The third dimension on the map of geographical areas – the concept of a tactile map in 3D printing

Jakub Wabiński
ORCID: 0000-0002-9995-1329
Military University of Technology in Warsaw
Faculty of Land Engineering and Geodesy
Poland

Albina Mościcka
ORCID: 0000-0003-4673-3720
Military University of Technology in Warsaw
Faculty of Land Engineering and Geodesy
Poland

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology that would allow to create tactile maps using an incremental manufacturing technique, also called 3D printing. Research works performed in the past concerned the use of incremental techniques to create simple mock-up models that were not cartographic products. The paper presents a procedure for developing a physical tactile map sheet using the FDM 3D printing method, based on open vector data available on the Internet. A methodology of transformation of a flat vector map into a spatial, ready-to-print form, was presented. Conclusions drawn from the implementation of the proposed methodology prove that 3D printing can be successfully used to produce tactile maps. It is a very suitable solution for prototyping and making small batches of cartographic works, which provide useful scientific aids in the education of children and young people. Moreover, the use of 3D printing results in reduction of costs, comparing to techniques applied in the past.

Received 21.07.2017 Accepted 9.10.2017 Published 30.12.2017

Keywords:

tactile map; map for blind people; 3D modelling; 3D printing; education; perception of space

Full Text:

PDF (Polish)

References

Bodnárová, A. 2012: Tyflografické mapy v procesu prostorové orientace (Typhlographic maps in the process of spatial orientation). Unpublished master's thesis. Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Brno, Czech Republic: 105 p. [in Czech].

Braille Authority of North America and the Canadian Braille Authority L’Autorité Canadienne du Braille, 2011: Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics 2010, The Braille Authority of North America. Dostęp 5.10.2017 r. http://www.brailleauthority.org/tg/

Edman P.K., 1992: Tactile Graphics. American Foundation for the Blind, Nowy Jork.

Gual J., Puyunelo M., Lloveras J., 2012: Analysis of Volumetric Tactile Symbols Produced with 3D Printing. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Advances in Computer-Human Interactions, Valencia (Spain), 30.01-4.02.2012: 60-67.

Kondracki J., 2001: Geografia regionalna Polski (Regional geography of Poland). Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

MEN, 2016: Podstawa programowa kształcenia ogólnego – geografia – klasy V-VIII. Ministerstwo Edukacji Narodowej (Curriculum foundations of general education - geography - 5-8 grades. The Ministry of National Education). Warszawa.

Ojala S., Lahtinen R., Hirn H., 2016: Tactile Maps Safety and Usability. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Well-Being in the Information Society, WIS 2016, Tampere, Finland, September 16-18: 15-22.

Olczyk M., 2014: Zasady opracowania map dotykowych dla osób niewidomych i słabo widzących (The rules of developing tactile maps for blind and visually impaired). Polski Przegląd Kartograficzny 46(4): 413-442, Warszawa.

PKN, 2009: PN-EN ISO 216:2009, Papier do pisania i określone grupy druków – Formaty netto – Szereg A i B oraz oznakowania kierunku podłużnego, Katalog Polskich Norm (Writing papers and specified groups of printed matter - net formats - A and B series and marking the longitudinal direction, The catalogue of the Polish Standards). Polski Komitet Normalizacyjny, Warszawa.

Rowell J., Ungar S., 2003: The World of Touch: Results of an International Survey of Tactile Maps and Symbols. The Cartographic Journal 40: 259-263, The British Cartographic Society.

Rozporządzenie MSWiA z dnia 17 listopada 2011 r. w sprawie bazy danych obiektów topograficznych oraz bazy danych ogólnogeograficznych a także standardowych opracowań kartograficznych (The Decree of the Ministry of Interior and Administration on the topographic objects database and the general geographic database and on standard cartographic products). Dz.U. 2011 nr 279 poz. 1642.

Sizeranne M., 1910: Niewidomy o niewidomych (The blind about blind people). Biblioteka Dzieł Wyborowych, Warszawa.

Štampach R., Mulíčková E., 2016: Automated generation of tactile maps. Journal of Maps 12: 532-540.

Wabiński J., 2017: Metodyka opracowania tyflomap z wykorzystaniem druku 3D. Praca magisterska (The methodology of development of maps for blind people using 3D printing; the master's thesis). Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna, Warszawa.

Więckowska E. (red.), 2012: Standardy tworzenia oraz adaptowania map i atlasów dla niewidomych uczniów (Standards of development and adaptation of maps and atlases for blind pupils). Laski.

URL 1: dostęp 18.07. 2017 r. http://www.tyflomapy.pl

URL 2: dostęp 18.07. 2017 r. http://www.eurogeographics.org/products-and-services/euroboundarymap

URL 3: dostęp 18.07. 2017 r. https://www.eea.europa.eu

URL 4: dostęp 18.07. 2017 r. http://dm.pgi.gov.pl/dm/DownloadManager_v1.aspx

URL 5: dostęp 18.07. 2017 r. https://www.rhino3d.com/nurbs

URL 6: dostęp 18.07. 2017 r. Zortrax M200 User Manual, http://www.multistation.com/IMG/pdf/manuel_zortrax_m200_en.pdf

URL 7: dostęp 18.07. 2017 r. http://3dware.ir/en/references/articles/162-everything-about-fdm-technology