Metacartography of A. Aslanikashvili and Relational Cartography

Abstract

Relational cartography is defined as the coordinated arts, sciences and technologies of making and using relations in cartographic systems and between cartographic systems. It is orthogonal to the paradigms of cartography, which research subject is map. The article describes the influence of A. Aslanikashvili’s metacartography (hereinafter Metacartography) on the main components of relational cartography based on patterns (hereafter Relational Cartography or RelCa) as a science: inquiry domain (research subject), knowledge about the research subject, and methodology for acquisition new knowledge about the research subject. When considering the research subjects, the cases of coincidence of specific spaces of Metacartography and relational spaces and spatial systems of RelCa are described. It is proved that the main influence of Metacartography on knowledge of the RelCa research subject is the cartographic justification of the presence and correctness of epistemological relations in and between cartographic systems (and their originals in actuality). It is shown that the cartographic method of cognition of the Metacartography research subject is the basis of specialized cartographic methods of cognition of RelCa spatial systems. The main differences between Metacartography and RelCa are the need to extend the RelCa research subject caused by the needs of modern cartographic practice. It leads to the extension of knowledge about the research subject, as well as to the corresponding development of methodology for acquisition new knowledge about the RelCa research subject. It has been suggested that coordinating one of the Subject cartographies with RelCa will allow creation of System Cartography. Such System Cartography will finally be a theory of cartography that will allow cartography to emerge from a constant crisis. In addition, practitioners will receive scientific explanations and justification for the necessary tools to deal with new cartographic phenomena.