Prototype Online Atlas of Australia

Danesh Prakash ChackoSupervised by: Gita Pupedis

Why an Atlas of Australia?

‘National Atlases present a synthesis of the spatial knowledge that characterises a country’

(Kraak et al, 2009)

Currently, Australia does not have a single national atlas.

Australia has theme based national atlases and comprehensive state atlases.

The purpose of the project: To propose the creation of a single national atlas to act as a geographic portal of the nation.

Researched International Atlases

Technology and structure of an Atlas

Type of Online Atlas versions: A) Static

▪ View only B) Dynamic

▪ View only▪ Interactive

Technological structure of a typical online Atlas: Map Server Tile Server (tile Cache) Client (User-interface) Geospatial data

Technology and structure of an Atlas

Potential design layout and characteristics of mapping tools in an atlas: Types of zooming applicable Legend configuration

▪ Pop-up Legends▪ Static Legends

Arrangement of key mapping tools (e.g. Zooming Printing Legend)

http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/environment/geology/geologicalprovinces

Potential topics for the Atlas

From the analysis of a dozen online atlases, potential topics of the National Atlas of Australia are: Geography Climate Population Economy Tourism Threatened Environment History

Dataset sources: Explore Australia, Geoscience Australia, RMIT and data.gov.au

Implementation of the Atlas

3 Stages of creating the prototype: Stage 1: Creating the maps in ArcGIS Stage 2: Identification of online platform, map transfer to the platform Stage 3: Creation of a non-hosted prototype website

In the process of creating the atlas, various technological and cartographic limitations have been identified

Stage 1: Creating the maps in ArcGIS

The software utilized: ArcGIS 10.0 Desktop Sample Topics to be covered:

Physical Australia Hydrology of Australia Vegetation of Australia Tourism of Australia Population Characteristics of Australia

Stage 1: Creating the maps in ArcGIS

Example Map:

Physical Map of Australia

Stage 2: Choosing a suitable online platform

Potential Online Platforms to be chosen: ArcGIS Online TileMill Open-source Map Servers

Datasets

Maps in ArcGIS

TileMill

Map Servers

ArcGIS Online

Atlas Website

ESRI Atlas

Stage 2: Choosing a suitable online platform

After much exploration and assessing the pros and cons, it was decided ArcGIS Online was the way forward.

There is a problem: Maps in ArcGIS Desktop cannot be transferred to ArcGIS Online due to versioning process.

Datasets were uploaded online and new maps were created from scratch.

Stage 2: Choosing a suitable online platform

Example ArcGIS Online Map:

Tourism in Australia Map

Stage 3: Creation of the prototype website

The Prototype website design layout was based on the analysis of the design layout of 12 researched atlases.

A main homepage was created with two menus: A Cascading menu and a graphical menu. The website has links to other Australian atlases.

Stage 3: Creation of the prototype website

Geography ‘Home Page’ for users to explore Australian geography:

Limitations & challenges of the Atlas

Cartographic Text Labelling in ArcGIS Desktop Limitations of datasets Data Symbolization in ArcGIS Online

Technological Choosing a Suitable Online Platform Map Transfer from ArcGIS Desktop to ArcGIS

Online Web Browser Compatibility

Limitations & challenges of the Atlas

Cartographic

Limitations & Challenges of the Atlas

Technological

Atlas Homepage in Internet Explorer 8

What’s next?

Australia should consider the benefits of producing a national atlas.

Universities, the government and the private sector should be urged to collaborate on the project.

A well produced Atlas of Australia could encourage implementation of a similar Atlas in other nations.

www.jacononline.com.au

Acknowledgments

Would like to thank the support given by: Gita Pupedis (Supervisor) - for the supervision,

encouragement and points of improvement throughout the project

Bruce McGurty (Explore Australia) – for giving the permission of using datasets, references to other free datasets

Damien Demaj & Other ESRI Staff (ESRI) – for giving guidance for ArcGIS