The 21 st Century World – No Future without Cartography

The term ‘cartography’ only appeared in the early 19 century and since then has been primarily applied to the creation of printed paper products. However the more fundamental essence of ‘cartography’ can be characterised as an expression of one of humanity’s most ancient impulses mapping. This paper reviews its origins, nature and growth and, with the increasing support of technology, its key role in representing and supporting the resolution of problems facing our fragile Earth. It is also proposed that, while the spatial consciousness from which cartography grew may have even pre-dated natural language, what might be called the ‘language’ of cartography has been seriously underemployed by the majority. Until recent decades, most people only used the products of this ‘language’. Today, especially through advances such as computers and the Web, this restriction is disappearing as more people are becoming involved not only in interpreting but also creating cartographic products themselves (i.e. truly using the whole language of Cartography). With this in view and with the expansion of the field of GIScience, the vital nature and importance of Cartography must be recognised to ensure that it continues to be recognised and developed as a core part of that science and not just as a peripheral tool for data presentation.