CONCEPTUAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR A NEW MAP SERIES 1: OF AUSTRIA

Transcription

1 CONCEPTUAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR A NEW MAP SERIES 1: OF AUSTRIA Ditz Robert, Wallisch Michael Institute of Military Geography, Ministry of Defence, Austria kdofueu.img.geo@bmlv.gv.at Abstract The main scales of topographic maps for the Austrian Armed Forces are 1: and 1: In between these scales there is a gap that demands for a new map series with a scale of 1: In this article the principles and rules for the production of this map series are presented. One of the preconditions of this maps series are the fast completion and printing in CMYK. The main part of this article deals with the content and the signatures. The essential innovation in this map series is the areal representation of settlements dependent on the density of built-up areas. Further tests are trying to integrate data of deciduous, coniferous and mixed wood. Problems in map production that have to be solved are the data acquisition of the territory outside of Austria and the updating of the map series. Possible solutions are presented in this article. 1) INTRODUCTION The official topographic mapping in Austria is based on three main scales. By decision of 1959 these map series were the Austrian map 1: (ÖK50), 1: (ÖK200) and 1: (ÖK500) which covered the needs of all governmental users including the military as well as the private sector. Responsible for production and issue was in the past and is at present the Federal Agency of Metrology and Surveying. By joining the European Union and the Partnership for Peace (PfP) Programme in 1995 also the preconditions in Austrian security policy changed and had also impact on national mapping. The Austrian government agreed to a NATO s proposal to change the official map series from national to international standards. That proposal, by the way presented to all PfP-members and also agreed by the countries, resulted nationally in the change from GAUSS- KRÜGER-projection to UTM-projection and the introduction of a map series 1: for the Austrian Armed Forces instead of the map series 1: , which remains just a civil map series. With that measures Austria would increase its capabilities for international cooperation dramatically not only for military purposes. Although both the military and the civilian side was obliged to put this order into action in a first step only the Ministry of Defence fulfilled the requirements. From January 1 st, 2001, the Austrian Armed Forces introduced the new map series 1: and 1: based on WGS84 and UTM-projection. In a second step the civilian side followed the military by introducing also the new map 1: since 2004 which has the benefit of a common map basis in case of civil-military cooperation. There were not only the new geodetic basics, a new position reporting system and the change from portrait format to landscape that confused the military user in the beginning. Especially the 1: series involved several problems. As it was also the intention to improve the quality of the existing Joint Operations Graphic (JOG) covering Austrian territory the national specification follows additionally some international standards like the former DMA s (Defence Mapping Agency) JOG-specifications or STANAG s (Standardisation Agreement). The major use of the JOG is operational planning, but actually it is more and more becoming air chart nature. Corresponding to its use the density of the map content is very low and displays mostly traffic lines and settlements. The topographic content is superseded in the background. The Austrian maps distinguish themselves by a very detailed topographic content, e.g. the ÖK50 corresponded to a scale of about 1:30 000, the ÖK200 to a scale of about 1: By the intended reduction of the topographic content therefore the new Austrian Military Map 1: (ÖMK250) could not meet the expectations and requirements of the map user. Above all the information gap between 1: and 1: was criticized. Freitag (1962) already pointed

