cartographicperspectives.org

What It Is

Cartographic Perspectives (CP) is an open-access academic journal focused on cartography and geographic visualization, rather than an online course platform in the strict sense. The site provides current and past issues, article PDFs/HTML, author submission guidelines, editorial team information, and open-access policies. Its sections cover peer-reviewed articles, practical cartography columns, perspectives on cartographic education, book reviews, and sidebar content, making it a useful source of professional readings and research references in educational or course settings.

Core Content and Professional Background

Based on the collected information, CP focuses on “creative and rigorous research in cartography and geographic visualization,” emphasizing original and rigorous scholarship in cartography and geovisualization. Peer-reviewed articles undergo double-blind review, with submissions reviewed by editors, the editorial board, and at least one external reviewer. The editorial team and board members come from universities and organizations such as Oregon State University, University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Zürich, Monash University, Syracuse University, and Esri, indicating a strong academic background. For learners, it is better suited as advanced supplementary material in areas such as map design, Web Mapping, teaching geographic thinking, atlases, and the history of cartography.

Pricing and Open Access

CP uses a platinum open access model, allowing readers immediate free access to its content, while authors do not need to pay article processing charges (APCs). The site states that its production costs are supported by NACIS. The default license is CC-BY-NC-ND, though authors may choose CC-BY if needed. For university instructors, graduate students, and independent researchers, this model reduces both reading and publishing costs.

Pros and Cons

Its advantages include free access, a clear academic review process, a highly focused subject area, and good continuity, with three issues published each year. Peer-reviewed articles with students as first authors are also automatically entered into a student paper competition with a USD 1,350 prize. The drawbacks are also clear: it does not provide course syllabi, video lectures, assignments, certificates, or tutor support, so users need to plan their own learning path. The content is mainly in English, which creates a language barrier for Chinese-speaking learners.

Who It’s For and Access in China

CP is suitable for instructors, researchers, graduate students, and professionals in cartography, GIS, geography education, and map design. It can be used for literature reading, teaching selections, paper submission, and keeping up with research trends in the field. The site is built on an open journal system, and the collected text does not provide information about access from mainland China, so its accessibility in China can only be marked as unknown.