DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHIC MODELING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM PJAEE, 16 (3) (2019)

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHIC MODELING AND GEOGRAPHIC

INFORMATION SYSTEM

Azhar Hussein Razuqi

Department of Applied Geography, College of Arts, University of Kirkuk, Iraq
dr_azhir2017@uokirkuk.edu.iq

Azhar Hussein Razuqi. Digital Cartographic Modeling And Geographic Information

System-- Palarch’s Journal Of Archaeology Of Egypt/Egyptology 16(3), 40-49. ISSN
1567-214x

Keywords: Digitizing Maps, Geographic Information Systems, Maps, Sample

ABSTRACT
Maps have a great role in clarifying everything related to places and their phenomena, as man
used it since creation as a means through which everything that is going on in life is
established in the form of symbols or pictures. These symbols and pictures are kept as a
means to help continue life. Today, maps have become the most important tool as a database
used in all the details of the daily journey, whether it is to know the location or what is related
to the environmental aspects. Geographers have had a great role in laying down the main
foundations for drawing a map that clarifies natural and human phenomena, but it is also a
method shared by other scientific disciplines, such as survey engineering, computers, and
other mathematical and statistical operations. The first use of the map was in a paper form
and depended on the simple capabilities provided by the available means at that time. Today,
in light of the technical development and the information revolution, computer and its
advanced programs have become a major role in the production of smart digital maps. In
addition, portable smart technical devices give site maps for the whole world in the form of
spatial data. It is subject to updating, as these maps have deviated from their general
geographical meaning to enter into precise scientific specializations, including maps of space
and the universe and maps of the earth's layers.

INTRODUCTION
The information revolution had a major role in changing the mechanism
adopted by geographers and specialists in the output of the geographical map
with all its subjects. In this revolution, the map was called digital or computer,
which depends in its work on high-precision and easy-to-use programs that do
not require much effort to learn and to properly handle these programs. The
user must have a solid scientific base to deal with these programs accurately,
especially in survey sciences and statistical mathematical operations.

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The digital map includes natural and human phenomena, which must be
proven in a way that simulates reality without any change. However, these
programs rely on the process of entering recorded data either in the form of
images or in the form of satellite visuals in addition to the maps that service
departments deal with in completing their work. We will find that there is a
clear discrepancy between the images. Therefore, we need here to work with
these sources using computer steps and within the program paragraphs to
conduct the geographical return process to make a model that matches the
coordinates of the area to be studied and make adjustments to it.

Digital maps and geographic information systems

Geographic information systems are a computer system for obtaining or

overcoming problems, storing information, answering questions, analyzing
phenomena and presenting geographical data (Chang, 2006). They can be
defined as merely a container for collecting and containing data, or it is a tool
that deals with geographical data. They convert it to the digital paper format,
which is difficult to extract by the traditional manual methods that require
great effort and high material capabilities in addition to the long period of
time. In this context, of the Environmental Research and Systems Institute
(known as ESRI) defines these systems as "a coherent complex that includes
computer components, programs, databases and trained individuals. This
complex provides an accurate inventory of spatial and non-spatial information
and its storage, updating, processing, analysis and presentation." This concept
can be illustrated in Figure 1.

Advantages of geographic information systems

Geographic information systems have a big role in organizing all the

requirements of our daily life, especially with regard to public service projects
and infrastructure. This role is due to the very important advantages of this
technology, including

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Figure (1) Components of geographic information systems (Dawood, 2014, p.

27)

1. Easy to use and quick to get all the outputs.

2. The possibility of finding solutions to economic and environmental
problems and infrastructure services.
3. High accuracy in output.
4. The ability to develop programs through the development of tools that keep
pace with the development of technological and cultural progress.
5. Improving maps and cartographic models, conducting tests, and monitoring
changes in the environment and society.

This is in addition to many of the advantages that make this technology of

great importance in scientific and human studies. In Addition, it is easy to
obtain electronic devices at a reasonable cost. Furthermore, programs for GIS
techniques and obtaining them are available. Furthermore, spatial data on the
Internet or by dealing with satellite images and videos are taken from satellites
with high specifications Precision.

Geographic information systems applications

The processes of finding and developing advanced means and technologies

aim at a high degree of accuracy to find solutions and proposals. These could
reduce all that a person can suffer from changes in the environment and
society and the negative consequences that may result from that are reflected
in his life in this universe. We can also find this overlap by finding Practical
solutions using GIS techniques with all its available tools after the availability
of basic conditions that allow the use of GIS, including:
1. Data availability, preferably up-to-date and accurate.
2. Representing data in maps
3. Performing the update and addition operations
4. Finding solutions in light of the output results

For example, it is possible to refer to the reliance of local governments on this

technology in a way that can address environmental and urban problems,
economic problems, and provide health, housing and security services,
commercial services, transportation methods etc.

