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In the second decade of the 21st century, new technology plays an ever increasing role in our lives. The proposed study will contribute to the discussion about the effective use of modern information technology in cartographic creation, about its aesthetic and utilitarian value, about the possibility for a creative approach to production of cartographic works and about the relation between art and cartography. The study presents the author's activity over ten years in the area of human approaches to cartographic production, as well as numerous field studies among users of cartographic works, two research projects supported by the Charles University Grant Agency, and it is a continuation of his coursework and thesis. The study's theoretical point of departure (Chapter 2) draws from inspirational sources that are virtually unknown in the field of cartography. Above all, this includes the development of the concept of "art" and its significance for cartography, using the work of the philosopher of hermeneutics Hans-Georg Gadamer, the cartographer Eduard Imhof, and the Czech cartographer Karel Kuchař. Among other topics, the study addresses the division between practical and aesthetic functions of a cartographic work. A second ...

Cultural Aspects of Cartographic Creation: Use of Mental Maps in Cross-cultural Research Abstract: Diploma thesis deals with study of interdisciplinary issue of cultural aspects of cartographic creation. The first part of the work consists of theoretical introduction dealing with the map content, map stylistics and map language, in which maps show the greatest cultural differences. The map figures here in a role of the image of reality and visual manifestation of culture. The analogy between a map and a classical language (linguistic anthropology) and the analogy between early maps and primitive cultures' maps are described. Beside the language, as determinants of the human spatial perception and other categories related to the map creation could be mentioned the environment, the experiences and the society, in which man lives. Several examples of so-called cultural map styles, especially from Australia and Oceania, are introduced as well. In the methodical part of the work in connection with cultural-anthropological research a method of cognitive maps, respectively mental maps of map users and map makers is discussed in detail. Just these maps are suitable to explore the cultural particularities of cartographic creation. The application part of the work presents the results of field research of mental maps...

Cultural Aspects of Cartographic Creation: Use of Mental Maps in Cross-cultural Research Abstract: Diploma thesis deals with study of interdisciplinary issue of cultural aspects of cartographic creation. The first part of the work consists of theoretical introduction dealing with the map con- tent, map stylistics and map language, in which maps show the greatest cultural differences. The map figures here in a role of the image of reality and visual manifestation of culture. The analogy between a map and a classical language (linguistic anthropology) and the analogy between early maps and primitive cultures' maps are described. Beside the language, as determinants of the human spatial perception and other categories related to the map creation could be mentioned the environment, the experiences and the society, in which man lives. Several examples of so- called cultural map styles, especially from Australia and Oceania, are introduced as well. In the methodical part of the work in connection with cultural-anthropological research a method of cognitive maps, respectively mental maps of map users and map makers is discussed in detail. Just these maps are suitable to explore the cultural particularities of cartographic creation. The application part of the work presents the results of field research of mental...

Nowadays, information is increasingly presented in the form of various graphic materials. One of the key means of information visualisation is a map. Maps are complex representations and it is necessary to comprehend several cartographic concepts and to acquire skills and strategies for their efficient use. For this reason, it is important to give maps sufficient attention in the course of education. For the education to be of high quality, it is fundamental to understand the process of the map use and factors affecting this process and its successfulness. Therefore, the general purpose of the dissertation thesis is to develop this understanding. Specifically, the thesis has four main aims. One of them is to identify a map skill level of Czech students while using thematic maps since the popularity of thematic maps is increasing together with the number of cartographic insufficiencies they contain. These insufficiencies can inter alia cause a formation of misconceptions both about the maps and phenomena and regions they display. The second main aim is to identify and describe strategies that students choose to solve tasks which require the use of a thematic map. Additionally, the sub-aim is to understand the influence of chosen factors on the level of map skills as well as on choice and efficiency...

The presented diploma thesis focuses on the map skills' problematic, which is currently becoming widespread in the Czech research environment. In contrast to the previous empirical studies, this thesis is devoted to the thematic map skills and their level of development among students of grammar schools and geographically oriented branches of university studies. Due to the significant differences between used cartographic methods of visualization on thematic maps the main aim of this diploma thesis is to identify and explain used cartographic method's influence on the level of these important skills. To achieve this aim, it was necessary to focus on different parts of the curriculum (intended, implemented, learned) and to use several scientific methods because this topic hasn't been well established yet and therefore only few theoretical and empirical studies dealt with this specific issue. Firstly, the review of literature focused on thematic cartography, map skills and on identifying their level of development among students was done. Due to the lack of specialized resources the model of thematic map skills was created. This specific model was further used during didactic test's designing and also for its results' interpretation. Similarly for the creation of appropriate didactic test -...

