DESCRIPTION: Maps are both achievements and driving force of human civilization. The history of the development of maps shows that the technical level of map making has always been compatible with the overall technical level of human society. Classical cartographic theories—centered on map projection, symbolization, and generalization—form the foundation for 2D abstract representation of the geographical environment using points, lines, and area symbols.

The abstract expression of 2D map can well describe the geographical environment and convey geographic information. We firmly believe that no matter how advanced the technologies are, the classical cartographic theories will play an irreplaceable role in processing geographic data, mining and refining geographic knowledge, and expressing and transmitting geographic information, and its scientific vitality will be lasting. However, we should also recognize that 2D abstract representations are not the whole story of geovisualization, and in many cases, we may need more concrete expressions for an immersive experience, or more abstract expressions to focus on a theme or aspect. With the development of ITC technology, we actually have more choices for visualizing the geographical environment, 3D geographic models, satellite images, wemaps and map-likes have greatly enriched our toolbox, these new geovisualization methods have gone far beyond the theoretical framework of classical cartography, for example, 3D models do not have a symbology system, and may not undergo projection transformation, while wemaps and map-likes may be very informal, but they are useful, and are sometimes more suitable for needs than deliberated formal maps.

Both 2D maps and new geovisualization methods are the visual expression of the geographical environment and the visual transmission of geographic information, therefore, there should be a logic that can explain the relationship between these different methods, in other words, we need to construct a unified theoretical framework to systematically study geovisualization methods to better serve the processing of geographic information.

Science has shown that the objective world we perceive is only a part of that which actually exists, vision can only perceive the spectrum of visible light, hearing cannot perceive ultrasound and infrasound, but, with the spectrum, we can study the full range of bands and frequencies in a structured way. Based on the same logic, a theoretical framework for geovisualization can be constructed. Geovisualization uses visual methods to express the geographical environment, we can express abstractly, we can also express concretely, from abstract freehand to concrete portraits, a continuum similar to the spectrum could be formed, and any geovisualization method must be located in a certain position in the continuum. This continuum, measured by realism, is the first dimension in which we extend the theoretical framework of cartography, and the application scenarios, application modes, expression styles etc. will constitute other dimensions of the theoretical framework. In this report, we will discuss an extended theoretical framework for cartography, which we will refer to as pan-cartography.