President’s Blog: A gathering of the ICA people – the ICA Retreat in Vienna

Many persons are involved in our organization. They have different roles, different background and different ideas. In order to learn to know each other better, to synchronize our understanding of “our” ICA and to allow for taking on board all those rich ideas, perspectives and thoughts all Executive Committee Members, Commission Chairs and Co-Chairs, Working Group Chairs and further ICA officers met at the Technische Universität Wien in Vienna, Austria from 22.3.2024 to 24.3.2024 for an intense working meeting.

The agenda included several information presentations on issues of mutual concern, several group-works and workshops and simply time to meet, discuss and be part of ICA.

In the unique venue of the “Kuppelsaal” of the Technical University of Vienna we found enough space and inspiration to gather and work together.

At the ICA retreat at TU Wien Kuppelsaal, Vienna, Austria 2024

The meeting started with an introduction from President Georg Gartner on the nature, aims and scope and mission of the International Cartographic Association. It is really the global voice for Cartography and GIScience and the motto “We love maps” is a common nominator for all of us.

In order to learn to know each other better we performed a group work, where we paired in two to be able to introduce always the other person accordingly.

We then collected ideas about the questions:

What would you like to give to the ICA community?
What would you like to get from ICA?

which resulted in a long and rich list of relevant items.

Dusan Petrovic, Pyry Kettunen and Francis Harvey working hard and having fun at the retreat at TU Wien Kuppelsaal, Vienna, Austria 2024

Having set the tone for the meeting with this we then dived into several existing structures, instruments and elements of ICA, such as the ICA Webservices (presented by Webmaster Manuela Schmidt), the International Journal of Cartography (presented online from the Editors Anne Ruas and William Cartwright), the ICA Publication Regime (presented online from Publication Committee Chair Menno-Jan Kraak), the ICA Executive Committee (presented by President Georg Gartner and Secretary-General Thomas Schulz), the ICA Commissions and their Administration (presented by Secretary-General Thomas Schulz), the ICA Conferences (presented by Vice-President Serena Coetzee), the ICA memberships, MoUs and relations to other organisations (presented by Past-President Tim Trainor), the ICA Research Agenda (presented by Vice-President Haosheng Huang), the ICA Body of Knowledge (presented by Working Group Chair Terje Mitbo).

Inbetween further group interventions took place, refering to the idea of synchronizing our understanding of the core concept of our organization (What is a map?), identifying and presenting commission and working group plans and synergies (led by Vice-President Dusan Petrovic), a SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threads) – Analysis of ICA (led by Vice-President Alex Kent), a open mic session on ideas and visions (led by Vice-Presidents Amy Griffin, Jiping Liu and Dariusz Dukaczewski).

The ICA “people” in front of the Karlskirche during the ICA retreat, Vienna 2024

Socializing opportunities despite the amical, fruitful and constructive working atmosphere have been taken on a joined short “CartoWalk” around Karlsplatz and joined meals.

Participants of the ICA retreat in front of the Technische Universität Wien, Vienna 2024

The event proofs my feeling right again, that ICA is really more like a family – it is such a privilege to be able to cooperate with so many bright, motivated, enthusiastic, fantastic scholars and persons!

List of Participants

Executive Committee

President: Georg Gartner
Past President: Timothy Trainor
Secretary-General and Treasurer: Thomas Schulz
Vice President: Serena Coetzee
Vice President: Dariusz Dukaczewski
Vice President: Amy Griffin
Vice President: Dusan Petrovic
Vice President: Haosheng Huang
Vice President: Alexander Kent
Vice President: Jiping Liu

Commission Chairs and Co-Chairs

Art and Cartography: Taien Ng-Chan
Atlases: Vitek Vozenilek, Eric Losang
Cartographic Heritage into the Digital: Matyas Gede
Cartography and Children: Silvia Marinova
Cartography and Sustainable Development: Britta Ricker
Cartography in Early Warning and Crisis Mgmt: Christophe Lienert, Jie Shen
Cognitive Issues: Tumasch Reichenbacher, Pyry Kettunen, Petr Kubicek
Digital Transformation of Mapping Agencies: Bin Jiang
Education and Training: Tao Wang
Ethics in Cartography: Aileen Buckley
GeoAI: Samantha Arundel
Geospatial Analysis and Modelling: Xintao Liu
Geospatial Semantics and Ontology: Francis Harvey
Geovisualization: Florian Ledermann, Arzu Cöltekin
High-Definition Maps: Qingyun Du
Integrated Geospatial Information: Anja Hopfstock, Kathryn Arnold
Location Based Services: Jukka Krisp
Map Design: Ian Muehlenhaus
Map Projections: Krisztian Kerkovits
Maps and the Internet: Otakar Cerba
Marine Cartography: Ron Furness, Lysandros Tsoulos
Mountain Cartography: Patrick Kennelly
Multi-scale Cartography: Guillaume Touya, Izabela Karsznia
Topographic Mapping: David Forrest, Lukas Halik
Toponomy: Matjaz Gersic
Ubiquitious Mapping: Toru Ishikawa, Angela Schwering, Armand Kapaj
User Experiences: Robert Roth