The dissertation project is based on a long-term fieldwork among the Berber community in the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains. It looks at the transformation of the local environment since new discursive practices are emerging as a result of an interference of the global economy, environmentalism and developmental policies. Following Appadurai, the thesis raises a question of locality in contemporary world and neighborhoods, which are imagined, produced, and maintained against some sort of ground while the context-generative dimension of neighborhoods provides a theoretical angle on the relationship of global and local realities with the idea of culturally hybridized world. Together with Appadurai, the thesis deals with "what locality might mean in a situation where the nation-state faces particular sorts of transnational destabilization." The thesis has thus two main aims. (1) After describing the structural conditions in which the tourism industry in the mountains operates, (2) it will discuss the limitations of the locals' responses to the global market, or more broadly the impacts of globalization. It is necessary to establish a framework, which would connect the large- scale and small-scale processes and identify the concept of their dialectical relationships. Through such a reading, the thesis...

Large-scale rock portrayal using both hand drawing and digital cartography Abstract This paper describes creation of the larg-scale topographic map for Svatý Jan pod Skalou in the Czech karst. Detailed informations about rock formations had been obtained and the rocks were processed into hachures. Rock hachures had been made manually and then transformed to digital form. Operational objectiv is to get to know various styles of rock drawing (including žebříčková manýra, swiss style) in order to desribe practical aspects of drawing. These and other foundation materials (including airborne laser scanning data) are used for construction of detailed map of research location. Key words: rock drawing, topographic mapping, digital cartography

General methodology for creation of geoinformatic system of faculty: Interactive plan of buildings of Faculty of Science at Charles University in Prague Abstract The main aim of this thesis is to establish the general methodology for creation of geoinformatic system of the faculty, using the example of an interactive plan of selected buildings of the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague. The result of the theoretical part of this project is the proposal of the framework methodology consisting of conception, construction, implementation and operation stages. These stages are then described in further detail and supplemented with important questions that should be solved by a designer in particular phase of the project. The theoretical part is followed by the practical part in which the discovered facts are verified during the creation of geoinformatic system of faculty realized using interactive plans. Gradually, a test version of the application was formed and then tested by questionnaire survey by students and employees of the faculty. Based on user's requirements final version of the interactive plan has been created so that it could be later put into common operation. The secondary aim of this work is the indication of the possibility of using 3D modeling in the creation of interactive plans...

The aim of this paper is to present cartographic works for children and youth. The main object is the introduction to the problems of cartographic production for children and youth and the execution of value analysis in terms of cartography. The analysis focuses on the use of mapping language - character key and means of expresion, in this part is an efort to answer the question whether the cartographic works for children and youth are the real maps or rather an illustration. The assesment of selected product by their users - children continue the analasis. Another aim is to compare traditional methods of creating those works with the possibilities of modern computer cartography, three ways of making are demonstrated - by hand, using a graphic application and using cartographic application. Then the paper tries to assess the use of geographic and cartographic knowledge in products for children and youth, in this question the paper use knowledges gained in consultation with author from practise.

The goal of this thesis is to analyse the role of the teacher in teaching regional geography at school using cartographic tools - mental and teaching maps. Suitable class of elementary school was chosen at first and then the research was taken. The pupils had to draw their mental maps of chosen continent and complete the questionnaire. That served as a source of possible data influence or distortion in drawen maps. Then the mental and teaching maps were compared and was evaluated the role of the teacher. The important part of this thesis is the discussion of reached results.

Analysis of contents of teaching maps of czech geography textbooks and school atlases. Abstract The aim of this thesis is to define the method of calculating the content of maps and apply it to selected teaching maps and atlas maps. The first part tells something about the current state of the issue. Methodology is the second part in which maps are presented and the calculation of content and charge maps. In the chapter results are commented the contents of individual maps and the comparisons and evaluations are made. The finaly methodology can be helpfull for further analysis of maps. Key words: teaching map, school atlas, content

Representation of time in cartographic works on the example of maps of historical battles Abstract This study contains an in-depth analysis of possible graphical presentation of the fourth cartographic dimension (time) and utilizes the acquired findings in prototypical animated maps of historical battles. The initial chapter reflects cartography in general, later, the area of animated maps is in focus. The first part of the text is dedicated to the connection of cartography and time. Practical means of time representation are described. Further, a recommended general pattern is specified for design and development of time legend, so that time presentation suits the nature of the depicted theme. Consecutively, this general pattern is applied to a set of pieces of cartographical work depicting (historical) battles. The tangible result of this work is an interactive cartographic animation presenting the battle of Gettysburg and preceding events. Keywords: time, cartography, temporal legend, animated map, battle

