The New Project of National Atlas of Hungary Adapting the „Volunteered Geographic Information” in Science
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Nemerkényi, Z.; 2Orosz, L.
1GEOGRAPHICAL INSTITUTE, RCAES, HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Email: nemerkenyi.zsombor@csfk.mta.hu
2GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL INSTITUTE OF HUNGARY, DEPARTMENT Email: orosz.laszlo@mfgi.hu
Abstract
The project of National Atlas of Hungary launched by the Geographical Institute of the Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2013. Regarding the achievements of this project we can declare it is a unique venture not only in Hungary but also in the international cartographic school within a GIS-based atlas covering the entire geographical discipline (vol. I. Hungarian state and nation; vol. II. Natural environment; vol. III. Society and vol. IV. Economy). There is a great demand for a product available in printed format and as a user-friendly digital version enhanced with interactive options. The editorial board was formed along with the designation of the subjects to be covered and the invitation of representatives of the respective scientific fields. Therefore, the project run in strategic coordination of Geographical Institute of the Research Centre for Astronomy and the research institutions and external centers of Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The spreading of the latest tech gadgest brought the most recent user needs which can not be ignored neither in the cartography nor in the GIS-developments. The proliferation of the modern communcation tools, maps and geodatabases offers unlimited new possibilities from offline navigation to the augmented reality. All the map users can serve not only as a data receiver but also as a data provider in the world of crowdsourcing geographic knowledge. These expectation have to be considered during the preparing and development of the new atlas. Our aim is to address the problems raised by the change of technologies with developing new solutions in geo-infromatics. The system has to be prepared for the output of vector graphic formats applied in the printed edition and for the above mentioned digital version, offering the possibility of interactive data search. Apparent already at the stage of system planning, another task is to develop it on open-source base, as oposed to proprietary softwares. At the present phase of the project, both directions seem equally feasible. Beyond the presented eligibility criteria, decision are defined by the flexibility of the system at the client’s side. This latter already relates to the new users’ habits. Concidering the international antecedents in the family of on-line national atlases (after the examination twelve atlases from international samples) the most prefered format is the so-colled „dynamic – interactive – predetermined” among the on-line atlases depending the map classification. It means that the readers get a map generated on demand where the content and some of cartographic layout can be changed and they also can make certain types of data queries. The most recent technologies enable all of us to read the spatial information from the devices in our palm meantime this technology aim a new innovative solution for data sourcing. In the case of National Atlas of Hungary, we examine how can it adapt for „volunteered geograhic information”, that is, the system may be capable of receiving data arriving from the users’ side. The project leader, the Geographical Institute of the Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences will thus create the possibility of involving the users – in controlled circumstances – as a data provider. As the volunteered geographic information provide data on varying level of accuracy and reliability thus their adoption for scientific purpose require special attention and analysis. It will also make the National Atlas of Hungary more popular, enriched and up to date in its content.
Keywords
National Atlas of Hungary; Online and printed atlases; Volunteered geographic (VGI)