Geoecological Maps Quality Assurance at the Stages of Creation and Use

Abstract

A geoecological maps quality assurance scheme during the map life cycle has been developed. The main methodological tools of research are conceptual modeling and the method of expert assessments. The work traces approaches to the formation of map quality concepts and their evaluation: utilitarianism, consequentialism, welfareism, the principle of ecological value. The importance of ensuring the quality of geoecological maps at all stages of the product's life cycle has been given. The main methodological technique is the developed algorithmic model. The approaches, algorithm and groups of criteria for the quality of geoecological maps researching are defined: the internal quality of map data (from the producer's point of view), indicators of the external quality of maps (from the consumer's point of view), in particular technological, consumer criteria, scientific and social value of maps. In the course of experimental studies, a methodology for evaluating a number of consumer characteristics of geoecological maps was proposed. The expert analysis of the factors affecting the assessment of maps quality has been conducted. The hierarchy of the factor importance is built in the following sequence: effective color use, sufficient contrast of the image, composition (size and placement of map elements), text on a map. The work formulates features of ensuring the quality of geoecological maps during their creation and increasing the efficiency of their use. Prospects for the further assurance development lie in the deepening of the integral theory of the assessment of the quality of maps focused on the application of a propositional scheme for the assessment of various groups of maps.