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2.2 Cartographic summary
The first topographic maps of FIL's central part showed
discoveries by the Austrian-Hungarian expedition performed in
1873/74. J. Payer published them in 1874-1877 after having
processed the results of a topographic survey performed by
means of the classical plane table method. Several subsequent
expeditions between 1879 and 1949 (Dutch, English,
Norwegian, American, Italian, Russian) explored the whole
archipelago and compiled a number of maps based on terrestrial
observations and mostly without basic geodetic control. An
extensive aerial photographic survey in FIL was performed by
Russians in 1952/1953 and repeated over several islands in
1958. 12 astronomic stations provided the horizontal control for
aerial surveying. Between 1954 and 1959 extensive geodetic
and hydrographic investigations were performed by the N10
expedition of the Hydrographic enterprise of St. Petersburg. The
investigations included third-order triangulation and leveling,
sea level measurement, bathymetric determinations, etc. and
provided the basic control for all presently available
topographic maps of FJL.
The large standard map series, which covers the whole area of
the archipelago at different scales ranging from 1:1,000,000,
1:500,000, 1:200,000 and 1:100,000 down to 1:50,000 and
1:25,000, was photogrammetrically compiled in the following
years. It includes nearly 400 map sheets with standardized
information content. The majority of the map sheets were
prepared on the basis of the Gauss-Krüger projection and, apart
from the geographical coordinates, also contain a geodetic grid.
Dimensions of the ellipsoid of Krasovskiy were used. The maps
served as a topographic base for the revision of several marine
charts, some of which were published in 1961 and 1985.
Cartometric investigations of large-scale topographic maps
provided valuable spatial information about the glaciological
environment of the archipelago, which served as a basis for the
Catalogue of Glaciers in FJL (Vinogradov, Psareva 1965).
Several topographic and thematic maps are included in the Atlas
ofthe Arctic published in 1985.
These cartographic sources are undoubtedly important for any
environmental study in FJL, but their use for precise up-to-date
topographic determination is only possible based on a thorough
understanding of all natural changes having occurred in the
archipelago since the 1950s. Besides, available topographic,
marine and thematic maps of the archipelago are dispersed
among many national agencies and cannot be readily compiled
for analysis. Due to the rapid increase in scientific and
economic interests in the region, there is an urgent demand for
contemporary, reliable, and inexpensive maps of FJL based on
spaceborne imagery. New satellite image maps could assist the
appropriate administration and sustainable development of the
new national park and could ensure efficient regulation of
different activities, including tourism, in that region. in 1987
and 1993 several photographic and radar surveys of the FJL
archipelago were performed from space, but no new maps have
yet been published by Russian governmental organizations or
specialized companies.
2.3 Topographic outline of test area
Several sites situated in coastal areas of large islands in FJL
were selected for initial topological studies and field
Observations. We searched for low-land areas with gentle slopes
Which are more suitable for coastal studies, since they are easier
471
to access and have already been investigated by several
preceding expeditions. In total, 5 key-sites comprising
topographic features such as lakes, rivers, hills, capes, glacial
fronts, etc. which could be identified on both available maps
and remote sensing imagery, were carefully tested both in the
field and in the lab.
The central key-site was situated near Cosmic Lake in the
eastern coastal area of Hayes Island and included the Krenkel
station, one geodetic/navigation signal erected in 1956, tide
gauge and two bench marks N2, N4. The second area was
chosen 11 km eastwards on Komsomolskiy Island with a
geodetic/navigation signal situated 1,200 m from the coast and
within direct visibility from the central station. The third test
site was located 55 km southwards in the southern part of Hall
Island, the first large island of FJL to be mapped relatively
accurately 120 years ago. It included Cape Tegetthoff, Lake
Cape and the great outlet Sonklar Glacier in between. There is a
40-year-old geodetic pyramid on Lake Cape as well as several
lakes, rivers and historical places on both capes. The fourth and
fifth test areas both contained several geodetic signals. One was
situated 58 km northwestwards, on Ziegler Island (the camp of
the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation near Cape Brice) with
surrounding areas, while the other was located on the bank of
Nillsen Bay (Bell Island), 180 km west of the central station.
Several areas on other islands were also investigated, however
without basic geodetic control.
3. INITIAL TOPOLOGICAL STUDIES: FIRST
FINDINGS
In order to determine the amount of environmental changes in
FJL and to plan revisionary cartographic work, topological
studies have initially been carried out in the lab by comparing
spaceborne images with historical/topographic maps and old
aerial photographs. The experimental data set included:
- spaceborne stereophotographs obtained on 28.08.1993 at 10.25
GMT over the whole archipelago, except its westernmost part,
from Russian "Resource-F1" satellite by KFA-1000 and KATE-
200 film cameras at original scales of 1:250,000 and
1:1,250,000 respectively:
- precision imagery obtained by synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
from ERS-1 satellite over the western and central part of the
archipelago, including 3 scenes taken on 28.08.1993 at 9.20
GMT;
- aerial stereophotographs taken over the third and fourth test
sites on 8.08.1953 and 17.08.1953/23.08.1953 by an AFA-
TE100 camera at an original scale of 1:30,000.
All images were obtained at the end of the summer melting
period under cloud-free conditions and prior to the first
snowfalls. All necessary topographic map sheets, the
hydrometeorological map (Berliner Wetterkarte) of 28.08.1993,
8.00 GMT, several historical and thematic maps, as well as
catalogues of glaciers and geodetic spots in FJL were also at our
disposal.
After previous visual comparison several fragments from
spaceborne and airborne photographs were digitized and
transformed into the common projection as described in Section
5. Appropriate images were overlaid by uniting homologous
control points taken inland, and the relative differences in
position of "old" and "new" coastlines, glacial fronts and
borders were measured. The root mean square error for the
planimetric determinations via combinations KFA-1000 +
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B4. Vienna 1996
