The word “cybercartography” is the combination of two terms: (1) “cyber” (derived from Kubernan – to govern in Greek) which, in contemporary usage, is related to cyberspace loosely associated with computer usage; and (2) “cartography” (derived from Khartes - papyrus in Greek) which is associated with the traditional way of mapping. The term “cybercartography” captures the changing nature of maps and mapmaking intrinsically interconnected to the change of medium. Cartography or mapmaking (in Greek chartis = map and graphein = write) is the study and practice of making maps or globes. ...

The term “cybercartography” was coined by D.R.F. Taylor, professor at Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada), in his key note address during the 18th International Cartographic Conference in Stockholm (Sweden). Cybercartography was defined as “The organization, presentation, analysis and communication of spatially referenced information on a wide variety of topics of interest to society in an interactive, dynamic, multisensory format with the use of multimedia and multimodal interfaces” (Taylor 1997). The concept of cybercartography includes seven major elements: (1) multisensory using sight, sound, touch and potentially smell and taste, (2) multimedia and WWW oriented, (3) engaging and understanding the user in new ways, (4) applied to a wide range of topics of interest to society, (5) part of an integrated analytical package which includes open standards and formats, adherence to interoperability standards, that is expandable by a broader community of users and contributors (6) interdisciplinary in nature and (7) involving new partnerships between academia, government, the private sector and civil society. This concept has expanded through different academic publications and is encapsulated within the production of two new innovative products – the Cybercartographic Atlas of Antarctica and a Cybercartographic Atlas of Canada's Trade with the World.

Cybercartography, along with emerging domains such as geovisualization or Internet mapping, characterizes the profound changes of mapmaking. These changes are the result of developments in industry, the open source community, local communities as well as new mapping products created by academics, scientists and artists in myriad disciplines. These changes illustrate the current vitality and the renewal of the world of maps and mapmaking.

See also

Taylor, D.R.F. 1997. “Maps and Mapping in the Information Era.” Proceedings, Vol. 1, Swedish Cartographic Society Keynote address to the 18th ICA Conference, edited by L. Ottoson. Stockholm. 1-10.

Taylor, D.R.F. (ed.) 2005. “Cybercartography: Theory and Practice", Amsterdam: Elsevier Science.