Informational and referential system for mapping
and statistical data analysis.S. Luchko
Moscow State University (MSU)
Dept. of Computational Mathematics,
Vorobiovy gory, Moscow, 119234, Russia
Phone: (095) 180-85-56, 939-31-31
E-mail: lserg@moscow.portal.ru, lserg@aleph.ru
Cartographic methods of data research and data analysis which are traditionally used in the geographic sciences can be successfully applied in the branches of science which are not connected with geography. Geographic maps are very useful when analysing almost any spatially allocated data. These maps permit to discover spatial rules of data. They allow also show the correlation between the subjects under analysis and between subjects themselves and their spatial location.
Rapidly developing geoinformatic technologies appeared first of all as the means of automation of the nature systems research and control (such as geology, geography, ecology and other branches of science uses geographic maps). Geoinformatic technology and automatic cartography development let the process of geographic map creation to be less laborious comparing to one used in the classic cartography. This development creates prerequisites for application of geoinformatic cartography in the sciences where the using of classic cartography was to no purpose because of high laboriousness of the map creation.
The process of geographic map creation requires a lot of time and a specific qualification of a cartographer. Using cartography by a non-professional is inevitably accompanied by emerging of the tools saving user from the necessity to possess skills of a professional cartographer. Regional information system described below is a tool allowing use the geographic maps for data analysis. It does not require a user neither to know cartography ABC nor to possess automatic cartography skills. That is why the system does not pretend to the role of a universal tool for the map creation. Its functions set is limited to the simple tool kit enough for a non-professional user.
Regional information system (RIS) provides user with a simple tool kit allowing him to show his data on a geographic map. This tool kit permits user to draw cartograms, 2D-pie and bar charts and symbols on the map. Simplicity of the map creation is provided first of all by the prepared set of the cartographic bases depicting the administrative structure of Russia. Ready set of technical resolutions permits to connect cartographic base with data in a few minutes. Finally, the database of the geographic subjects built into the system permits to take into account this information when analyzing data and saves user from the need to create the database.
RIS cartographic base consists of the data attachment objects and the set of general geographic layers such as rivers, cities, roads, state and administrative borderlines. Data attachment objects make up a pair: area object painted over when the cartogram is built, and attachment point on the territory of this area object where the symbol, 2D-pie or bar chart is drawn.
The set of the cartographic bases built into RIS is based on the administrative structure of Russia. It consists of the maps of 89 subjects of Russian Federation (republics, krays, oblasts), and the maps of 11 economic regions of Russia and the general map of Russia. Data attachment objects on the maps of the administrative subjects are the rayons and gorsovets. Data attachment objects on the maps of the economic regions are the oblasts. The map of Russia exists in two versions: the map with the data attachment to the regions and the map with the data attachment to the oblasts.
The maps in the system make a natural hierarchy consisting of three levels: Russia itself, the regions, and the oblasts. The buttons ”down” and ”up” permit to go from one level to the other, indicating by the mouse which territory to select. There is a possibility to switch to the two-level hierarchy (Russia, oblasts).
Each data attachment object in RIS has a numeric code. By this code data are attached to the object. Area objects and point objets, which make a pair, have the same attachment code. If the objects from the different cartographic bases have the same meaning (for example, the oblast on the map of a region and the oblast on the map of Russia) they have the same code. The codes may be given to the objects automatically or semi-automatically by using ZIP code, telephone code or the name of populated area.
Initial data for the cartogram creation is a table consisting of 2 column. One column represents the attachment code, the other represents the subject value. In a case of 2D-pie chart and column chart the table consists of 3 and more columns. Data can be prepared in any standard DBMS (Database Management System). Data are requested via ODBC (Open Database Connectivity).
Symbol map permits to picture the objects of interest for the user. Each object has a set of fields in database which have to be shown when the object is selected. For the scheme described above to work the mechanism of creation and call of user’s forms is provided. The symbol for depicting the object can be chosen from the existing symbols or can be created by user. When picturing several symbols at one point the system allocates them so that they don’t lay on each other. There is an opportunity to toggle the symbols you need in the legend window. It is very useful when the number of symbols is big enough.
Database built into RIS is accessible as a set of data along map creation process and as a set of forms showing these data. Except numerical indices such as population, ratio of urban and rural population, area, population density, this base contains an information about climate, relief, water resources, minerals, soils, flora and fauna. This information exists as a text. This text description contains also an information about economical and ecological state of the oblast, the name of the big industrial centers and the main transport ways.
RIS is used successfully by the analytical center of ”ECOHELP-FARM” company. The main task of the center is to analyze the pharmaceutical goods consumer market. With the aid of RIS this center analyzes sickness rate, income level and the medicines consumption. This analysis helps to display the regions of potential demand for medicines. In order to correct the company’s resources between the regions the analytical center of ”ECOHELP-FARM” uses RIS for presentation of the results of the analysis.
The represantative office of the Great Seven in Russia ”Support Implementation Group” uses RIS for analysis of the projects of aid to Russia. This analysis helps to classify Russia’s regions by fields which need an aid and by the donor countries which provide this aid.
Represantative office of ”Mersedes Benz” in Russia used RIS for presentation the results of its work in Russia.