Working Group Chairs and Co-Chairs

Next Generation Cartographers: Katarzyna Slomska-Przech, Chelsea Nestel
Inclusive Cartography: Jakub Wabinski, Vincent van Altena
Body of Knowledge: Terje Mitbo

Category: Art and Cartography, Atlases, Cartographic Body of Knowledge, Cartographic Heritage into the Digital, Cartography and Children, Cartography and Sustainable Development, Cartography in Early Warning and Crisis Management, Cognitive Issues in Geographic Information Visualization, Commission News, Digital Transformation of the National Mapping Agencies, Education and Training, Ethics in Cartography, GeoAI, Geospatial Analysis and Modeling, Geospatial Semantics and Ontology, Geovisualization, High-Definition Maps, Inclusive Cartography, Integrated Geospatial Information for Cartography, Location Based Services, Map Design, Map Projections, Maps and the Internet, Marine Cartography, Mountain Cartography, Multi-scale Cartography, Next Generation Cartographers, President's Blog, Topographic Mapping, Toponymy, Ubiquitous Mapping, User Experience, Working Group News

Tag: Austria, retreat

New venue for Pre-ICC Workshop on Abstraction, Scale & Perception

The ICA Commissions on Cognitive Issues in Geographic Information Visualization and on Generalisation and Multiple Representation, are pleased to invite you to a one-day workshop on 15th July 2019, with several sessions of talks, a demo session and a brainstorming session to finish the day!

Please be careful, the location has change: It will be held at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) – Room “Venus” (7th Floor) – 9:00–16:30.

For more information on the workshop visit: icc2019abstraction.wordpress.com

If you want to join us, please register here.

Category: Cognitive Issues in Geographic Information Visualization, Commission News, Multi-scale Cartography

Tag: ICC2019 workshop, Japan, pre-conference workshop

Announcement of the Pre-ICC Workshop on Abstraction, Scale & Perception

The ICA Commissions on Cognitive Issues in Geographic Information Visualization, and on Generalisation and Multiple Representation, are pleased to organize a joint one-day workshop dedicated to advances, works in progress, and position statements about the perception of geospatial abstractions and scale in maps and geovisualisations.

Abstraction is the main process for moving from a geographic space or phenomenon to its representation as spatial information. Abstractions may be conceptual, geometric, semantic, graphic, visual, or cognitive. Examples include techniques to highlight, enhance, or simplify salient characteristics or properties, in order to support visual communication, recognition, understanding of spatial features and inferring knowledge about spaces. If different aspects of abstraction are not managed well, across different scales, for example when navigating through scales in geoportals, it can lead to perceptual difficulties in reading the map. Generalisation is the process of deliberately transforming existing geospatial data or their symbolisation into more abstract representations, and multiple representation involves creating a series of such generalisations, often distributed through map scale.

The workshop will feature research presentations and open-ended brainstorming sessions, and will focus on identifying open research gaps and the elaboration of a shared research agenda. We encourage submissions from any practitioner of abstraction or generalisation: those in academia, industry, or government, among other sectors, are welcome.

Paper deadline: 22nd February 2019

Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

multi-scale, multi-source and multi-view graphic representation
massive data (“Big Data”) generalization
continuous visualization (across scales) and fluid interaction with graphic representations
(semi) automated approaches for map design and geovisualization
generalisation, schematization, and stylization techniques
visual perception measures and experimental approaches to assess visual perception
thematic applications: statistical and socio-economic data, spatio-temporal data and phenomena, urban and environmental dynamics, etc.
technical applications, adaptation to visualization devices, (i.e., smartphones, tablets, VR/AR) and use contexts (e.g., emergency and crisis management, individual mobility, industrial purposes, etc.).

