Comparative Map Theory, Research And Practice Of The Method

Comparative Cartography, a new discipline of cartography is shaping itself when an extensive development in comparative studies of branches of learning is in fullswing.At the conference held in Dalian, China in 1987, Professor Hu Yu-ju put forward the basic concept of Comparative Cartography for the first time. In 1988, the term"Comparative Cartography"was adopted in the special publication on natural science and technology terms for Surveying and Mapping Branch. This publication was approved by China Committee for Unifying Natural Science and Technology Terms as national standard. This is a strong indication that Comparative Cartography was confirmed in China's cartographic academic circle. Since then, the study of practical use of the methods of comparative in different cartographic disciplines has being carried on, and quite a few achievements in comparative study in various fields of cartography have been made, which constitute the essential contents of Comparative Cartography.In cartography, subject recognizes object that gets relative knowledge is the basis of cartography. This process is the following process: subject gets relative information of cartography, and then compares, chooses, selects and forms the knowledge of concept. This also is a process of abstract. Only through objective and dialectical comparison to geographical object, we can seize the main contradiction and reveal the essential features of research object. Constructing cartographic model is helpful to make complex system simplified and comparison is a main stage of model construction. Cartographic symbol and the mathematical expression of cartography can make scientific thinking comparative. Through the comparison of theoretical model and empirical fact, we can improve the model and test the truth of the model. The process of applying map can not leave the employing of all kinds of comparison. We can say that cartography is the basic theory of theory cartography and application cartography.This thesis researches the production, development and significance of comparative cartography and elaborates the theory and principle, method and procedure. We also basically construct the theoretical system of comparative cartography, use the viewpoint of comparative cartography and have a stage to ancient China's cartography. The thesis can be divided into four parts.The first part introduces the background of comparative cartography, studies the theoretical and practical meaning of comparative cartography.The second part constructs the theory and principle of comparative cartography. From the beginning of talking the basic concept, we clarify the core theory and basic principles when comparing.The third part summarizes the main research method of comparative cartography and definitudes the basic procedure when comparing.The fourth part is a case study. Using the theory and method of comparative cartography, we have a stage study to Ancient China's Cartography.