The author analyzed previous development and current state of the art of cartography on the background of latest scientific results coming with improvement of virtual geographic environments. Cartography has been influenced by development of information and communication technologies and geographical thinking. The strongest and most visible contemporary streams in cartography and geographic information systems are the existence and use of Web 2.0, which supports Web-based services for many people all around the world and fast development of crowd-sourcing allowing collection of voluntary information. The author deals with the current position of cartography which is influenced by progressively new environment, especially realization of idea of spatial information infrastructures through projects such as Global Monitoring for Environment and Security, Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe or Shared Environmental Information System, and others. New achievements of ubiquitous cartography, especially adaptive and context mapping are overviewed as well. The article also highlights virtual environments and explains immersive, perception, and interaction aspects. Basics of neo-geography and volunteer geographic information are also described. The core of this article includes analyses, ideas, and considerations of cartographical challenges in virtual geographic environment era. The author delimits the so-called inner and outer development of cartography. The former deals with selective aspects of contemporary cartography development, such as user interface and cartographic generalization streams. The latter deals with development of three-dimensional maps and models in cartography, new and still hypothetical investigations of recognition, and possible use of cognitive styles in cartography. The last part of the article is devoted to the role of cartography in realization of the concepts of spatially enabled society and digital earth.

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the definition of a European perspective on Digital Earth (DE), identify some actions that can contribute to raise the awareness of DE in the European context and thus strengthen the European contribution to the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE). The paper identifies opportunities and synergies with the current policy priorities in Europe (Europe 2020, Innovation Union and Digital Agenda) and highlights a number of key areas to advance the development of DE from a European perspective: (1) integrating scientific research into DE; (2) exploiting the Observation Web with human-centred sensing; and (3) governance, including the establishment of stronger linkages across the European landscape of funding streams and initiatives. The paper is offered also as a contribution to the development of this new vision of DE to be presented at the next International DE Conference in Perth, Australia, in August 2011. The global recognition of this new vision will then reinforce the European component and build a positive feedback loop for the further implementation of DE across the globe.

Population distribution modelling can benefit many different domains, for example, transportation, urban planning, ecology or emergency management. Information about the location and number of people in an affected area is crucial for decision-makers during emergencies and crises. Mobile phone data represents relatively reliable and time accurate information on real-time population distribution, movement and behaviour. In this study, we evaluate the spatio-temporal distribution of population derived from phone data of the selected pilot area (City of Brno, Czech Republic). Analysis is based on the dataset describing the estimated human presence (EHP) with two values – visitors and transiting persons. The temporal change of data is first analysed and further processed using two methodological approaches. First, the dasymetric method is used where the building geometry and technical attributes served as a target layer. Second, the results of building level analysis are transformed into a regular grid zone of both visitors and the general EHP. Resulting spatio-temporal patterns are compared to the census data. Results demonstrate how the proposed building level dasymetric approach can improve the spatial granularity of EHP. Potential use of proposed methodology within selected emergency situations is further discussed.

Land elements have been used as basic landform descriptors in many science disciplines, including soil mapping, vegetation mapping, and landscape ecology. This paper presents a semi-automatic method based on k-means unsupervised classification to analyze geomorphometric features as landform elements in Armenia. First, several data layers were derived from DEM: elevation, slope, profile curvature, plan curvature and flow path length. Then, k-means algorithm has been used for classifying landform elements based on these morphomertic parameters. The classification has seven landform classes. Overall, landform classification is performed in the form of a three-level hierarchical scheme. The resulting map reflects the general topography and landform character of Armenia.