Please find more information on the workshop website: icc2019abstraction.wordpress.com

Category: Cognitive Issues in Geographic Information Visualization, Commission News, Multi-scale Cartography

Tag: ICC2019 workshop, Japan, pre-conference workshop

Honorary Fellowship for Anne Ruas

Anne Ruas receiving the ICA Honorary Fellowship During ICC 2017, Anne Ruas received the ICA Honorary Fellowship. Below you can read Menno-Jan Kraak‘s laudation:

Dear Ann,
It is a great pleasure to address you for this occasion to hand you the ICA Honorary Fellowship. This award is for cartographers of international reputation who have made special contribution to the ICA.
You fit this category well because during a long ICA career you have been active as Co-chair of the Commission on Generalization and Multiple representation (2003–2007), as Vice-President (2007–2015), but also you have been President of ICC 2011, Paris. And you are still committed to ICA because currently you are one of the two Editors of our International Journal of Cartography (2015–).
But what many people do not know is that you have other talents too. You are a good football player. I remember we both played in the red-team during a legendary ICA Commission match in Leicester many years ago.
Ann, I congratulate you with this honor and would like to hand you the medal and certificate now.

Category: Commission News, General News, Multi-scale Cartography

Tag: awards, France, ICA Honorary Fellowship

ICA Awards Ceremony at ICC2017

In the ICA Awards Ceremony at ICC2017, the following awards were presented in recognition of contributions to the ICA:

From left to right: Igor Drecki, Cynthia Brewer, Timothy Trainor, Menno-Jan Kraak, Anne Ruas, William Cartwright, Matthew Rice, Aileen Buckley

ICA Honorary Fellowship

The ICA Honorary Fellowship is for cartographers of international reputation who have made special contribution to the ICA. It includes a bronze medal.

William Cartwright, Australia
- Vice-President (2003–2007)
- Chair of the Commission on Art and Cartography (2007–2008)
- President (2007–2011)
- Editor of the International Journal of Cartography (2015–)
Anne Ruas, France
- Co-chair of the Commission on Generalization and Multiple Representation (2003–2007)
- Vice-President (2007–2015)
- President of ICC 2011, Paris
- Editor of the International Journal of Cartography (2015–)
Timothy Trainor, USA
- Chair or Co-chair of the Commission on National and Regional Atlases (1995–2007)
- Chair of Census Cartography Working Group (2007–2011)
- Vice-President (2007–2015)

Diplomas for outstanding services to ICA

The Diplomas for outstanding services to ICA are for colleagues who have made special contribution to the ICA as commission officers or conference organizers.

Igor Drecki, New Zealand
- Editor of ICA News
Aileen R. Buckley, USA
- ICC2017 Organizing Committee member
Cynthia A. Brewer, USA
- ICC2017 Organizing Committee member
Matthew Rice, USA
- ICC2017 Organizing Committee member

Overview of ICA Awards presented at ICC2015

Congratulations to all awardees!

Category: Art and Cartography, Atlases, Commission News, Multi-scale Cartography

Tag: Australia, awards, Diploma for outstanding services to ICA, France, ICA Honorary Fellowship, ICA News, ICC2011, ICC2017, International Journal of Cartography, New Zealand, USA

An overview over the ICC2017 Pre-Conference Workshops

white-house-451544_1920-1180x450

Many ICA commissions use the days before the ICC conference for dedicated workshops on their fields of research. This year, the following workshops will take place:

Charting the Cosmos of Cartography: History – Names – Atlases

Date: June 28–30, 2017
Location: Library of Congress (Madison Building) in Washington, DC
Involved commissions: History of Cartography, Toponymy, and Atlases
Deadline for submissions: ~~February 15~~
Website

Meeting on Maps & the Internet, Ubiquitous Mapping and Education & Training

Date: June 30 & July 1
Location: The campus of William and Mary University in Williamsburg, VA
Involved commissions: Education and Training, Maps and the Internet and Ubiquitous Mapping
Deadline for submissions: April 30
Website

Mapping Tools for Non-Mapping Experts: Incorporating Geospatial Visualization Tools in Libraries

Date: July 1
Location: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
Involved commission: Cartographic Heritage into the Digital
Website

Different Fields – One Cartography

Date: July 1
Location: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
Involved commissions: Cartography and Children, Maps and Graphics for Blind and Partially Sighted People and Planetary Cartography
Deadline for submissions: April 21
Website

Supporting sustainable development with geoinformation management and modern maps: things you hardly consider

Date: July 1
Location: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
Involved commission: Map Production and Geoinformation Management

Workshop on Maps & Emotions

Date: July 1–2, 2017
Location: George Washington University, Washington, DC
Involved commissions: Cognitive Issues in Geographic Information Visualization, Art and Cartography and Topographic Mapping
Deadline for submissions: ~~September 30, 2016~~
Website

Workshop on Spatial Data Infrastructures, Standards, Open Source and Open Data for Geospatial (SDI-Open 2017)

Date: July 1–2, 2017
Location: George Washington University, Washington, DC
Involved commissions: Open Source Geospatial Technologies and the SDI and Standards
Website

