Geomedia Attributes for Perspective Visualization of Relief for Historical Non-Cartometric Water-Colored Topographic Maps

Abstract

The selection of appropriative geomedia attributes for constructing natural and suggestive perspective visualizations of historical non-cartometric manuscript topographic works is investigated, to enable an intuitive perception of relief landforms. The main objective of the study is to demonstrate geomedia parameters for representing the third dimension in topographic watercolor maps from the eighteenth century, using cartographic rules and geoinformation operations for transforming graphic means of expression. The following methods were used: the choice of representative map fragments with specific painterly means of expression; the analysis of main relief forms on historical and modern maps; the rectification; vectorization of contour lines, and the transformation to a GRID model; the use of parameter variations: elevation rise, azimuth and altitude, contrast of illumination; and the creation of the final bird’s-eye-view visualization, with appropriate parameters. It is found that the parameters for the visualization of the non-cartometric water-colored topographic image on a 3D model can be selected in turn. However, what matters is maintaining their complementarity. The proposed parameters for the three maps work well for creating the general static bird’s-eye-view visualization, with the natural and suggestive perception of the landscapes’ relief.