AUTOMATING MAP SPECIFICATIONS FOR A BILINGUAL WORK FORCE: AN EGYPTIAN/AMERICAN CASE STUDY

摘要

In an effort to update and modernize map specifications for an ongoing project in the Arab Republic of Egypt, an Egyptian/American team investigated and implemented some innovations which minimize the use of language, and maximize the use of symbols and icons. The team produced bilingual documents using word-processing, graphics, and database applications commonly found on the Apple Macintosh computer. These documents comprise a complete cartographic specification including feature descriptions, standard operating procedures and quality assurance guidelines currently in use for the production of a completely new 1:50,000 topographic map series. Specifications of similar format are in development for several other cartographic products. The team developed map specifications using flow diagrams patterned after those described by J.S.Keates (Cartographic Design and Production, John Wiley & Sons, 1989) and an original database design for feature descriptions which illustrate the complete history of each. feature (from photogrammetry to field completion to cartography) in a graphics-oriented database manager for the Apple Macintosh called Hypercard. These documents serve as procedure outlines which help coordinate the various map-making production groups. Lessons learned in putting the standard operating procedures into action--the technician-level acceptance, production tracking, and procedure enforcement--have helped pave the way for the development of additional specifications for more challenging digital products.