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Atlas of Switzerland 2

Atlas of Switzerland 2

The second version of the digital Atlas of Switzerland (AoS 2) substituted the AoS 1 and was further improved by extending its functionality and adding new thematic data. 650 maps from the new field of Nature and Environment were added; overall, the atlas now comprised about 1 000 map themes. Compared to the first atlas, the second atlas had an entirely new technical implementation. It was available on CD-ROM and later on DVD, and over 7 600 copies were sold in total.
The 2D map section of the AoS 2 provided new map types like choropleths, grids, and diagrams/chart maps. Innovations included the ability to overlay complementary thematic data on any map for comparison, sophisticated statistical analysis tools, inclusion of multimedia information (text, charts, photos, movies), an improved index function, map animations, and storing of map configuration parameters. The legend adapted automatically to the variety of different map types, e.g., a geological map legend could be subdivided into units and sub-units. It allowed users to alter colors, change classifications and mark values or value classes.
The 3D map section also got many functional innovations included new navigation tools, the ability to overlay base map and thematic layers, data querying directly within a perspective view, simulation of atmospheric effects, terrain and thematic profiles, photorealistic terrain representation, changing of lighting and shading parameters, and a number of non-photorealistic visualization options.

: Start page with language selection (German)

: Start page with thematic overview and map selection (French)

: Start page with thematic overview and map selection (English)

: Guided Tours for 2D maps, with explanation of the Atlas functions

: 2D Guided Tour: “Living with nature”

: Guided Tours for 3D maps, with explanation of the Atlas functions

: 3D Guided Tour: “Mountains and valleys”

: 2D Basemap Switzerland: Relief, rivers and lakes, and boundaries

: 2D Basemap Switzerland: Combination of all map layers

: 2D Basemap Switzerland: Map layers in combination with satellite image

: 2D Map type: Univariate charts (squares) with variable size and color

: 2D Map type: Interactive raster map (grid)

: 2D Map type: Interactive grid cells with color transitions

: 3D Map type: Shaded block diagram with satellite image

: 3D Map type: Shaded block diagram with interactive raster map

: 3D Map type: Shaded panorama with satellite image

: Choropleth map in combination with the basemap of Europe

: Navigation in the block diagram: Zooming on and rotating a terrain excerpt

: Index: List of National map sheets

: Index: Display of the chosen National map sheet

: Reference map: Enlarged map for more precise positioning of the viewing point

: GUI: Export of map images

: GUI: Adjustment options

: Second map: Combination of two related map themes

: Time slider: Selection of a point in time (2000) or a time period

: Time slider: Moving a point in time (1970) or a time period

: Administrative units: Communes

: Administrative units: Districts

: Legend: Hierarchical presentation including sub-legend

: Legend: Selecting a class by clicking on a legend’s color box

: Index: Search for basemap (e.g. mountain names) and thematic elements (e.g. chemical sites)

: Comparison: Display of single map values in a bar chart

: Comparison: Localization of single values in the map

: Theme information: Display of explanatory texts relating to the map theme

: Theme information: Display of further multimedia elements (images, sound, videos) relating to the map theme

: Analysis: Controling the class number and limits

: Analysis: Changing map colors

: Theme selection: List of map themes with legend (temperature)

: Interactive legend in the block diagram: Changing class colors and number (temperature)

: Interactive legend in the panorama: Changing the class colors and number (evaporation)

: Interactive legend in the panorama: Displaying the nominal classes and colors (lithology)

: Illumination of the terrain model: Shading direction NE

: Illumination of the terrain model: Shading direction N

: Fog (panorama): Visualization of virtual fog

: Fog (panorama): Determination of the limitations and layer thickness of fog, and its coloring

: Fog (block diagram): Determination of the limitations and layer thickness of fog, and its coloring

: Hypsography: Coloring of the terrain according to the altitude

: Slope: Showing the steepness of the terrain using colored slope classes

: Slope: Highlighting of a single slope class by coloring

: Exposition: Changing the slope orientation classes and their coloring

: Distance: Display of distance (circles), starting from a defined position in the terrain or from the camera

: Visibility: Calculation and display of the terrain sections visible from a vieving point

: Terrain Profile: Drawing and displaying a profile line

: Terrain Profile: Query and exaggaration of a profile line

: Terrain Profile: Combination of a thematic map and a profile

: Climber Tool: Positioning on the highest peak of a mountain

: Viewing point and viewing direction: Definition of a new panoramic view in the terrain model

: Viewing point and viewing direction: Display of the new panoramic view

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