THE "CARTOGRAMMIC IMAGE" OF A WORLD IN "TRANSITION"

N. Karanikolas¹, T. Papadakis², M. Skaltsounakis²

1 - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Department of Cartography, Thessaloniki, Greece

2 - Technical Educational Institute of Serres, Department of Geoinformatics and Surveying, Magnisias Road, Serres, Greece

karanik@topo.auth.gr

Introducing the aspect of cartograms the first part of this paper is a review on theories and techniques of creating modern cartograms. The basic use of cartograms is explained according to their unique geometry and shape. Continuing with references to the pioneers of this unique representation of geographical space, along with examples of early hand drawn and latest automatically generated cartograms the reader enters the world of cartograms. At the end of the first part, every type of cartogram, non-contiguous, contiguous, Dorling and pseudo-cartograms, is analyzed, followed by examples.

After the literature review this research continues and enters to the core of cartograms. Several cartogrammic algorithms are extensively explained and analyzed step by step. Examples and figures continuously demonstrate the whole process.

At the end, after theories and meanings related to cartograms are covered by the paper, mapping the world in transition is the main focus point of this particular research. Worldwide demographic, economical and social statistics are visualized by cartograms. Subjects like the world’s demographic problem and global economy are viewed through the prism of cartograms with exquisite clarity. Geographic analysis gets a unique form through the “cartogrammic” visualization and mapping.

Summing up the paper, the reader gets familiarized with the world of cartogram from its sprout thirty years ago to its modern state.