2 out that an ideal succession of scales of map series should be in a ratio of 1:2. This would obviously lead to the scale of 1: Some of the reasons for introducing such a map scale are as follows: - Medium scale maps are an important document for military planning purposes up to brigade level. The scale 1: is therefore usable as it combines a high degree of topographic information at a comparatively low generalization level. - A new map series offers the possibility to introduce new map symbols, approve their usability so that they can be adopted in larger map scales. - Traffic lines like road network or railways can be displayed on a very detailed level. An Austrian Military Map 1: (ÖMK100) can be used as a routes map. Special information like limitations or capacities can be added as shown later. - The scale 1: is very common in Europe, for instance in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Czech Republic or Hungary. During discussions with map users of other countries (e.g. Germany, Hungary) it is always mentioned that the difference between 1: and 1: , both in figures and content, is too big. One argument was also given that this scale is suitable to display administrative units like counties on one map sheet. The following details are part of a pilot project done together by the Institute of Military Geography and the Federal Agency of Metrology and Surveying to elaborate the guidelines and principles for the production of the new map series ÖMK100. 2) GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE NEW MAP SERIES Several factors are important for the production of the new map series 1: The most important is the completion of this map series within an acceptable period of time. This factor is dependent on the structure of employees of the Federal Agency of Metrology and Surveying and could not be influenced by the Ministry of Defence. A cost-saving factor is the printing in CMYK on a 4-colour printing machine, installed in 2004 in the Federal Agency of Metrology and Surveying, contrary to the ÖMK50, which is printed with 9 different colours. Another requirement is the production of the map series based on vectors to facilitate a further use of these data in a GIS. This is also the prerequisite for an advanced discussion of the design of the entire map signatures in all military map series. Furthermore the content and the graphic presentation for a scale 1: could be extended and more differentiated compared to the scale 1:50 000, in terms of the purpose of the map and the available data. This might be an antagonism due to the reduction of scale, but as shown later, it offers an improvement of readability of the map. 3) CARTOGRAPHIC DESIGN OF THE NEW MAP SERIES 3.1) Sheet Line System Concepting a new map series means to consider first about the sheet line system to get a framework for the size and the design of the maps. The map format of the new layout of the ÖMK50 is 20' by 12', the map format of the ÖMK250 is 2 by 1. That means that the map format of the new ÖMK100 could not be related to both of these two maps by unchanging the sheet format. To keep the sheet format, the new map is assembled by 4 sheets of the ÖMK50 with a map format of 40' by 24' and a bleeding edge at the northern and eastern side, similar to the ÖMK50 and the ÖMK sheets of the new map series are necessary to cover the entire territory of Austria. The sheet number is composed by the adjoining sheet number of the International World Map 1: , the digit 1 indicating the scale and a continuous number from 01 to 90 (e.g. NM for the sheet Vienna, as shown in figure 1)

3 Figure 1: Sheet Line Systems of the Austrian Military Maps 3.2) Sources for the Creation of the Map Series The main part of the data comes from the ÖMK50 and has to be generalised for the new scale. The elements contour lines, hill shading and rock presentation comes from the civil map series ÖK200, which have to be scaled down without any cartographic processing. This is a constraint necessary to speed up the production with a least quality loss. The land use classification from the project "Österreich - Raum und Gesellschaft" (Seger 2000) in the scale of 1: will be used for the presentation of selected areal features. These data covers the entire area of Austria subdivided into 5 main classes with a total number of 122 subclasses. The conceptual considerations of cartographic generalisation and integration of these data is still in progress. 3.3) Design of Signatures In a first step three test regions typical for the Austrian landscape were chosen to develop the map symbols: - a high mountainous area especially to test the handling with cartographic displacement; - a rural region with single houses and a small patterned landscape and - a plain area with dense populated settlements and agglomerations. These areas do not claim completeness in terms of the complete presentation of all possible signatures in the selected test regions. To finally estimate the design of the signatures and the principles of the production it will be necessary to generate an entire map sheet of the ÖMK100, even though not all occurring signatures will be on this sheet. General principles: The basic principle for the design of the signatures is the integral implementation of the presentation in-between the scales. That means that a signature presented in the scale of 1: (1: ) should also be presented nearly in the same manner, dependant on the generalisation constraints, in the scale of 1: (1:50 000). Deviants of this basic principle are possible due to the lack of data up to now or the different focus of the purpose of the map series. By means of focusing on the infrastructure in the ÖMK100, the signatures of the map content so far not presented in the ÖMK50 or portrayed in a not differentiated or a simplified way must be newly created or redesigned as subsequently explained

