Mapy panoramiczne

Po zwięzłym przypomnieniu rozwoju perspektywicznych obrazów terenu, w artykule omówiono podstawy teoretyczne tej specyficznej kategorii prezentacji kartograficznej oraz przedstawiono zasady opracowywania map panoramicznych.

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Maps as representations of the earth's surface are constantly developed and improved. Both cartographic projections and perspective representations are results of either central of parallel projection of a fragment of the earth's surface on a plane. The diversity of projections is reflected in their terminology: representation on a horizontal surface are named maps or terrain models, on a vertical surface - terrain images or panoramas, whereas on an inclined surface - perspective representations. We can discern three basic branches of study on perspective representations: - theoretical basis of such representation, - representing objects in the 3D perspective, - automatic drawing of perspective representation. The autor would like to introduce new technical and artistic methods of panoramic map design, which are based on the analysis of the process of making perspective representations, descriptive geometry and the art of painting. The most important author's observations can be found in the particular chapters of this paper. The chapter "Theoretical basis of projecting the perspective representations" contains numerous definitions of the perspective, the ways creating a perspective representation using inclined projecting rays, selecting the central points and elements of a perspective drawing. On the basis of size of angle of view, the following three types of perspective representations can be discerned: wide, normal and acute. The mathematical basis for perspective representations contains descriptions of numerous projections, among which external projections with a positive projection are most commonly used. Another important factor is a proper representation of a depth of drawings, which is accomplished with the use of color effects and painting technigues. To achieve a desirable effect the "principles of aerial and color perspective" are to be applied in the first case, whereas the latter requires the use of "visual codes of the depth". The methodical aspects of drawing the perspective views are describes in the final chapter. It also contains a technological scheme of carrying out of the whole process of making such panoramic maps. It can be divided into the following stages: selection of the direction of a particular projection, selection of the skyline height, depth of a drawing, shape of a projection and finally constructing the panoramic view on a base map. It should be stressed that perspective projections offer broad opportunities for the makers of tourist maps. The supremacy of panoramic maps over another types of presentations is easily noticeable, as they are: - demonstrative - representations of objects on panoramas are close to their natural shape, - easily readable - the graphical methods can be understood by virtually everyone, - it is possible to make different types of such views: postcards, wall maps and albums. Eventually, it should be added, that in addition to theoretical works on panoramic maps, the author also designed a series of such maps: a spherical panorama of Armenia (1989), Crimea (1990), as well as of panoramic maps of the following cities and towns: Vilnius (1992), St. Petersburg (1994), Minsk, Kiiv and Gdansk (1995), Malbork and Cracow (1996). Many of these maps were designed in the old-fashioned style.