic approach to production process organization, expressed in creation of automated mapping systems
Multi-Purpose Output
Users of topographic and geodesic information can receive not one universal document (topographic map or plan) requiring additional processing, but a number of materials of different content and form, required to solve specific engineering problems. This approach meets the needs of various branches of economy and gives great economic effect due to multiple and multipurpose use.
Information Process
Digital Mapping Workflow
The integrated process of collecting digital information through various methods and instruments, resulting in comprehensive cartographic data.
01
Ground Surveying
Collection of digital information through direct ground-based measurement and observation techniques.
02
Photogrammetric Processing
Analysis and processing of aerial photographs to extract accurate geographic measurements.
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Digitalization
Conversion of available cartographic materials into digital form for computer processing.
04
Image Interpretation
Survey of terrain and underground economy through interpretation of various image sources.