The OSU Cartography and Geovisualization Lab
invites to a

Carto Talk

Friday, May 25, 2012, 10am – 11am, Wilkinson 203

Creating Natural Earth Map Data

Tom Patterson

Senior Cartographer
US National Park Service, shadedrelief.com

Natural Earth, a raster map dataset of the world introduced in 2005, features MODIS land cover data merged with shaded relief. The idea of “cartographic realism” developed for the design of US National Park Service maps influenced the making of Natural Earth. The data provide a snapshot of interrelated world environments. As a map reader looks north the deserts of Central Asia transition to steppe grassland that then becomes boreal forest and, finally, tundra. In presenting this change clearly, Natural Earth strives to bring order and understanding to the beautiful chaos of the natural world.

Three versions of Natural Earth are available and a new version of the dataset enhanced for web mapping is now in production. Tom will discuss the "cartographic evolution" of these datasets.

PDF Flyer
The Cartography and Geovisualization Group conducts research for the visualization and exploration of geographic data. We combine computer graphics and cartographic design principles to develop new methods and technologies for the visual representation and analysis of geospatial information.
We are looking for students in Computer Science or students with a strong programming background, who wish to collaborate in one of your research projects.
We are currently looking for a Research Associate (Post Doc) to join our group.
Additional open positions are available for interns.

Lienert, C., Jenny, B., et al. (2012).
Current trends in vector-based Internet mapping – a technical review.
Springer Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography, p. 23–36.

Patterson, T. and Jenny, B. (2011).
The development and rationale of cross-blended hypsometric tints.
Cartographic Perspectives, 69, p. 31–45.

Šavrič, B., Jenny, B., Patterson, T., Petrovič, D. and Hurni, L. (2011).
A polynomial equation for the Natural Earth projection.
Cartography and Geographic Information Science, 38-4, p. 363–372.

Kimerling, A. J. et al. (2011) Map Use: Reading, Analysis, Interpretation, 7th edition. ESRI Press, 610 pages.

Jenny, B. et al. (2011). Terrain generalization with multi-scale pyramids constrained by curvature. Cartography and Geographic Information Science.

Jenny, H. et al. (2011). Interactive local terrain deformation inspired by hand-painted panoramas. The Cartographic Journal.

Jenny, B. and Hurni, L. (2011). Studying cartographic heritage: analysis and visualization of geometric distortions. Computers & Graphics.

Jenny, B. et al. (2010). Graphical design of world map projections. International Journal of Geographic Information Science.


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