Markus Jobst
(Inst. of Geoinformation and Cartography, Vienna University of Technology, Austria)
The use of maps exceed prominent tasks of navigation and way-finding. Especially for the communication of spatial related data and the assimilation of these data to an individual knowledge, maps seem to form an appropriate tool. Above all it is the creation of geometric and topological structures, so called mental maps, of information, which may make use of real environment or virtual worlds.
For topics in heritage and archeology it becomes more important to communicate latest developments of research within an expert community in order to gain and adapt experiences of colleagues dealing with similar situations as well as present and open created knowledge to a wide public, which supports conciousness to their own cultural roots and acceptance of direct affected residents.
In both cases, a discussion among colleagues and knowledge transfer to a wide public, maps may heavily support the communication process, if map quality is considered. Map quality seems to be dependend on the planned aim (user group), the technical characteristics of the interface, presumed knowledge basis and cognitive parameters. In order to use these parameters, their dependence to the specified field of work, a focus on heritage and archaeology, and definition following this specific topics is needed. This paper discusses these various parameters in context with the cartographic communication process and tries to define map-quality for heritage issues.
Aim: “Definition of map-quality for heritage issues!”
Question: What are the parameters (and values) defining map-quality in maps for heritage issues?
Hypothesis: The parameters of map-quality in maps for heritage topics, which are different from navigation and way-finding, are classifiable to a specific use and may result in a sustainable knowledge communication.