GEOGRAPHY IN 21ST
CENTURY
Mani Singh | President (MapXL) | Compare Infobase
Limited
6th century BC – 21st Century
AD
History of geography began from clay tablets during
Babylonian times to mapmaking from horseback in the
1800s to digital maps produced by computers.
An example of the mix of passion and
technology – Earth Atlas…
Technology is the catalyst
Metal Plate with the map
Map on the proofing table
Checking the map sheets
How a map is marked up
Digital Geography
“Digital geography has enabled people to think
about geography in abstract ways using
databases and visualization”
- Jack Dangermond
Usages of Digital Mapping
Change Detection: Mapping, quantifying & analysing spatio-temporal changes in agriculture, forest, urban, climate etc.
Network Analysis – Routing, vehicle tracking
Proximity Analysis – Dumping Grounds, Dealership locations
Exploration – The Valley of Khans Project
The Valley of Khans
A nondestructive archaeological survey
utilizing digital tools from a variety of
disciplines, including
digital imagery,
computer vision,
nondestructive surveying, and
on-site digital archaeology.
The goal is to identify archaeological sites
without disturbing them–in the area of
Mongolia's most sacred heritage–Genghis
Khan's homeland.
My brush with Geography past two
decades…
1991
PCX Maps
Delivered in 5”1/4 floppy disk
1998
JPG Maps
Raster map images for websites
2000
Interactive Flash Maps
Vector maps with interactive data
2004
GIS Mapping
Geo referenced vector maps for
data representation &
analysis
2010
Mobile Maps & Apps
Highly interactive and delivered
through mobile devices.
Expanding mediums, Changing Horizons
Map Making Process
One to many
Web publishing through MapServer/Image Maps
GIS Analysis like proximity analysis, network analysis
Maps for mobile applications
Publication of Atlases, tourist maps
Central GIS Database
Online Mapping
MapsofIndia.com & MapsofWorld.com are
thematic map portals.
Maps published online for free/paid usage in
JPG files.
Interactive education map tools like IKAAILand
Information Mapping for events like elections,
epidemics
Custom Mapping
Publishing projects
Location mapping projects
Proximity Analysis
Thematic mapping projects
E-commerce
Online map store selling published map
products from publishers world-wide
North America – National Geographic, Replogle
Europe – Gardners
Australia – Hema Maps
India – SatNav Technologies
Mobile Apps
World Altas for iPads
My Quiz for iPads/iPhone & Androids
City Guides for iPhones/iPads – Bangkok,
Manhattan
A map never gets finished
Thank you!!!