Cartographic modeling

The model: “It is a simplification of the truth that presents an assumption that
can be tested and examined” (Minshull,1995, p.120). The model: “It is an
approximate representation of the structure of the relationships and
interactions present in the environment of the studied phenomenon" (Chorley,
1967, p.67). This means that the model is a representation of reality, but with
the least complexity of all existing natural and human phenomena, and their
interpretation in an easy way.

Through the foregoing, we can say that the geographer transmits reality in a
miniature and simplified form on the paper. This is following adjusting and

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treating all existing phenomena to appear clearly and intelligibly and reach
results and proposals and the map is in two dimensions. It is also possible to
take out in three dimensions to be more understandable and more realistic
using the following model:

Figure (2) Building and using the cartographic model (Al-Mousawi, 1993, p.8)

Through the foregoing, we can say that using the model is an easy way to
represent, monitor, control and understand phenomena in an easy and without
complexity. It enables students to solve the problems by formulating proposals
and setting correct results. The model is not concerned with representing the
characteristics of the phenomenon, but rather the main characteristics that
define it and cooperate to simplify it (Fathi A. and Radi, 1989, p.12-16).

Reasons for the work of the model and the most important basis for its
creation:

There is a clear difference between thinkers by identifying the foundations,

constants and reasons that necessitate the work of the model. However, they
have agreed to identify main causes that cannot be reversed to develop the
model. The participant then puts a preliminary image of a prototype and
conducts a test for it to show the extent of its acceptance, and then makes the
final model after performing the correction and processing operations.

Principles of building the model

One of the basic criteria required by a correct model is that it is represented in

a high-accuracy, correct and consistent manner in addition to the accuracy of
what will be predicted for future solutions in a manner that does not accept
error (Smith, 1977). Here, we must take into account the basic steps in the
application. Also, the researcher may face problems and expectations that may
appear during the use of mathematical equations and the method of applying
them in a scientific and practical manner, since the results that come out with

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them are more accurate. In addition, the complete conceptualization of the

model must be taken into account before taking it out because the vision here
differs from one researcher to another and that each case is required to be
proven has its own specificity and reasons and requires a deep understanding
of it, which must be clearly and understandably defined. The model is a
simplification of the phenomenon in a clear and acceptable manner, but
sometimes the simplification could distort the phenomenon and concealing its
correct features. Here, this topic must be taken into account in order not to fall
into the wrong diagnosis of problems to be developed solutions to, as it is
required to find measurements. These measurements must put accurately to
the phenomenon in reality represented in the model so that we reach the
mismatch between the two and the misconception in the formulation of spatial
functions between the variables.

Map and model

Here, the exact relationship of the basic and common concepts between the
map and the model must be clarified. The basis for presenting the models is to
provide advice and benefit to all specialists in spatial studies in the world as it
is an integrated overlap between the existing truth and the mathematical
processes that will be dealt together for the final results. This is also to fully
understand the overlap of geographic layers with the correct description in
spatial accurate analysis of the data .The formulation of the model for any map
in a clear and simple way is the accurate representation of spatial data through
the correct steps and methods applied through the means of GIS techniques,
which are mainly based on data, application processes, and work steps. The
main purpose of developing the model is to work on re- merging layers for any
map in an easy, correct and more acceptable way to simulate reality with a
high degree of accuracy using geographic information systems techniques and
special tools for spatial analysis of phenomena, whether natural or human. As
a result, these outputs are an important outcome that can be used in future
studies and a basis for relevant topics. Here, it can be said that cartographic
modeling is the process of summarizing and representing data within a
geographic information system based on a specific model. The data model is
the heart of the system as it represents a set of processes to represent goals and
processes that occur in the real world in digital representation (Juma'a, 2014).
Modeling map, in its simplest form, is a general way of expressing and
organizing the ways in which spatial variables and spatial processes are
selected and used to develop an analytical solution using a geographic
information system. It is based on the concept on layers of data, processes and
procedures. The purpose of this method is to create new map layers using
existing map layers and sequential operations in computational procedures
(Unwein, 1981). Tomlin (1991) states that “The basic norms of mapping
modeling are not specific to GIS. On the contrary, they are general agreements
that aim to relate to the largest possible number of systems” (Lillesand, &
Kiefer, 2000, p.42). Through this, we can discern the important truth of system
technologies. Geographic information, with all its specifications, is used to
analyze its descriptive spatial approach to the data available in the application
and the tools that enable students to create models through mathematical
operations and their algebraic equations.

