Interactive World Atlas - Exploration of the Potentials of Web Cartography

Abstract

This paper describes a software configuration and data used for creating an interactive world atlas. Free software and data were chosen, and the potentials of such a choice are explored. The result is a simple interactive world atlas. Initial datasets, data presentation and user interface are established. The data are divided into three levels of detail that are usually found in printed atlases: the world, continents and countries. The possibility of data in one level of detail (the most detailed one) is explored, too. Special care was given to map projections in data presentation. The result is that every map is created in map projection according to knowledge on map projection selection for different geographical areas.