Vladimir S. Tikunov

A New Technique for Constructing Continuous Cartograms

This paper deals with the problem of constructing graphic images of territories that make the density of a variable (e.g., the density of population) uniform. The authors discuss some existing construction algorithms and describe a new algorithm and the results of its applications.

Forest transitions in Eastern Europe and their effects on carbon budgets

Forests often rebound from deforestation following industrialization and urbanization, but for many regions our understanding of where and when forest transitions happened, and how they affected carbon budgets remains poor. One such region is Eastern Europe, where political and socio-economic conditions changed drastically over the last three centuries, but forest trends have not yet been analyzed in detail. We present a new assessment of historical forest change in the European part of the former Soviet Union and the legacies of these changes on contemporary carbon stocks. To reconstruct forest area, we homogenized statistics at the provincial level for ad 1700-2010 to identify forest transition years and forest trends. We contrast our reconstruction with the KK11 and HYDE 3.1 land change scenarios, and use all three datasets to drive the LPJ dynamic global vegetation model to calculate carbon stock dynamics. Our results revealed that forest transitions in Eastern Europe occurred predominantly in the early 20th century, substantially later than in Western Europe. We also found marked geographic variation in forest transitions, with some areas characterized by relatively stable or continuously declining forest area. Our data suggest extensive deforestation in European Russia already prior to ad 1700, and even greater deforestation in the 18th and 19th centuries than in the KK11 and HYDE scenarios. Based on our reconstruction, cumulative carbon emissions from deforestation were greater before 1700 (60 Pg C) than thereafter (29 Pg C). Summed over our entire study area, forest transitions led to a modest uptake in carbon over recent decades, with our dataset showing the smallest effect (<5.5 Pg C) and a more heterogeneous pattern of source and sink regions. This suggests substantial sequestration potential in regrowing forests of the region, a trend that may be amplified through ongoing land abandonment, climate change, and CO2 fertilization.

NUMERICAL METHODS IN THE COMPILATION OF TRANSFORMED IMAGES

A third installment in a series of articles devoted to the compilation of transformed images focuses on computer-assisted numerical image transformations. Particular attention is devoted to algorithms developed by Tobler, Tikunov, and Pikin; Tikunov; White and Griffin; Kadmon and Shlomi; Petrov, Serbenyuk, and Tikunov; and Dougenik et al. Advantages and shortcomings of each of these methods are compared and a new algorithm is unveiled that is designed to eliminate some of the extant deficiencies in image transformation.

The current state and the main trends in the development of geographical information systems in the U.S.S.R.

Abstract The paper falls into two parts. The approach to geographical information systems (GIS) in the U.S.S.R. and differences in terminology are first discussed. The main part of the paper comprises case studies on the design, construction and use of GIS and of computer-assisted cartography in the U.S.S.R. to illustrate the transition to the introduction of automated technologies to processing of geographical data for science, practice and education, the diversity of contexts, the problems tackled and their departmental attribution, and the territorial span, functional capabilities and technological equipment. The following trends of these developments are identified: the design of integrated GIS, an increase in their capabilities for modelling, the introduction of elements of expert systems, an orientation towards microcomputer technology, an awareness of the need to use standardized hardware and software (including linguistic terms) and a greater interest in the commercial and legal problems of GIS, i...

Atlas information systems and geographical names information systems as contributants to spatial data infrastructure

Abstract National and international programs dealing with spatial data infrastructures (SDI) made it possible to compile a uniform digital base and a universal toolkit for the integrated description of territories on global to national scales. Atlas information systems (AIS) are considered to be an integrating tool for diverse information resources (modelling, visualisation and analysis), as well as for the elaboration of various scenarios and the possible development of alternatives for such complex systems as those of nature-society-economy. As there is an increased use of digital maps at spatial data infrastructures all aspects related to geographical names are of particular importance in this application of AIS to SDI. It is important to realise a toponymic project, dealing with place-names and their variants depending on the language and time period when a specific place-name was used. The layer of geographical names is considered to be one of the three most important data components of AIS.

Mathematical cartographic approaches toward evaluation and forecasting of ethnic composition in the Russian regions

This article is devoted to the study of the populations ethnic structure in regions of Russia and former RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic) as well as the temporal dynamics of major ethnic groups by means of mathematical and cartographic modelling. Integrated indicators are developed to estimate ethnic diversity in regions of Russia and former RSFSR (ethnic diversity index and its modification – ethnic diversity index adjusted for the ability to speak Russian), and cluster analysis is performed to offer typological classification of Russian regions based on their ethnic composition. Maps are created on the basis of the derived indicators and typological classification. Finally, the estimates of the share of major ethnic groups up to 2030 are provided.

Complex ecological and economic systems: problems of study

Global ecological problems may be solved by different methods: technical, political, juridical, social, moral and others. The solution of environmental ecological problems, because of their complicated character, demands a complex of methods and approaches. Due to the fact that the problem of the “Society‐Nature” interaction is in the focus of the environmental ecology, geographical, biological, geological, chemical and physical studies must take an adequate place in the complex of instruments of research and control of the global ecological systems. Hence, the principle of balance must be basic to provide perception of a territory as a complex social‐ecological object. Complex ecological‐economic systems (CEES) are considered to be primary objects. Problems of the scale of the ecological‐economic systems, their delimitation and “indistinct” (fuzzy) character of the boundaries, regime of functioning, time aspects, evaluation and control of environmental state, modelling and development of ecological‐econo...

AN ANALYTIC TECHNIQUE OF MAP TRANSFORMATION

The authors propose a fully automated technique of map transformation using an iteration method to transform a map of disuniform density areas into a map of uniform density areas. The technique is illustrated with particular reference to maps of rural population density and total population density of Czechoslovakia. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, 1983, No. 2, pp. 56-63.

Creation of the Anamorphoses-Based 3D-Pyramidal Block-Diagrams

This paper reports on work undertaken to create a 3D image, which displays as many indices as possible (thematic attributes) on a map. A new method has been developed for displaying the information. It resembles the classical method of the block-diagrams (prism maps), but it has more advantages and the efficiency is much greater. In addiltion, this method can be used simultaneously with anamorphosing. The technique of 3D anamorphoses (cartograms) compilation is outlined. Accordingly, algorithms for dynamic anamorphoses compilation for multi-dimensional images and multi-dynamic animations are discussed. Keywords: 3D images, anamorphoses, multifaceted pyramids, multi-dynamic animations, algorithms

ANALOG METHODS IN THE COMPILATION OF AREAL TRANSFORMED IMAGES

A second paper from a monograph devoted to the compilation and uses of transformed cartographic images focuses on analog/manual methods of areal image transformation—of particular relevance in areas and situations in which access to large volumes of computer memory is problematic. As such, it addresses problems relating to the transformation of a second type of transformed image—in which the areas of cartographic features of interest (rather than their linear dimensions) are scaled according to a nonspatial metric.