Explorations into design and content for a new provincial atlas of British Columbia incorporating digital technology and a user survey

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorHocking, Dianaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-14T17:18:11Z
dc.date.available2024-08-14T17:18:11Z
dc.date.copyright1991en_US
dc.date.issued1991
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Geography
dc.degree.levelMaster of Arts M.A.en
dc.description.abstractCanada has a high reputation for its publication of quality provincial atlases. To date, all have been independently produced, with little reference to the ultimate user. In addition, recent advances in cartographic knowledge and techniques; resulting from the application of computer technology to the discipline, permit a far wider range of options for atlas content and design than previously available. Detailed study of the thematic content and organisation of existing Canadian provincial atlases showed that most follow traditional formats. Contents tend to mirror the national atlas rather than to complement it, but with tendency towards greater dominance of primary industrial topics. The application of content analysis methodology to reviews of provincial atlases revealed considerable agreement between reviewers on acceptable content and design parameters. Reviewers admire an atlas which reflects the unique character of the province, but find poor organisation of content a major cause for concern. An atlas user survey showed a solid base of atlas ownership within the general population, with higher interest among specialised groups with a background in geography. General world atlases were found to be the most popular type, used most often for their topographic component in locating places, being far more rarely consulted for their thematic contents. The survey also revealed the degree of interest in general and specific topics for an atlas of British Columbia, with tourism, physical, and transportation themes dominating. An innovative aspect of the survey gave the first indications of user opinion of the application of computer technology to the production and use of atlases. Most users were enthusiastic, despite reservations about the graphic quality of output presently available. However, only a minority are willing to relinquish the proven beauty of an atlas in traditional printed bound format. A literature review revealed aspects of the rapidly expanding field of computer mapping software products which could be valuable in future production of a digital thematic atlas for British Columbia. The entire study should provide useful background material when planning a new provincial atlas, whether in traditional analog or digital format.
dc.format.extent175 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/18184
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.titleExplorations into design and content for a new provincial atlas of British Columbia incorporating digital technology and a user surveyen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Hocking_Diana_MA_1991_524469.pdf
Size:
9.16 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD)
 
University of Victoria Libraries

We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.