The presentation of three-dimensional objects on a two- 
dimensional screen has always been a special challenge. 
The software for visualisation contains unfailingly the tools 
for the presentation in 3D graphics, so that a great 
number of data coming from various sources in the real 
time could be presented in such a way that they are 
immediately understandable. The production of detailed 
three-dimensional landscape presentations, especially 
cities, is another challenge for cartographers. 
objects, and partly for the needs of digital mapping and 
technology of GIS, 43 completely new symbols, a 9 of 
them have been remarkably changes with regard to the 
symbols of the “Topographic Symbols” from 1993. Figure 
3 shows some of newly suggested symbols. 
mountaineering home 
Ambitious expert systems test adequate map graphics 
demanding human creativity, prudence and judgement. 
The expert systems have been developed that locate the 
names already saved in the database according to the co 
ordinate position at adequate places on the map, finding 
the optimum position in the vicinity of the object they refer 
to (Kresse, 1994). Artificial intelligence, according to 
Yufen and Xiangping (1997), is the key for the 
development in the production of expert system for 
creating maps and map graphics. The artificial intelligence 
should be a combination between visual and abstract 
thinking having a map as a final product. But it is not all so 
simple, which can be seen from the previous research 
and its results as well. 
There are projects in leading laboratories for the future 
that develop simulation and experiments in real time with 
stereo presentation, and there are also solutions called in 
a popular way virtual or simulated reality. One can thus, 
using special cap with two screens for stereo image and 
the gloves for manipulating, move in virtual space in the 
most various conditions. It sounds as science fiction, but 
some feel it already as the present time (Simic, 1995). A 
poll carried out among top American experts predicts that 
until 2018 3D holographic telephones will be used, and 
the holographic printer till 2004 at least. It means, that 3D 
images will be watched in full colour without any tools, 
e.g. without glasses or special cap. It is presumed that 
such printers will use liquid crystals to expose holographic 
film to the light. To present some other area or 
phenomenon, a hologram image would be used without 
someone having to travel to some place (Franges, 1998). 
Referring to the quality of spatial data, the cartographers 
are very much interested in maintaining high quality and 
updated spatial data, because their products will be valid 
as much they are accurate for users. Namely, if a large 
number of users make expensive mistakes because of 
bad data used for analyses and visualisations, it will 
reflect finally on cartographic profession. On the other 
hand, referring to the principal of the standard IS09000 
“do not give to a user either more or less quality than 
he/she needs”, one can notice an interesting turning-point 
in demands that the society puts upon cartographers. The 
cartographers do not have to try to create the most 
accurate visualisations any more. There are now reasons 
for systematic reduction of data quality for specific users 
(Guptill and Morrison, 1995). 
5. EXAMPLES OF REGARDING OF MAP GRAPHICS 
In the Republic of Croatia the Topographic Map at the 
scale of 1:25 000 is made according to the new, officially 
not yet adopted collection of symbols “Map Key for 
Topographic Map 1:25 000” (Institute for Photogrammetry, 
1998). According to this suggestion they have created 
partly because of catalogue of objects containing new 
chimney 
X 
A 
windmill 
old castle or monastery ruin 
L J 
9 
water tower (originally in blue) 
sender, receiver, antenna 
coniferous tree, lonely and 
noticeable 
* 
buoy 
A 
steep rock, cliff 
Fig. 3. A selection of newly suggested symbols according 
to the proposal of the “Map Key for the Topographic Map 
1:25 000” (Institute for Photogrammetry 98), enlarged 
approximately 8 times. 
For the purpose of making a new, more thorough and 
more complete Croatian collection of map symbols, it is 
necessary to study and examine the existing collections 
more thoroughly as it has been done partly in the work by 
Lovric (1980), Franges et al. (1987), Franges and Lovric 
(1997), Franges and Posloncec-Petric (1998), Franges 
and Mastelic-lvic (1999) and others. The participation of 
other various experts will be very important in it as well: 
linguists, geodesists, topographers, geographers, carto 
graphers, military experts and many others. 
5.1 Test maps 
The production of test maps is always a certain challenge. 
Namely, there is a certain degree of distrust and objection