Lucie Friedmannová

Selected issues of cartographic communication optimization for emergency centers

Abstract Cartographic communication and support within emergency management (EM) are complicated issues with changing demands according to the incident extent and phase of the EM cycle. Keeping in mind the specifics of each purpose, it is obvious that spatial data used for maps preparation and production must be differently visualized even for the same type of emergency incident (traffic accident, fire, and natural disaster). Context-based cartography is a promising methodology to deal with the changing demands of an operational EM center. An overview of cartographic communication is presented within the context of an operational EM center, activities of particular actors, and map use supporting the incident elimination. The authors of the paper respond to a series of questions, for example: what is the current cartographic support of operational EM in the Czech Republic in Digital Earth conditions? What possibilities are there to improve the cartographic communication? How can contextual cartographic services be implemented in a Web environment and how can the usability of results be tested? The paper gives several examples of the usage of cartographic technologies in map creation for various emergency situations.

Designing Map Keys for Crisis Management on the Regional Operational and Informational Centre Level: Monitoring Transport of Dangerous Goods via Contextual Visualisation

The research presented in this chapter is part of the project called Dynamic Geovisualization in Crisis Management (GEOKRIMA – Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, 2005–2011). The project is focused on the use of existing data, verification of the data’s timeliness and integrity, analysis of the data’s qualitative features, interpretation, presentation and implementation of its accessibility to the users who are crisis management personnel. The chapter revolves around contextual visualisation that is designed, above all, for the regional Operational and Informational Centre of Integrated Rescue System. The goal is to offer maps in a form and structure that leads to a higher efficiency and a clearer communication process between the dispatching and rescue squads. The system of map keys consists of topography in four versions and two thematic contexts (one for monitoring and one for the incident). The topography is designed to be used in all crisis situations that are defined by the National Security Council. The thematic content aims to monitor the transport of dangerous goods. The final proposal of the map key is a compact system where colours and shapes are the leading attributes that knit groups of symbols together. Individual symbols are stored in SVG format (compatible with SLD standard) to be used through WMS.

What Can We Learn from the Masters? Color Schemas on Paintings as the Source for Color Ranges Applicable in Cartography

The technology boost in the second half of the 20th century caused a partial resignation of map makers concerning the artistic value of maps. Now it is the time, that technology itself is not enough. Technology, as much as it is important for development, it does not bring beauty to our work. Nowadays it isn’t the truth that beauty equals quality, as it was for example in the 16th century; however, harmony which is the main part of what we understand under the term of beauty is what brings us to the next level of comprehension. Let’s look on the work of landscape painters with ‘cartographic’ glasses. The masterful paintings full of vibrant colors are an excellent source of color harmonies. As such, there is possibility to use them as a template for creating better maps.

A Map in a Movie – the Role and the Usage.

Kapitola se věnuje použivani map ve filmech. Diskutovany jsou spolecenske aspekty, ktere ovlivňuji podobu mapy ve filmu. Různe přistupy k zobrazovani map ve filmu jsou diskutovany na přikladu mapy z romanu Doly krale Salamouna H.R. Haggarda, který byl několikrat filmově adaptovan.