Relief / Topographie 07 Index Session / Séance 05-A Symbolization in topographic 3D-maps:

With today’s high quality digital terrain models (DTM) and visualization software we can generate perspective views of landscape sections in an impressive, photorealistic way. Often, such virtual landscape representations are used as a new kind of topographic 3D-map. They are increasingly integrated in multimedia atlases and other digital information systems, displayed as printed maps in journals and books, or used for illustrating scientific results. However, the symbolization and the legend of such innovative map products are often neglected. The comprehensive systems of cartographic principles developed for traditional 2D-maps do not apply equally to 3D-representations. In this paper, we isolate three conceptual aspects which are important for the design of a topographic 3D-map with a user-oriented map symbolization: (1) Definition of the user groups with their specific knowledge and intentions, (2) analysis of user needs connected to specific types of map use, (3) development of cartographic principles for topographic 3D-maps. We suspect that the choice of graphic characteristics is crucial for a correct transfer of contextual meaning to the map user, and that symbols designed according to aesthetic rules will hold the user’s attention to the map for a longer period of time