In map production, it is expected that represented features maintain their geometric characteristics in relation to its originals, and it is also expected that the user is able to understand their conveying meaning independently of the visualization scale. Due to space constraints, information represented must be clearly and legibly symbolized. If poor or inadequate symbols are applied to the output features of generalization process, this may result in some undesirable effect on cartographic communication. This work aimed at carrying out experiments on cartographic generalization applied to roads, blocks, parcels, buildings and toponyms for representing at 1:5,000 and 1:10,000 scales, from 1:2,000 maps. The workflow included cartometric evaluation to detect possible geometric problems resultant of scale reduction and further definition of generalization operators. Adopted symbols used for derived maps were defined by means of a practical symbol evaluation experiment. The use of these symbols on generalization derived features proved and reinforced the need for adapting symbols for lower-scale derived products by cartographic generalization, and therefore conducted to results consistent with the concept of cartographic project.
Cartographic Generalization; Urban Maps; Visual Perception
