地图学的恒常性和易变性

The Constancy and Volatility in Cartography

在历次科技革命的推动下,地图由曾经的无所不能的珍稀品逐渐演变成无所不在的生活必需品,服务于不断增加的移动人口,而地图学依然是制作和使用地图的科学、艺术和技术。本文重访地图学4个恒常的核心议题:何为地图,地图何用,如何制图,谁在制图,笔者回顾了自20世纪70年代计算机引入地图学以来地图品种、地图功能价值、制图流程以及制图者角色的发展过程,举例说明贯穿其中的恒常性和易变性,并指出在云计算平台支持下,一个可持续的制图生态环境正在形成。

Being facilitated by a number of scientific and technological revolutions,maps have successively evolved from omnipotent rare treasures to omnipresent daily necessities,but cartography remains a unique mixture of science,art and technology of making and using maps.This paper revisits four persistent research questions in cartography:(1)what is a map,(2)for what is a map worth,(3)how are maps made,and(4)who is making maps,Based on a retrospective analysis of cartographic progresses with regard to the map typology,values of maps,mapmaking workflows and the role of mapmaker,the author exemplifies the constants and variables in the development processes since the introduction of computer in the 1970's and indicates the emerging trend towards a sustainable mapping ecosystem supported by cloud computing platforms.