International Cartographic Association


The International Cartographic Association , is an organization formed of national member organizations, to provide a forum for issues and techniques in cartography and GIScience. ICA was founded on June 9, 1959, in Bern, Switzerland. The first General Assembly was held in Paris in 1961. The mission of the International Cartographic Association is to promote the disciplines and professions of cartography and GIScience in an international context. To achieve these aims, the ICA works with national and international governmental and commercial bodies, and with other international scientific societies.

Presidents

The first president, Eduard Imhof of Switzerland was heavily involved in founding the association.
TermPresidentFrom country
2019-Tim TrainorUSA
2015-2019Menno-Jan KraakNetherlands
2011-2015Georg GartnerAustria
2007-2011William CartwrightAustralia
2003-2007Milan KonecnyCzech Republic
1999-2003Bengt RystedtSweden
1995-1999Michael WoodUnited Kingdom
1987-1995Fraser TaylorCanada
1984-1987Joel MorrisonUSA
1976-1984Ferdinand OrmelingThe Netherlands
1972-1976Arthur H. RobinsonUSA
1968-1972Konstantin SalichtchevUSSR
1964-1968Dennis ThackwellUnited Kingdom
1961-1964Eduard ImhofSwitzerland

Secretaries-General and Treasurers

The Secretary-General and Treasurer is responsible for the administration and the general running of the Association.
TermNameNationality
2019-...Thomas SchulzSwitzerland
2011-2019László ZentaiHungary
2007-2011David FairbairnUnited Kingdom
1999-2007Ferjan OrmelingThe Netherlands
1991-1999Jean-Philippe GrélotFrance
1984-1991Donald T. PearceAustralia
1976-1984Olof W. HedbomSweden
1968-1976Ferdinand OrmelingThe Netherlands
1961-1964Erwin GigasFRG

Executive Committee

On 20 July 2019 member nations elected the new Executive Committee of the ICA for the 2019–2023 term. New ICA president is Tim Trainor.

Commissions

To coordinate international cartographic work Commissions and Working Groups have been established. These are chaired by experts in a specific field of cartography and comprise members from the international Cartography and GIScience community.



ICA allows two types of memberships:
International Cartographic Conferences take place every second year in one of the member countries. At every second conference it hosts the General Assembly of the ICA.

ICC Conferences

ICA Awards

Carl Mannerfelt Gold Medal

The Carl Mannerfelt Gold Medal honours cartographers of outstanding merit who have made significant contributions of an original nature to the field of cartography. It is awarded only on rare occasions. The award is named after the Swedish cartographer, Carl Mannerfelt, who in 1981 won the prize named after him.
;Recipients
NameNationalityYear
Fraser TaylorCanada2013
Ferjan OrmelingThe Netherlands2009
Jack DangermondUnited States of America2007
David RhindUnited Kingdom2005
Ernst SpiessSwitzerland2005
Chen ShupengChina2001
Joel L. MorrisonUnited States of America2001
Jacques BertinFrance1999
Ferdinand J. OrmelingThe Netherlands1987
Carl MannerfeltSweden1981
Arthur H. RobinsonUnited States of America1980
Konstantin A. SalichtchevSoviet Union1980
Eduard ImhofSwitzerland1979–1980

ICA Honorary Fellowship

The ICA Honorary Fellowship is for cartographers of international reputation who have made special contribution to the ICA. It includes a bronze medal.

ICA Map Awards at the International Map Exhibition

At the biennial International Map Exhibitions at the ICC an international jury selects the best entries.

Barbara Petchenik International Children Map Design Competition

This competition is organized every two years at the ICC. In a national round in all participating ICA member countries, the national winners are selected, which are exhibited during the International Cartographic Conference, where the international winners are selected.

Publications

ICA offers a number of publications.
Its official journal is the International Journal of Cartography,
published by Taylor & Francis on behalf of ICA.
It also has three affiliated journals: