The first printed isobath map

Detailed sea depth data and hydrological observations for the first printed isobath map were collected by Marsigli in the Gulf of Lion three hundred years ago. This map, an annex to his large and comprehensive volume on the seas, has been considered one of the forerunners of thematic maps. Although the cartographic and oceanographic literature often refers to Marsigli’s map, several authors have misinterpreted the data and information contained in the map. This paper re-examines the map legend and the drawing of the map, compares the first isobath map with a modern map of the area, and finally evaluates Marsigli’s contribution to earth sciences

Cartography courses in Hungary

W artykule przedstawiono nauczanie kartografii na Węgrzech poczynając od lat pięćdziesiątych ubiegłego wieku. Znaczna część artykułu poświęcona jest modernizacji programów studiów w związku z wdrażaniem procesu bolońskiego na Węgrzech od 2002 roku.After the 1990 political reforms, it took several years until Hungary officially signed the Bologna Declaration (1999). The progress was very slow: the implementation of the Bologna principles only started in 2002. The nation-wide introduction of the BA and BSc system began in 2006. The new system is now complete with the start of training at MA and MSc levels in autumn 2009. One of the most important bodies in this process has been the Hungarian Accreditation Commit-tee. This Board consists of university professors and academics and has control over the establishment and introduction of curricula in all higher education institutions in Hungary. As for cartography and geodesy, we had two independent 5-year degree programmes in the pre-Bologna system: Cartography training was available at Eótvós Lorand University, while Surveying and Geoinformatical Engineering training was offered by the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. The College of Surveying and Land Administration in Szekesfehervar offered two 3-year degree programmes. Due to the integration of Hungarian higher education institutions in 2000, which drastically reduced the number of institutions, this college was incorpo-rated as a faculty into the University of West Hungary based in Sopran. These three institutions had worked a lot on establishing and developing their own programmes. However, these individual programmes have lost their independence with the generał implementation of the Bologna process in Hungary. It is only natural that every institution was interested in finding a way to keep as much of their original curricula as only possible. Although about 140 BA and BSc programmes were established at national level, the Bologna system in Hungary did not allow any BSc programme in cartography. However, Eótvós Lorand University established its MSc programme in cartography and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics established an MSc programme related to cartography. Four Hungarian universities agreed on starting a new MSc programme in GIS, but the Hungarian Accreditation Committee refused the approval of their joint proposal. Some BSc and MSc programmes (such as geography and informatics) established specialization in GIS, and this gives us the opportunity of teaching cartography to a larger number of students. There are still other cartography-related MSc programmes waiting for approval by the Hungarian Accreditation Committee. The paper sums up the conclusions of the Bologna process and the visions after the first BSc students have just completed their studies