Andrea Nass

Planetary Map Data Model for Geologic Mapping

Geologic mapping and the design of geologic (thematic) maps are nowadays supported by Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In order to gain a high degree of efficiency and to allow exchange of a common structured framework for mapping, map data models have been designed by agencies and individuals in order to support their mapping process. Only a limited number of such models are freely available and most of them are on a conceptual level. They support mappers in their work to define spatial geologic map units by integrating field and remote-sensing information and relate them to non-spatial information, in particular genetic surface types, rock composition, age and age relationships, attitude data, and other surface characteristics. All of these attributes are interrelated and require data models that depict these complex relationships without becoming too complicated for the mapper. Solutions on the basis of database management systems and server-client communication are highly efficient but they cannot be easily employed and require dedicated administration. A well-established alternative are file-based geodatabase concepts which are much more accessible but which also suffer from a number of limitations when it comes to administration and querying data. The scope of this work is to find an accessible solution for working on and with geologic maps for planetary surfaces. We here present a planetary map data model (PMDM) design that has been implemented within Environmental Systems Research Institutes (ESRI) ArcGIS environment for systematic geologic and geomorphologic mapping of different planetary surfaces. The model copes with different genetic surface types, planetary stratigraphic systems, surface chronologies, specific naming conventions, and different body references. Additional and innovative assets are integrated solutions for semi-automated symbol assignments based on published standards (FGDC) and the possibility to perform topology checks on surface type features and units.

Animation in der Kartographie: Dynamische Datenprimitive

Das exponentielle Datenwachstum der vergangenen Jahrzehnte und neue Technologien im Bereich der Hard- und Softwareentwicklung sind zwei wesentliche Grundvoraussetzungen, welche die Entwicklung computergestutzter Kartographie und Kartographische Animation (KA) begunstigt haben. In den Geowissenschaften unterstutzen KAs die Untersuchung, Analyse, und Validierung komplexer Sachverhalte und ermoglichen es, durch die Kombination von Raum- und Attributinformationen aus mehreren Quellen eine grosere Informationstiefe abzubilden. Fur all diese Verarbeitungs-, Speicherungs- und Prasentationsschritte werden moderne GIS-Technologien genutzt. Jedoch sind diese Systeme trotz ihres breiten Einsatzes bislang nicht in der Lage, temporale, d. h. dynamische Informationen, ebenso effizient zu verwalten und darzustellen wie den Raumbezug. Es ist haufig aber moglich, die temporalen Informationen, wenn auch mit gewissen Einschrankungen, als Attribute in ein zugrunde liegendes Datenmodell zu implementieren und zu nutzen. Allerdings mussen derartige Modelle immer abhangig von einem bestimmten Fall (neu) entwickelt werden. Das Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, ein strukturelles Basismodell zu entwickeln, das die raumbezogenen Datenprimitive mit zeitbezogenen Informationen verknupft, speichert und abrufbar macht, um zeitbezogene Animationen von Kartenobjekten moglichst generisch zu erzeugen. Hierfur werden die (karto-)graphischen Variablen zusammengefasst, deren Potenzial bei der Verwendung von Kartenanimationen diskutiert und anhand einfacher und komplexen Animationsbeispielen mit Fokus auf ein- bis mehrdimensionale Punktsignaturen aufgezeigt. Aus diesen Beispielen wurde ein vereinfachtes Datenmodell abgeleitet, in dem temporale Informationen generisch gespeichert werden konnen. Diese Informationen sind zugreifbar uber relationale Abfragen und konnen als Kartenobjekte animiert werden.

On the Concept and Integration of Geologic Time in Planetary Mapping

Planetary image data and maps form one of the most accessible scientific products for establishing cross-communication between planetary research disciplines and the general public. In particular geologic maps comprise a wealth of thematic information and form an accessible and esthetic medium for both, laypersons as well as scientist. Geologic maps form a substantial part of the planetary map data record that is publicly available. If such maps have been designed carefully they condense 2.5 + t dimensions (coll. 4D) into a two-dimensional map domain by connecting thematic attributes with geometry and time and by allowing (a) to completely reconstruct the subsurface extent as well as attitudes of mapped units by means of geometry, and (b) to establish a sequence of time units by relating legend items with geometric reconstructions. Despite the well-considered design of such maps, their higher non-geometric dimensionality and compression to two dimensions cause severe limitations in querying mixed non-spatial and spatial relationships, e.g., time, even in digital systems. This, however, is required for geological mapping in order to establish cross-relationships across regions on a local and even planetary scale. We here present a data framework which allows storing, managing and querying 2.5D + t information used in planetary geologic mapping. The focus is put on the general abstract ontological as well as the logical relationship concept which is designed to be employed in state-of-the art geographic information systems (GIS) commonly used for planetary geologic mapping.

Dynamic Cartography: A Concept for Multidimensional Point Symbols

The exponential increase of acquired and managed geospatial data during the last decades, and the development of new hard- and software frameworks are two main drivers which have facilitated technological innovation in computer–animated cartography and cartographic animation (CA). In the Earth sciences cartographic animation are used for investigations, analyses and visual validation of complex settings and allow depicting a higher level of information by combining spatial data and attributes from different sources. To accomplish this, GIS technology is commonly used for processing, management and the presentation of spatial data. Despite the broad application field of GIS technology, temporal, i.e. dynamic, information is usually not covered in full depth and it remains challenging to manage and visualize such information in the same way as spatial information. Consequently, spatiotemporal data models need to be developed and adopted for each individual case by building an underlying structure which allows relating spatial geometry to cartographic as well as thematic attributes, including time. This contribution tries to discuss and establish a conceptual basis for a data model that allows connecting spatial data primitives with temporal attributes in order to manage, query and visualize the animation of map objects on a higher level.