Cartography may clearly reflect the distribution of landforms and social processes in a given area, and it is linked to a variety of fields. It can provide useful information for relevant research and investigations, allowing people to better comprehend a region's natural and social environments. This issue focuses on cartography, delving into cartography technologies and applications, as well as how cartography may provide important information for historical research. Cartography technology has been regularly updated and modified in tandem with scientific advancements. Geographic information systems and remote sensing are two typical cartographic technologies that can be applied to a variety of sectors, including resource management, as discussed in an article in this issue. Maps can illustrate a region's terrain, social context, and population distribution, as well as give useful information for historical research. An article in this issue delves into boundary demarcation and political rights by examining maps created by the French during the wave of Spanish colonial liberation movements. In addition, this issue addresses urban planning and management, as well as geographic resources. These articles cearly demonstrate the relationship between geographical study and social, historical, and even political research.

Across diverse geographic contexts, the latest advancements in geospatial tools, analysis, and critical perspectives are empowering a wide range of stakeholders to better understand, visualize, and ultimately, transform the landscapes in which they live and work. This latest issue of Journal of Geography and Cartography presents a diverse collection of research exploring the latest advancements and applications of geospatial technologies and mapping techniques across various geographic contexts. The common thread uniting these articles is a focus on leveraging innovative tools and methods to better understand, analyze, and visualize spatial phenomena. The research showcases the multifaceted role of geography and cartography in addressing complex socio-economic, environmental, and political challenges. It demonstrates how cutting-edge geospatial tools and analytical approaches can provide vital insights to support more sustainable and equitable development outcomes.

The judicious application of geological expertise and advanced mapping techniques is essential for the responsible and equitable management of natural resources. The research featured in this latest issue of Journal of Geography and Cartography highlights how the integration of geological science and cutting-edge cartographic capabilities is crucial for the sustainable stewardship of natural resources, both on land and in marine environments. By leveraging this comprehensive, evidence-based knowledge, decision-makers at all levels—from local communities to national governments—can make more informed choices that balance economic priorities, environmental stewardship, and the equitable distribution of natural resource benefits. This is particularly crucial as societies grapple with the complex challenges of sustainable development, climate change, and resource scarcity.

Geospatial data collection and processing technologies are becoming increasingly important. The latest issue of Journal of Geography and Cartography features the diverse role of digital innovations in shaping the theory, methods, and applications of these disciplines. They demonstrate how the rapid evolution of tools and techniques for spatial data capture, analysis, and visualization is enabling geographers and cartographers to gather more detailed, accurate, and comprehensive information than ever before. As geographers and cartographers continue to harness the power of innovative tools and computational techniques, they are poised to generate new insights, improve decision-support capabilities, and drive transformative change across a wide range of geographic contexts.

In essence, the relationship between geography and cartography is fundamental to the study, representation, and management of land use. Researchers provide the conceptual and empirical foundations for understanding the spatial distribution and dynamics of land use, and translate this knowledge into powerful visual tools that support a wide range of decision-making processes related to the built and natural environments. The latest issue includes studies that explore the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and related spatial technologies for assessing, monitoring, and mapping various aspects of land use. These studies underscore the central role that geographic information systems and related spatial technologies play in enhancing our understanding, monitoring, and management of land use and related land-based phenomena.

GIS technology has become an increasingly pervasive and powerful tool across a wide range of geographic and spatial domains. The studies featured in this journal issue showcase the versatility of GIS in supporting a variety of real-world applications and decision-making processes. These diverse studies underscore the transformative potential of GIS as a versatile tool for addressing complex, real-world challenges across multiple geographic and disciplinary domains. By enabling the integration, analysis, and visualization of spatial data, GIS empowers researchers, planners, and decision-makers to gain deeper insights, make more informed choices, and drive positive change in their respective fields of work.

By leveraging advanced geospatial technologies, spatial modeling, and integrated data sources, researchers are able to better understand and predict the occurrence of natural hazards, assess vulnerabilities, and inform decision-making processes to enhance community resilience and disaster preparedness. This issue showcases the use of advanced techniques to tackle real-world problems in areas like wildfire risk assessment, land use change detection, groundwater modeling, and air quality monitoring. These studies highlight the growing importance of integrating geospatial data and innovative analytical methods to gain insights and support decision-making processes across various domains, from natural resource management to urban planning and disaster response.