Map browsers – a resource for research on geoenvironmental change

Aivars Markots

University of Latvia

DOI: 10.22364/fg.20.1.2

Keywords: historical maps, aerial photography, map browser, environmental change

Abstract

In Latvia, the availability of geospatial information is growing quite rapidly, thanks to European INSPIRE guidelines and projects initiated by specific organisations, as well as people motivated by a need for useable data or the desire to distribute it to broader circles of society. Professional groups increasingly call on various ministries to improve access to free and openaccess geographical data. There is a considerable amount of valid spatial data in Latvia. So when generating maps, you should rely on anything other than the services supplied by international companies such as Google, Open Street Map, etc. As the university and labour market are aware of this and interested in the development and changes in Latvia's geographical environment, the competence, experience and skills of our specialists, which are currently needed, are also being cultivated, as evidenced by the establishment, licensing and certification of professional university study programmes aimed at the preparation of geoinformatics specialists.