ABSTRACT
The “Technological Transition” has had a tremendous
impact on cartographic processes and outputs. Atlases, whether national,
regional or urban, were affected as they moved from a static to an animated and
interactive era. The overall positive
development, consolidated by map automation and map animation, has taken
various forms and directions. Nevertheless, some graphic and cartographic
outputs, especially atlases, still suffer from serious pitfalls, regarding some semiological aspects of the resulting maps and graphics. The Digital
Urban Atlas of Jeddah (DUAJ) is a research in progress aware of such deficiencies.
It tries to spare it from some frequent errors in map design related to: the
choice of the base map, the use of some frequent symbols such as columns and
pie charts for multivariate quantitative data, and the alternative solutions to
choropleth maps. These deficiencies are selected and examined among others. The
authors are convinced that the generated maps and diagrams that should be
produced in digital atlases must be examined with regards to the semiological rules that drew upon the theory of signs perception. They try to incorporate
the basic principles of graphic semiology reviewed, corrected and adapted to
the GIS requirements. This is also meant to avoid map noises and deficiencies.
The goal is to attract future Digital Atlases producers towards developing
higher interest in map look and design and users to grasp messages rapidly.
Specifically, the use of GIS and linked spatial databases within the DUAJ
should not pay attention only to data handling and crossing, but also, to the semiological features of the outputs and relevant visual communication. In its preliminary
stage, the DUAJ should give answers not only to the three questions raised in
this research but also to others not examined here. This is to prevent from
incorrect, irrelevant or inadequate use of the cartographic tools and,
following the analysis of concrete examples, to propose a set of
recommendations in establishing maps and graphics. When necessary, the DUAJ
GIS-based outputs are inserted in CAD or CAC systems to benefit from some their
specific visual tricks and subtleties that yield better legibility and
efficiency of communication for Atlases users as recommended by authors. This
experience is discussed regarding its eventual contribution to better map
reading through some examples of maps and graphics from the DUAJ project (in
progress).