Curating the terrainTravis White, University of KansasAaron Taveras, University of KansasThe authors have been invited to develop an exhibit on cartographic terrain representation for the University of Kansas Art & Design Gallery in the fall of 2014. Our goals for this exhibit are twofold: first, we wish to engage our audience in the processes used to transform "real" physical environments into cartographic depictions of those environments; second, we wish to challenge conventional notions about how the physical environment "should" appear on maps by comparing a variety of quantitative and artistic techniques for displaying topographic features. This talk follows the development of this exhibit from conception to actualization, drawing upon our own work and our key inspirations.
View presentation »Small Scale Historical Landscape Reconstruction Using VueErik Steiner, Stanford UniversityBefore Hetch Hetchy Dam, there was Searsville Reservoir. Built in 1892 to supply the burgeoning city of San Francisco, the lake was never used as a water supply. Instead, the lake became recreation destination and eventually a part of a biological preserve where it sits today as a controversial source of habitat for dozens of species of bats and birds, but is 90% filled with sediment and blocks spawning opportunities for local salmonids.
This presentation reports on the cartographic effort (using Vue) to develop a small scale historical ecology (vegetation reconstruction) of the area around Searsville Reservoir as it existed before it was settled by Europeans and before the construction of the dam. Reminiscent of the Manahatta Project (on a much smaller scale), our goal is to help visually untangle the delicate restoration decisions that will determine the long term future of this watershed.
The Technology Evolution of Raised-Relief MapsMichael Higgins, Summit Terragraphics Inc.This paper traces the evolution of the raised-relief maps and terrain physical modeling from its earliest forms to today’s use of modern technology, including CNC routing and 3D printing. The first half of the paper reviews the beginning of 3D maps using primitive materials and then progresses through more elaborate and durable materials and forms such as hand painted and sculpted clay models. The newest production forms are then also reviewed – CNC milling/routing with digital printed surfaces, 3D color printing, and precision thermoform molding of plastic sheets.
Visual illusions in CartographyArzu Çöltekin, University of ZürichSome visual illusions are exteremely important for the legibility and interpretation of cartographic products; such as the terrain reversal effect in shaded relief maps (in which we perceive convex shapes as concave and vica versa), or change blindness (in which we can't detect the change from one scene to another). Some others, such as Müller-Lyer illusion or Ebbinghaus illusion may also be relevant in estimating distances and areas. This talk provides a brief overview of illusions in Cartography and presents results from an empirical study on terrain reversal effect.
View presentation »
