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Welcome to the website of the International Cartographic AssociationGet to know the new ICA Executive Committee for the term 2023-2027
Welcome to the website of the International Cartographic Association
Get to know the new ICA Executive Committee for the term 2023-2027

President’s blog: Revised ICA posters on “Maps and Sustainable Development Goals”

Last August the posters created by ICA’s Commissions on the Sustainable Development Goals were on exhibit in the conferences area in United Nations Headquarters in New York. During the exhibition, we did get many comments. Most were positive, but also critical remarks were made. This prompted an additional internal peer review by our Commission chairs and the Executive Committee members, resulting in a long list of potential improvements. They were related to language, the base map (boundaries), content, cartographic representations and graphic quality. These have now all been processed.

The ICA posters as presented in the conferences area in United Nations Headquarters in New York

The ICA posters as presented in the conferences area in United Nations Headquarters in New York

 

As one can imagine, the boundary problem was most sensitive at the UN. It proved difficult to follow the UN guidelines, and therefore we have included the following disclaimer on all posters: Boundaries on maps may seem definitive, but there are often different perspectives on their status and position. This poster series is compiled from many sources by cartographers from different countries. The ICA tries to be neutral in such matters and boundaries shown reflect those found on the ground, in existing maps, or recognized by the United Nations. The ICA acknowledges that there may be different opinions and interpretations.

The revised posters as well as the newly design catalog for the poster exhibition can be found on icaci.org/maps-and-sustainable-development-goals.

Let’s make the world a better place with maps!

– Menno-Jan Kraak
President of the International Cartographic Association

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