René Sieber; Roman Geisthövel; Lorenz Hurni · 2009
During the last decade digital national atlases have made distinct advancements concerning visualization techniques and atlas functionality. Challenges that atlas authors still are confronted with can be identified mainly in the fields of user-centered design, realtime data management, and map design. The ATLAS OF SWITZERLAND demonstrates in its third edition how to realize a complete atlas framework based on the principles of user-centered design. Basic concepts and cartographic aspects as well as GUI techniques and implementation are treated.
René Sieber; Livia Hollenstein; Lorenz Hurni · 2011
Sieber, Hollenstein and Hurni describe Atlas der Schweiz 3, released on DVD in late 2010. It updates existing subjects and adds transport, energy and communication, doubling coverage to about 2,000 map themes. New features include multivariate symbols, flow and focus maps, four-view comparisons, and 3D prism maps combining two variables. The authors also describe improved terrain imagery and labelling, an explorable night sky, GPS-track exchange and georeferenced photograph overlays. A seven-person ETH Zürich team developed the atlas using data from 15 Federal Statistical Office sections and 70 further agencies, with swisstopo contributing to cartography, production and distribution. The DVD supports Mac and Windows and offers German, French, Italian and English.
René Sieber; Marianna Serebryakova; Raimund Schnürer; Lorenz Hurni; Georg Gartner; Markus Jobst; Haosheng Huang · 2016
In their background account, the atlas team describes Atlas of Switzerland 3 (2010) as containing about 2,000 maps, supplemented by time series and available in 2D and 3D modes, including block diagrams, prism maps and panoramic views. Its functions include sky viewing, terrain analysis, data and map comparison, and smart legends. Assessing the 2000–2010 desktop series as a whole, the authors credit its varied map types, graphic design, adaptive layers and tailored tools, while identifying proprietary formats, excessive functionality, an awkward transition between 2D and 3D, and minimal online connectivity as limitations.
