Cartography is the art and science of making maps. It has been a developing human skill for more than 4,000 years. Over this time, a range of techniques have evolved to ensure clarity of communication while maximizing the useful map content. To create modern, high-quality cartography requires the use of appropriate technology—efficient processes that amplify our human creative and expressive skills in order to communicate the essential spatial message. Many of these applications require the presentation of geographic data as a published map.

In addition, GIS and cartography are moving into the world of enterprise information technology to take advantage of commodity facilities for backup, data replication, and data management.

Many organizations involved in production cartography worldwide use Esri software. The list includes national and regional mapping agencies (both civilian and military) and commercial providers. Examples include the U.S. Geological Survey, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Ordnance Survey in Great Britain, Rand McNally, National Geographic Society, and Automobile Club of America.

At the heart of Esri's cartographic solution is the geodatabase, providing a logical, structured framework to hold the data for cartographic production, and the rules for its consistent presentation. Esri also provides the ideal tools and environment for the production cartographer.

For more information, visit www.esri.com/cartography.