Computer-assisted map analysis: potential and pitfalls

ABSTRACf: Geographic information systems (GIS) are profoundly changing the ways in which we use maps. The perspectiveof maps as Images of the phySical arrangement of features is being extended to one of mapped data expressing the spatial relationships of complex physical and conceptual systems. Within this context, a mathematical structure for cartographic modeling can be identified. The quantitative treatment of geographic space has analogies in traditional statistics and alg~bra ..Quanhtative approaches to digital map processing are described and potentials and pitfalls of map analySIS are Identified. Digital map analysiS provides a means for evaluation of error introduced by both processing and modeling considerations.