Influence of natural factors on the accuracy of cartographic visualization of space-time structures of automobile roads of Ukraine

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the influence of the main natural factors, topography, hydrographic conditions, climatic (weather) phenomena and vegetation on the accuracy of cartographic visualization of highways in Ukraine.

Main material. The concept of accuracy of cartographic visualization is considered in a wide range of factors - not only as geometric accuracy of visualization, but also as completeness, timeliness/efficiency and reliability of information. The article presents a comparative analysis of the content and conventional designations of highways in regulatory documents of Europe, the USA, Canada and Ukraine. It was found that the means of representation on maps of different countries are similar to each other, easily identifiable and similar in parameters. At the same time, it was found that not only traditional, but also electronic navigation maps of highways presented by Google Maps and OpenStreetMap services lack information about natural landscapes and their components (relief, hydrographic conditions, vegetation), as well as about weather and climatic conditions that have a direct impact on the accuracy of cartographic visualization. The main parameters that should be taken into account when creating navigation maps and highway maps in Ukraine are mentioned.

Conclusions. Natural factors play a significant role in shaping the spatiotemporal structures of highways and traffic conditions on them. The study allows us to draw the following conclusions: 1. The traditional understanding of map accuracy (as metric accuracy) is narrow for modern navigation needs; 2. Natural factors (relief, hydrography, weather and climatic conditions, vegetation) significantly affect the information content of road maps; 3. To increase the accuracy of maps, it is necessary to integrate digital terrain models into navigation systems and apply high-tech survey methods (for example, LiDAR) to update elevation data; 4. Ukrainian professional institutions should, through cooperation between the State Emergency Service and map developers, develop solutions for reflecting the threat of floods and roadway flooding; 5. Integrating real-world data on hazardous weather conditions and phenomena into maps will increase their value for drivers and can prevent many accidents, as confirmed by both scientific research and the practice of road services abroad; 6. The display of vegetation cover, as one of the hazardous natural factors, is not taken into account on digital maps, and therefore it is necessary to develop methods for its accounting - from adding relevant attributes to databases to using crowdsourced reports about thickets or fallen trees; 7. The lack of regulation of the integration of natural factors into cartographic systems hinders their implementation. A scientifically based standard (guidelines, instructions) is needed that will determine what natural data should be present in electronic road maps and with what frequency they should be updated. Establishing such requirements at the level of State Standards and departmental instructions will ensure a systematic approach and compatibility of data from different services.