ABSTRACT
Web cartography itself is of course a trend in cartography. However there are other recent trends that affect cartography and the way web cartography is developing. These have to do with the impact of visualisation and the need for interactivity and dynamics as well as the widespread use of GIS resulting in many more maps being produced by many more people. These people do this using the geospatial data infrastructure, an electronic highway for the use and dissemination of geoinformation. In the context of geospatial data handling, the cartographic visualisation process is considered to be the translation or conversion of geospatial data from a database into map-like products. Geospatial data handling stands for the acquisition, storage, manipulation and visualisation of geospatial data in the context of particular applications. During the visualisation process, cartographic methods and techniques are applied. These can be considered as a kind of grammar that allows for the optimal design, production and use of maps, depending on the application (see Figure 2.1). The following chapters will explain why and how this grammar has to be adapted and expanded in order to apply to the web map environment.