4 Selected examples of signatures: All following figures of the examples show the adjoining signatures in the scales 1:50 000, 1: and 1: enlarged to double size for a better visualisation of the differences. The presentation of railways (figure 2) will be changed to relive the map graphic of black lines with orthogonal symbols that have to be omitted against other parallel running map elements. The alternating change of black and white fields depicts a distance of 2 kilometres and offers therefore a direct possibility to calculate distances. The specifications of digits within the oval give the information of the number of rails. The oval is chosen to combine this signature with the signature of stages (square with a black outline and a white filling). The red colour of the digits indicates electrification, the black colour non-electrification. Figure 2: multi-rail standard gauge railway electrified A new symbol, only presented in the ÖMK100, will be loading ramps at stages. Part of the symbol is an arrow, characterising whether the ramp is at the face or at the long side. If the ramp is at both sides, the symbol is portrayed with two arrows, as shown in figure 3. Figure 3: Loading ramps at stages in the ÖMK100. The symbols motorway service areas and motorway parking sites are good examples to show the different presentations due to the scale. The symbols at the scale of 1: are generalised representation of the planimetric shape. The symbols at the scale of 1: are designed to preserve the position on the map, within the limits of generalisation. Additionally motorway service areas are portrayed with a common sign (figure 4). Figure 4: Presentation of motorway service areas and motorway parking sites An example of a symbol portrayed in the same manner at all scales is the motorway. The symbol will be complemented in the ÖMK100 with the number of lanes (figure 5). Figure 5: Motorways with the number of lanes in the ÖMK100 Two symbols designed for the introduction of the ÖMK250 are the limitations of load on bridges and roads. The information of tonnage will be complemented at the scale of 1: , as sown in figure 6.

5 Figure 6: Limitations of load on bridges and roads with the information of tonnage The presentation of high-voltage power lines is an example of a completely different graphic design of the symbols in all scales. The presentation of this feature in 1: is realised with a red dashed line to get a differentiation against the graticule, also implemented in red but with a single line. To distinguish high-voltage power lines aboveground from subsurface, the first ones are represented with small rectangular lines indicating pylons, as illustrated in figure 7. Figure 7: Aboveground and subsurface high-voltage power lines Another example for different presentations due to the scale is the presentation of monasteries. While presenting a planimetric shape at the scale of 1:50 000, the symbol changes to a symbolised planimetric shape in 1: up to an abstract symbol in 1: (figure 8). Figure 8: Different presentations of monasteries The most innovative change in the design of the new map series is the areal presentation and differentiation of settlements. Research to that subject can be found already in Müller (1977, 1978), Prell (1983), Christ.(1983) and Kuster (1990). The reasons for that kind of presentation are versatile: - better possibility to emphasise map objects important for the orienteering in settlements (Müller 1977) - reduction of cartographic processing and therefore decreasing costs of production and updating (Müller 1978) - better readability of lettering in settlements (Kuster 1990). The settlement will be differentiated analogue to the proposal of Christ (1983) in 3 classes (suburban areas, urban areas and city centres) with a single house presentation of buildings important for orienteering outside urban area. Furthermore industrial areas are also presented. The areas of settlements under the minimum graphic dimensions, especially the settlements with scattered buildings, have to be enlarged. The differentiated settlement areas are presented in a graduated Grey as shown in figure 9, industrial areas in light Red. Figure 9: Differentiated presentation of settlement in the ÖMK100

