A new approach to interactive on-line mapping

On-line geographical mapping and the widespread availability of mapping software are revolutionizing the world of cartography: anyone can create maps of anywhere in the world. Typically, however, these tools only allow one to produce, with limited choice, static pictures in which the process undertaken is discarded. I present a new approach to cartography in which maps are defined as the visual representation of a multiparametric (or multidimensional) context. Stich a context can be understood to be the environment in which the map is built; it is defined by the values of the parameters used in the process. This approach to mapping called intensional-allows map developers to keep track of all the choices that are being made, whether visual, structural or socio-historical, and to share these choices with others, in real-time. As a result, electronic maps become much more flexible and versatile, and much more supportive of speculative research. The specific purpose of this thesis is to develop the formal theory for the manipulation of multiple parameters and, from there, to implement an intensional mapping tool with interactive and multilingual capabilities.