Talk:OSGeo Cartographic Engine

Dsampson 09:49, 7 April 2008 (EDT)

Currently I am working to get a Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteer group into some OS geo for their field operations.

One of their biggest needs is the ability to print maps off in the field from a regular printer (8.5x11in or 11x14in) sheets.

I am of course using GRASS and QGIS and some basic carto features we would be able to use are

1. Printing from a georefed PDF or GeoTiff
2. Miniature maps with borders, scale, UTM Grid
3. Printing from vector and raster combined data
4. Simple color schemes
5. Printing to "recreation paper" (eg Tyvek)

Dsampson 09:49, 7 April 2008 (EDT)

Two things to consider include how the data is represented and how the style rules are stored.

These questions might influence the model for designing the cartographic library. For instance should we consider separating the geographic representation from the cartographic representation. This may be similar as to ESRI's cartographic layer. A great concept. This way multiple clients or uses can be achieved from the same growing and changing data sources.

Furthermore, for the representations there is also the layout (http://ess.nrcan.gc.ca/pubs/carto/downloads/design_specs.pdf#page=13). Perhaps we can learn lots from the desktop publishing world from the likes of the Scribus project (http://www.scribus.net/). Maybe being able to export a certain portion to scribus to handle some the major layout hurdles. A link between the cartographic library and scribus vcould allow for auto generation of some layout features and text such as changing declination, Projection info, and others.

Second, is the rule based approach. Natural Resource Canada (NRCAN)publishes their Cartographic Specifications (http://ess.nrcan.gc.ca/pubs/carto/downloads/design_specs.pdf). Could these be stored in a database or XML format that can be applied to multiple maps?