6 The presentation of wood will also be differentiated in 3 classes according to deciduous, coniferous and mixed wood. The colour for the presentation is graded from light (coniferous wood) to dark green (deciduous wood), as shown in figure 10. Figure 10: Differentiated presentation of wood in the ÖMK100 From the military point of view the actual road classification in 1: reflects an inopportune differentiation. Instead of the current width-orientated subdivision it is aspired to introduce a system where firstly the importance of a road will be characterized and secondly the number of lanes based on a defined lane width of 3 meters will be displayed. 3.4) Presentation of the results Figure 11 show a comparison of the already introduced scales 1: and 1: and a detail of the pilot project 1: of the high mountainous area of Innsbruck. This area is characteristic for the generalisation problematic in Austria with narrow valleys and several traffic lines and linear elements like rivers and borders. Although more information is presented at the scale of 1: , the map graphic is not overloaded, clear and readable, especially the lettering in the urban areas. The design and the conception of this map series is an ongoing process. Some of the symbols must be possibly changed in the design and the colour, if the production of a complete map sheet might show the necessity of an adjustment. 4) PROBLEMS OF THE CARTOGRAPHIC PRODUCTION The main problem of the integration of the land use classification data is the covering of just the territorial of Austria, ending at the border. In a first step the area outside of Austria will be presented as follows: - wood and the presentation of settlements will not be differentiated and have to be derived from 1: industrial areas will not be displayed The areas of neighbouring states not covered by the ÖMK50 must be generalised from foreign map material. Terrain presentation not covered by the ÖK200 has to be newly created and generalised. Due to the current work on the guidelines of the integration and generalisation of the land use classification data it could not be estimated the time necessary for this cartographic work. A cautious appraisal shows that the time for the entire cartographic work of one map sheet has to be estimated with about 1500 up to 2000 man hours. This value could differ due to changes in the map production of the Federal Agency of Metrology and Surveying. Presently a new map production program and an improved version of the existing program are tested and could reduce the duration of the cartographic work, especially in regard of generalisation. Another problem concerning the land use classification is the updating. Major changes of the land use could be only estimated in urban areas with effects on the areas of settlement and the industrial areas. One possible solution could be a new interpretation of satellite images in a circle of the map revision with change detection. 5) FUTURE PERSPECTIVES The cartographic work of this pilot project will be executed by the Federal Agency of Metrology and Surveying. The schedule for finishing the sketches is summer Before introducing a new product in the Austrian Armed Forces this project is subject to a ministerial decision making process. If this project is approved by the Ministry of Defence the programme to produce an ÖMK100 can start in On the basis of the acceptance of persons so far concerned with this pilot project it could be assumed that this new map series 1: of Austria could be introduced in the near future.

7 Figure 11: Comparison of the map series ÖMK50, ÖMK100 and ÖMK250 BEV , Reproduced with the permission of the BEV - Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen (Federal Agency of Metrology and Surveying) in Vienna, Zl. EB 2005/00551.

8 REFERENCES CHRIST, F., MALETZKA, R. and STÜNKEL, B. (1983) Versuch einer flächenhaften Siedlungsdarstellung, abgestuft nach Bebauungsdichten, in der TK 1: und in der TÜK 1: Kartographische Nachrichten, Heft 1, 31. Jahrgang, Bonn, pp FREITAG, U. (1962): Der Kartenmaßstab - Betrachtungen über den Maßstabsbegriff in der Kartographie. Kartographische Nachrichten, Heft 5,12. Jahrgang, Gütersloh, pp KUSTER, R. (1990): Versuch einer flächenhaften Siedlungsdarstellung für die Landeskarte 1: In: Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Kartographie (1990): Kartographisches Generalisieren, Nummer 10, Zürich, pp MÜLLER, H. H. (1977) Die topographische Karte 1: ein neues amtliches Kartenwerk in Hessen. Kartographische Nachrichten, Heft 2, 27. Jahrgang, Bonn, pp MÜLLER, H. H. (1978): Gedanken zum Siedlungsbild in amtlichen topographischen Karten. Kartographische Nachrichten, Heft 3, 28. Jahrgang, Bonn, pp PRELL, K. M. (1983): Informationswiedergabe in topographischen Karten. Ein Beitrag zur theoretischen Fundierung kartographischer Ausdrucksformen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Siedlungsdarstellung. Dissertation, Institut für Kartographie und Topographie, Bonn. SEGER, M. (2000): Digitales Rauminformationssystem Österreich - Landnutzung und Landoberflächen im mittleren Maßstab. Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Geographischen Gesellschaft, Band 142, Wien, pp BIOGRAPHIES Ditz Robert: Born in 1965 in Mödling near Vienna, Master degree in Geodesy/Cartography at the University of Technology in Vienna, 5 years working at the Institute of Cartography and Reproduction Techniques at the University of Technology as a teaching and research assistant, since 2001 at the Institute of Military Geography in Vienna. Wallisch Michael: Born 1961 in Vienna, Master degree in Cartography at the University of Vienna, LtCol at the Institute of Military Geography in Vienna.