ESHS/HSS Annual Meeting

The Evolution of Cartography between new technologies and societal impacts: from classical geodesy to Smart City planning

• In Event: Representing the Sky from the Earth and Vice Versa: Gnomonic, Archeoastronomy, Cartography and Geometry

English Abstract

Cartography, defined as the science and art of representing the Earth's surface, has historically constituted one of the major disciplines for the advancement of geographical, military, and economic knowledge. Its evolution has been a millennia-long trajectory of refinement, yet it is only in recent decades that innovations in surveying and representation methodologies have generated a discontinuity in the scientific and technological production of maps and their universal accessibility to citizens. This contribution aims to provide an overview of the historical evolution of cartographic methods, focusing specifically on the transformative impact of contemporary digital and satellite technologies. Furthermore, it highlights how this methodological and technological paradigm shift has translated into a pervasive social transformation of our spatial interaction.
For centuries, cartographic production was an arduous undertaking, based on physical in situ presence and the rigorous application of geometry and geodesy. The introduction of aerial photogrammetry in the early twentieth century provided a initial acceleration, but the final product remained intrinsically static: a map on a paper medium.
The true revolution originated with the large-scale adoption of several interconnected technologies that transcended the limitations of physical measurement and static representation: GPS, GNSS, Advanced Remote Sensing, and the use of active sensors (e.g., Lidar). Moreover, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) transformed the map from a mere drawing into a dynamic spatial database, predominantly utilized within the field of territorial and urban planning. Finally, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has automated the information extraction phase within the workflow by enabling the automatic classification of land use.
The combined effect of these technologies is not confined to the scientific realm but has determined substantial impacts on the social structure: for instance, the use of "democratic" navigators, such as Google Maps, has rendered spatial awareness an omnipresent and indispensable tool for the citizen. Maps are no longer a high-cost product for consultation, but a real-time service that influences daily decisions (routes, traffic, public transport); the integration of real-time GIS data constitutes the foundational support upon which Smart City applications and services are developed.
This pervasive ubiquity of mapping raises new ethical concerns related to privacy (user tracking), information control, and the potential for surveillance, thereby transforming the relationship between the citizen and public and private space.
In conclusion, the transition from classical topographic surveying to AI-enhanced satellite monitoring has defined a new era in the history of science. Contemporary technologies have not only improved efficiency and accuracy but have fundamentally redefined the map's role, transforming it from a static artifact into a dynamic, intelligent, and participatory model of reality.

Author

• Antonio Acierno, University Federico II of Naples