Tactile maps (maps for blind and visually impaired people) play an essential role in education and social adaptation of visually challenged people. The tactile cartography rapidly develops along with the development of science and technology, and various new technical means and materials for printing three-dimensional graphics have appeared recently. The need for cartographic materials for the visually impaired is great, and so there is an urgent need for the approved methodology for tactile maps and 3D models creation, which could be used as a standard to provide educational institutions, municipalities, and other organizations working with visually challenged people with tactile cartographic materials. Recommendations on the use of map symbols and design of tactile maps are given in the article. The recommendations are based on the research carried out on the grounds of Novosibirsk Regional Special Library for the Blind and Visually Impaired and devoted to tactile perception of map symbols by various groups of blind and visually impaired users. The technology of making tactile maps is currently based on processing of images in graphic editors regardless of the geodata storage and processing systems, is labor-consuming and imposes high demands on professional skills of cartographers. The use of geoinformation systems will make it possible to automate the process of creating tactile maps in many respects. The authors’ recommendations can be the basis when developing functional requirements to software that ensures GIS options integration with automated preparation of tactile maps and other special cartographic materials for the blind and visually impaired.

The authors consider the current state of the tactile cartographic products manufacturing making the conclusion on the necessity of improving the existing techniques, as well as formalizing and automating the process of designing and further printing such maps. The authors propose a new methodological approach to creating them based on the integration of geoinformation and additive technologies. A technical solution is presented, within the framework of which a way of converting digital maps into three-dimensional models of tactile maps was developed. It has 4 stages, each one, in turn, consists of sequential operations that enable any user of the geographic information system to obtain the tactile map printed on plastic. The algorithm for conversion of digital cartographic data is implemented based on the geographic information system ArcGIS Pro, however, it is universal and can be applied to any geoinformation system that allows developing and installing the additional software modules for working with the mentioned data. Thus, the authors implemented a formalized approach to transforming digital maps into three-dimensional models of tactile ones.

The article discusses the development of thematic mapping in terms of creating virtual panoramas, as an element of a modern digital thematic map. The features of mapping using virtual panoramas are described, the advantages and disadvantages of this method of displaying geospace are given. Based on the experimental work, the authors propose a general technological scheme for creating a thematic map with elements of a virtual panoramic tour. All technological stages are considered in detail: the creation of a digital cartographic basis, planning of field work, photography, image processing, for-mation of panoramic images, creation of a panoramic tour and its publication. The use of various shooting equipment (smartphone, camera with standard and fisheye lens, specialized camera for pano-ramic shooting) is analyzed in terms of the speed, quality and cost of post-processing images. Frag-ments of virtual tours created in the course of the study are shown.

The article deals with the problems of automating the provision of the educational process of a University. On the example of SSUGT, regularly recurring activities are considered. A number of issues with a high potential for automation were identified, e.g. the processes of documenting the results of the current certification, preparing annotations and work programs for disciplines, forming a competency matrix for the main educational program, and reports on educational work. The features of each of these issues are considered and possible ways to solve them are proposed. For individual processes, an assessment of the reduction in time costs is given in the case of the implementation of the proposed automation steps. The proposed areas of automation are consistent with the Draft of the University Digital Transformation Strategy for 2022-2030 adopted in December 2021.

The article discusses modern approaches to the creation of virtual panoramas and the peculiarities of performing panoramic shooting using equipment of various classes within the framework of a scientific and practical student project. As a part of project-based learning, students used and then analyzed various hardware to create virtual panoramas in terms of the quality of the result, convenience, and speed of work. A generalized technological scheme is presented for creating a panoramic tour; recommendations for the most optimal implementation of individual stages are highlighted. Approbation was carried out on the example of creating a virtual panoramic tour of the memorial complex "Monument of Glory to the Siberian Warriors" and Glory Square (outdoor shooting) and the interiors of a number of organizations. Based on the panoramic images taken by the students, a virtual tour was formed and published in free access in the Internet.