Multilevel Atlas Environmental Cartography (As Exemplified by the Baikal Region)

Abstract

It is determined that nowadays the creation of atlases of a large region requires its integrated study (by combining ecological, environmental and socio–economic components), which is only possible subject to the availability of explicitly developed integrated mapping programs. It is shown that for the transformation of research material to a constructive mapping model, it is necessary to determine the range of topical issues to be studied, establish the procedure of developing them, and select methodology and technology of cartographic modeling of results from theoretical frameworks. We outline how a further development of the scientific principles, methodology and technology of system–ecological mapping furnishes a means of making a prospective targeted cartographic analysis and interpretation of social, economic and physical–geographical information thus enabling easy switchover to the creation of assessment, optimization and other environmental maps of new constructive contents. On the basis of summarizing experience of developing All–Russian and regional ecological atlases covering the territory of the Baikal region, we examine the conceptual approaches and organizational–methodological principles of creating a new type of atlas by using, as an example, the draft of the Atlas of the Baikal Region: Nature and Society.