Development and implementation of an electronic journal for publishing peer-reviewed GIS-based maps on the Web

Abstract

The fusion of recent Internet and mapping technologies, such as Web Map Services, has made the publication of interactive cartographic products technically feasible, leading to a reduction in production costs and to an increase in the number of map readers. This study examines the scientific role of cartography in relation to the publication, communication and dissemination of geoscientific maps. We analyse the importance of cartography and mapping, including some constraints associated with the decline in the publication of maps in peer-reviewed journals, and present a new electronic journal as an alternative medium for publishing and disseminating cartographic products. Digital Geosciences (http://digitalgeosciences.unam.mx) specializes in the web publication of Earth Science and Physical Geography maps. Its objective is to re-establish the value of cartography by promoting its publication and recognition as a scientific product. This journal publishes peer-reviewed GIS-based maps from any part of the world, although Latin America is the main region of interest. The official languages are Spanish and English. We present the new paradigm used by Digital Geosciences in the publication of interactive cartography. Journal conception and development, operational details and information for international contributions are also discussed. The accepted products are published using Map Servers. The interface uses standard ArcIMS with predesigned HTML pages, enhanced with the advanced cartographic design of the ArcMap Server extension and simple adaptations. We are working on the implementation of Map Server free software, a metadata engine tool, and the full integration of the online peer-review process using Open Journal System, including map notes and map edition capabilities.