Use of mental maps of users in assessment of cartographic works Abstract The aim of this thesis is to propose and practical apply the alternative methodics of assessment of cartographic works. The thesis is processed in the terms of project of Grant Agency of the Charles University Mental Maps: subject and means for assessment. The adjoining aim of this study is then to test which of the assessed tourist maps is the most user friendly. As the method for data acquiring the questionnaire investigation methodology has been chosen. The basic for the assessment of cartographic works are in the case of this study of mental maps of lynch type. Theoretical part is devoted to Mental and Cognitive Maps as well as to the ways of cartographic works assessment. Space is also devoted to the methodology of assessment cartographic works itself. There has been defined the subject of assessment together with the statement of hypotheses and the aims of thesis. Practical application of the proposal methodology and assessment the results has been composed from several parts. First the tourist maps have been assessed by the expert himself. Afterwords another assessment has started with the use of mental maps. This assessment has been composed of the phase of preparation where the questionnaire itself was being created. Then it...

Division of Europe using GIS Abstract This work focuses on theoretical and practical division of Europe into parts using GIS. The main scope of this work is using the program ArcMap to define the region of Europe and then to divide it into parts. An important sources are background research of literature which found different types of dividing the continent, and the underlying data ESRI. Geographic distribution of map of Europe was made on the basis of identified types of division. The main criterion by which Europe is divided was the total area of the continent and individual countries. Just based on the area the correlation analysis showed the appropriateness or inappropriateness of labeling different parts of the continent, from the geographical point of view. The result of the work are maps outputs that shows the differences and similarities in each division and used terms. The newly created maps are confronted and compared with original maps. Keywords: Division of Europe, ArcGIS, Geographical median

This thesis is about methods of thematic cartography, which can be used to visualize databases of leisure organization working primarily with children and young people containing loads of data that do not provide an easy survey for a nonspecialist. First part is literature search. Further the thesis presents methods of visualization. In the application part the thesis shows methods in practice. The outputs are specific maps. Keywords: maps, cartography, methods of visualisation, leisure organization

The aim of this paper is to present cartographic works for children and youth. The main object is the introduction to the problems of cartographic production for children and youth and the execution of value analysis in terms of cartography. The analysis focuses on the use of mapping language - character key and means of expresion, in this part is an efort to answer the question whether the cartographic works for children and youth are the real maps or rather an illustration. The assesment of selected product by their users - children continue the analasis. Another aim is to compare traditional methods of creating those works with the possibilities of modern computer cartography, three ways of making are demonstrated - by hand, using a graphic application and using cartographic application. Then the paper tries to assess the use of geographic and cartographic knowledge in products for children and youth, in this question the paper use knowledges gained in consultation with author from practise. Keywords: cartographic works for children and youth, character key, illustration, map assessment, graphic program

The aim of this study is to analyze the ideas of students of various ages and residence about spatial layout and geography of the Czech Republic. The output is mainly maps that provide visual comparison of these concepts. The method of research is the survey which was carried out on four Czech schools. The beginning of the paper is devoted to the theory of mental maps, specification of hypotheses and the administration of the questionnaire. The analysis of the data is then divided into three parts. The main task of the first part involves the creation of so-called aggregate mental maps of a map of the Czechia (for each school separately). The second part examines the positioning accuracy of Prague on these maps. The last part of the research is to analyze preferences of students for their permanent housing. The conclusion of the study includes a summary evaluation of the results and provides suggestions for further research and possible use of this study.

This work deals with the possibilities of assessments of mental maps using GIS tools. The main goal is to create a collection of methods to evaluate positioning and relative accuracy of mental maps. The method principles are based on methods of GIS. The emphasis is on maximum versatility and automation the assessment procedure. For all proposed methods there are further discussed the advantages and disadvantages. First part of this work deals with the theme of mental maps, followed by a brief introduction to GIS and their use in the field mental maps. The main part is devoted to the description and practical examples of evaluation methods. At the conclusion there is a discussion of the proposed methods and the appropriateness of use GIS at this issue in general. This work was created under the project No. 26609 called "Mental Maps: Object and Device for Assessment" supported by the Grant Agency of Charles University.