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Soviet military maps utilized a comprehensive cartographic symbology that was designed for mapping the globe at various scales, including thousands of towns and cities in street-level detail. This paper presents an analysis of the Soviet symbol specifications, as defined by the official cartographic production documents, and aims to offer some insights into how the challenges of mapping a global diversity of urban and natural environments were addressed. A further stage of the analysis examines a sample of 19 Soviet military city plans to evaluate the implementation of the official symbology specified in the production documents. This finds that barely half of this symbology was utilized and that new symbols were routinely created as improvised solutions. By comparing the theoretical context of the symbology with its real-world application the paper offers a critical appraisal of the versatility of the Soviet approach that may inform current and future global mapping initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessibility to tactile maps is limited due to their expensive and time-consuming development. Acceleration of their production requires standardized design guidelines that consider symbol design and production methods. In this paper, based on a review of research and best practice, we summarize knowledge on how to design tactile maps properly and provide a selection of highly legible, recommended symbols for the compilation of tactile maps. We also examine generalization constraints and other design parameters that are necessary for the standardization of tactile mapping. Finally, we explore differences in tactile map design depending upon the selected production method. Over the years, many useful guidelines have been developed although they remain unknown to the wider audience. There is still a long way to go in creating a global standard for the design of tactile maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The news media play an important role in creating and disseminating geopolitical discourse. This paper explores the role of news maps in geopolitical discourse with reference to the potential super-power status of key states, specifically China and Russia as members of the BRIC group (Brazil, Russia, India and China), and in the case of Russia, the NORCs (Northern Rim Countries – Canada, Russia, several Scandinavian states and the USA). It also explores references to 'threats' to a stable interstate system (resource wars, regional instability, 'rouge states'). The paper argues that the concept of the state as 'power container' provides a key to understanding how maps operate as a significant element within geopolitical discourse. Maps provide spatial and geostrategic context to the narratives being deployed by news providers on such matters as China's projection of power. The paper is based on the findings of a comprehensive survey of maps in the UK 'quality press' in 2009. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the use of the black line, dash and dot techniques in maps in commercial Dutch atlases from Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570) to Atlas Maior (1662). It is argued that the distinction between these three graphical means of expression became the basis for considering the nature of design rules for the next 400 years. In a departure from previous studies, this paper applies a combination of cartographic pragmatics and Gestalt theory with relation to the practical utilisation of graphical means of expression available in copperplate technology. While the importance of Gestalt theory and cartographic pragmatics has previously been highlighted in research papers and in textbooks, this study is the first to apply these two perspectives with relation to sixteenth and seventeenth century maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]