Cartography : moving into the digital future

The purpose of this paper is to explore the way in which cartography has developed and influenced how the physical world is understood. Through its long history the influence of maps has been instrumental in improving human understanding of spatial relationships. The rise of thematic mapping and orthorectified photos is creating the opportunity for a wide range of users to spatially analyze and display collected information on the surrounding landscape and make decisions that better suit their objectives. Digital mapping and technology has developed rapidly and is becoming more pervasive and user friendly. Cognitive mapping of the physical world is improving due to the easy access and increased use of digital two- and three-dimensional models of landscapes.Forestry, Faculty ofUnreviewedUndergraduat