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Geographic information system (ArcGIS) as a means to obtain geographic

data

The actual need for Arcgis GIS programs has become clear not only to
represent the reality of a piece of land and to reflect what is present in it in a
very accurate manner for a purpose. It is nor to allow researchers to produce
maps with different addresses, but also to perform additions and processing
operations through tools. The use of these tools within these programs is to
achieve many requirements, including: (Lena, 2007).

1. The availability of data for the phenomena to be modeled by treating them

with the available technical programs and tools that allow visual diversity
through the variables of position, shape, direction, color, texture, silhouette
value and size.
2. To have different topics for the maps' titles (thematic maps), these tools also
enable us to detect spatial patterns or reveal relationships that may be hidden
or invisible in a clear and accurate way.
3. The user of these technologies must be fully aware of these programs and
have high experience in order not to fall into the error of giving an impression
different to the nature of the information to the visual image. This is especially
when using absolute quantitative data or when it is treated mathematically
with algorithmic equations, so the map is then incorrect.
4. It is possible for the database to have a major role in the combination of the
technically produced map with the reflection of graphical forms of the same
geographic model, which enables us to make spatial comparison using the
methods and statistical laws provided by the program and then create layers
representing the nature of the area to be represented.
5. These tools enable us within geographic information systems programs and
through geographical data and database, and typical program functions such as
layering, inquiry, and measuring distances and areas.
6. It provides a very important function for the treatment, which is the
generalization and smoothing operations, such as simplification, exaggeration
and displacement when making the scale change process. This results in the
occurrence of many problems that cause the map to deform and show the
features in it in an unclear way.
7. Providing the user with statistical data as well as metadata through the
quality and features of the image or visual used to the degree and features of
high accuracy.
8. Programs help to create data to build a virtual model of geographical
phenomena and make visual comparison with this model and other available
maps or import them from computer memory.

The geographic output within these programs and the tools that it provides
does not depend on the digital fixation of the map, but also its output in the
form of a picture or in the form of paper. It also enables us to deal with it as
changing layers or deleting and adding to it and moving it in all directions,
zooming in and out and controlling its size. Also, the user interface of the
drawing tools plays a major role in the interaction between the map and
database.

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The programs currently available in its various categories do not provide the
ability to meet all the exploration requirements for mapping and its
applicability on a large scale. Although most of them allow the process of
creating many types of thematic maps, dynamic maps, dynamically linked
maps and interactive charts, it is also possible to perform transformations of
geographical data and tabular data as a visual analysis of data. Spatial and
temporal, such capabilities must be provided within advanced computer
devices and high-precision and high-quality information technologies
(Gilhooly, et al, 1988). See Figure (3)

Figure (3) Arc gis (taken from ArcGIS Online)

The basics of producing cartographic models

In order to be able to produce various models of geographical maps, there are

four rules that must be followed to implement this process, which are
(Gerber& Lyons, 1984):
1. Create map layers or define spatial data for the area.
2. Using logic and natural language to develop the process of moving from
available data to the solution.
3. Create a flowchart according to mathematical steps to graphically represent
the whole process. This diagram represents a set of algorithms that the
researcher must perform in order to reach the solution.
4. Adding an explanation in the form of a planner for all the successively
executed operations in the GIS program.
In order to locate a specific point on the map using the foundations above, we
need to make four layers:
 Land use
 Phenomenon site
 Map of rivers
 Roadmap

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In order to implement what was previously mentioned, we need to use the

correct logic and the appropriate language that is compatible with the language
of the program. This program allows an adequate flow of all spatial data and
simulates the reality in form and application, and then using statistical
equations to process the data and reach the final results as Figure (4) and
Figure (5)

Figure (4) Flowchart to locate a specific phenomenon on a map (GeoMedia)

Figure (5) Flow chart by data (MapInfo)

From Figures (4) and (5), it should be clear to us that the analytical power of
mapping lies in the ability to combine a series of equations using the obtained
results to reach the last step of the application of these algebraic equations
using high technologies for information systems. Geo-GIS and cartographic
model output required.

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CONCLUSION
Cartographic modeling provides an organized approach to designing
geographic information systems through the development of technical steps
that help in the integrated application of all mathematical operations. In
addition, cartographic production to a high degree of accuracy can be provided
by this modeling. In addition, the use of natural language and appropriate logic
for all the applied steps helps to develop the mapping model. In order to
integrate the operations with the presence of these programs, we need the
availability of updated data and users with high experience in information
system technology programs dealing scientifically with statistical methods and
algebraic equations. This is to reach the correct analysis and accurate
description of everything represented through what the program produces
from cartographic models for various geographical and non-geographical
branches. For geographic information systems with information technology, it
will have a clear impact on developing and creating more effective and more
accurate tools to address all the defects that can be produced by current
programs. Thus, the outputs after that are of high quality and accuracy, more
realistic and simulating natural and human phenomena

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