Computer assisted cartography
Also called: Digital cartography · Topic: Remote Sensing, GIS and GNSS · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Spatial Information Technology"
Meaning
Computer-assisted cartography means drawing and reproducing maps and diagrams with computers instead of by hand. It is also called digital cartography. It makes maps faster to draw, edit and print. But on its own it only displays data. It cannot answer questions like "what is where, why is it there, and what happens if it changes?" That analysis needs a GIS.
Example
A computer can draw a neat map of state-wise literacy in India. To find which districts have low literacy and lie far from colleges, a GIS is needed to combine and analyse the layers.
Don't confuse with
- GIS: it adds data storage, querying and spatial analysis (overlay, buffer, network) on top of map drawing.
- DBMS: it handles tables of data, not map drawing.
Related concepts
- Database management system
- Spatial information technology
- Geographic information system
- Spatial data
- Attribute data
- Point, line and area features
- Advantages of GIS over manual maps
- Components of GIS