Workshop on Generalisation and Multiple Representation

Date: July 1–2, 2017
Location: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
Involved commissions: Generalisation and Multiple Representation, second day in cooperation with Geospatial Analysis and Modeling and Location-based Services
Deadline for submissions: ~~March 24~~
Website

Symposium on Location-Based Social Media and Tracking Data

Date: July 1–2, 2017
Location: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
Involved commissions: Geospatial Analysis and Modeling and Location-based Services, second day in cooperation with Generalisation and Multiple Representation
Deadline for submissions: ~~March 1~~
Website

Critical Review on Using Developable Surfaces in Map Projections Theory & Standardization in Map Projections

Date: July 2
Location: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
Involved commission: Map Projections

Disaster Management, Big Data, Services and Cartographic Representation

Date: July 2
Location: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
Involved commission: Cartography in Early Warning and Crises Management

Preserving Map Production Methodology Information

Date: July 2, 10am
Location: Congress center, Washington, DC
Involved commission: Atlases
Contact and details: Philippe de Maeyer and Eric Losang

Tag: ICC2017, ICC2017 workshop, pre-conference workshop, USA

Invitation to the 20th ICA Workshop on Generalisation and Multiple Representation

In the tradition of pre-conference workshops in association with the International Cartographic Conference (ICC) the ICA Commission on Generalisation and Multiple Representation will organise a workshop in Washington, United States, 1–2 July, 2017.

The workshop will explore new challenges and solutions in the domain of automated generalisation. A special focus will be set on approaches to generalise location-based social media data. The first day (1 July 2017) will be carried out as a regular workshop of the ICA Commission on Generalisation and Multiple Representation. For the second day we have the aim to have combined sessions with ICA Commission on Geospatial Analysis and Modeling and ICA Commission on Location-based Services on topics related to Scalability and Abstraction of Location-based Social Media Data and Tracking Data.

The challenges of research in Generalisation and Multiple Representation draws upon researchers and practitioners alike, working in the fields of on-demand mapping, geovisual analysis, multiple representations, data integration and generalisation of geographic information. Participants of the workshop are invited to submit research papers or positions papers.

Key dates

1 March: Deadline for submission of short papers (limit 3000 words, and 8 pages including figures)
17 April: Notification of acceptance of paper for presentation
31 May: Deadline for submission of revised papers
1–2 July: Workshop

Submission and review of short papers will be managed through EasyChair.

Workshop organizers: Dirk Burghardt, Cecile Duchene

For more information, please visit the conference website: generalisation.icaci.org/index.php/nextevents

Category: Commission News, Geospatial Analysis and Modeling, Location Based Services, Multi-scale Cartography

Tag: ICC2017, ICC2017 workshop, pre-conference workshop

President’s Blog: A map perspective on the sustainable development goals

The Sustainable Development Goals, officially known as Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are a UN Initiative. Official website: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org

In the light of the International Map Year (IMY), the ICA and its commissions are highlighting the value of cartography by “mapping” the UN sustainable development goals.

In the past months, a set of posters has been created, one for each sustainable development goal. They do not map the goals and their target based on indicators as such. The poster series tells the story of cartographic diversity, of mapping options, and of multiple map perspectives. Each of the goals has been mapped from a particular perspective by different ICA Commissions. All posters have a short take-home-message that should make one aware of particular strengths of the map.

The posters as well as the catalog for the poster exhibition can be found on icaci.org/maps-and-sustainable-development-goals

A huge thank you to all commissions involved and to Wim Feringa from ITC for the poster design and production. Let’s make the world a better place with maps!

Menno-Jan Kraak
– President of the International Cartographic Association

Tag: International Map Year, sustainable development goals, UN, UNGGIM

Joint ICA meeting in Vienna, November 8–9

ica-commission-meeting

All chairs and vice-chairs of the ICA commissions and working groups were invited to join an ICA meeting in Vienna on 8–9 November 2015 to plan and discuss their activities for the term 2015–2019. 46 chairs, vice-chairs and members of the executive committee followed the invitation and spent two intensive workshop days at Technische Universität Wien.

Meeting participants

Commission chairs and vice-chairs

Working Group International Map Year

Executive Committee

Website

Manuela Schmidt
ICA Webmaster

More photos of the workshop can be found on the ICA Facebook page.

Tag: Austria, commission chair meeting, executive committee, International Map Year

Get to know the new ICA commissions for the term 2015–2019

27 commissions and 3 working groups were elected for the term 2015–2019 by the ICA General Assembly 2015. We are currently in the process of updating the website to reflect these changes. Also some of the commissions are still preparing or updating their websites. In the meantime, we invite you to have a look at the short “Commissions at a glance” presentations, which the new commissions chairs gave during ICC 2015:

Tag: ICC2015