Origins & Early Life

Waldo Rudolph Tobler (November 16, 1930 – February 20, 2018) was an American-Swiss geographer and cartographer. Tobler is regarded as one of the most influential geographers and cartographers of the late 20th century and early 21st century. He is best known for coining what has come to be referred to as Tobler's first law of geography. He also coined what has come to be referred to as Tobler's second law of geography.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Tobler's career had a major impact on the development of quantitative geography, and his research spanned and influenced the study of any discipline investigating geographic phenomena. He established the discipline of analytical cartography, contributed early to Geographic information systems (GIS), and helped lay the groundwork for geographic information science (GIScience) as a discipline. He had significant contributions to computer cartography and was one of the first geographers to explore using computers in geography. In cartography, he contributed to the literature on map projections, choropleth maps, flow maps, cartograms, and animated mapping. His work with analytical cartography included contributions to the mathematical modeling of geographic phenomena, such...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alfred von Tirpitz — Contemporary (Died in 1930) (1930): Architect of the modern German battle fleet and naval expansionist.
• Alfred Wegener — Contemporary (Died in 1930) (1930): Pioneering geophysicist known for proposing the theory of continental drift.
• Ali al-Sistani — Contemporary (Born in 1930) (1930): Leading Twelver Shia Islamic scholar and Grand Ayatollah of Najaf, Iraq.
• Alan Bean — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): American astronaut, naval officer, and lunar explorer who walked on the Moon.
• Alexander Zakharchenko — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): Pro-Russian separatist leader and head of the Donetsk People's Republic.
• Amos Oz — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): Pioneering Israeli novelist, journalist, and intellectual whose works explored Palestinian life.
• Alan Watts — Shared historical date (11-16 · Died) (1973): Philosopher and lecturer popularizing Eastern thought for the West.
• Carl von Clausewitz — Shared historical date (11-16 · Died) (1831): Prussian military theorist whose work, On War, shaped modern strategic thought.
• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1763): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Ansel Adams — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1902): Iconic photographer and environmentalist celebrated for the American West's landscapes.
• 1930 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1930
• November 16 (11-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 16
• 2018 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2018
• February 20 (02-20) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 20