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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
Industrie-Unternehmen
2D Map type: Univariate charts (squares) with variable size and color
Bevölkerungsverteilung
2D Map type: Interactive raster map (grid)

Niederschlag
2D Map type: Interactive grid cells with color transitions
3D Map type: Shaded block diagram with satellite image
Bevölkerungsverteilung
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
Niederschlag (Grid)
Analysis: Controling the class number and limits

Niederschlag
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

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
Industrie-Unternehmen
2D Map type: Univariate charts (squares) with variable size and color
Bevölkerungsverteilung
2D Map type: Interactive raster map (grid)

Niederschlag
2D Map type: Interactive grid cells with color transitions
3D Map type: Shaded block diagram with satellite image
Bevölkerungsverteilung
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
Niederschlag (Grid)
Analysis: Controling the class number and limits

Niederschlag
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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