Jan Martin Larsen
Encyclopedia
Jan Martin Larsen is a Norwegian
cartographer
, orienteer
and politician.
He graduated from the Norwegian College of Agriculture in 1963, and in his early career he worked in Fjellanger-Widerøe
and the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment
. From 1986 to 1989 he was the director of mapping in the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority. He was also president of the Norwegian Association for Cartography, Geodesy, Hydrography and Photogrammetry from 1969 to 1975.
He owed his interest for cartography to his background in the orienteering sport. He was a board member of the Norges Orienteringsforbund
(NOF) from 1961 to 1975, and chaired the organization for four years. He was a pioneer in the development of the specialized orienteering map
, including international cooperation. He chaired NOF's first mapping committee, which was established in 1961. This committee published a normative book, which was used as a basis for mapping courses. He was employed by NOF as a specialized consultant on mapping in 1963. The International Orienteering Federation
(IOF) was founded in 1961, and the first international mapping committee was established in 1965, chaired by Larsen, the other members being Ernst Spiess from Switzerland
and Christer Palm from Sweden
. The IOF committee drafted a mapping standard in 1965, which lasted until it was replaced by a new standard in 1975.
Larsen was also a member of Asker
municipal council from 1995 to 2007, representing the local green
party Askers Grønne Venner. He has chaired the local history association, and has written a number of books on local history. In 2002 he was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
cartographer
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
, orienteer
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
and politician.
He graduated from the Norwegian College of Agriculture in 1963, and in his early career he worked in Fjellanger-Widerøe
Widerøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
and the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment
Norwegian Ministry of the Environment
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of the Environment is a Norwegian ministry established in 1972. The ministry is responsible for environmental issues in Norway. It is led by the Minister of the Environment, Erik Solheim...
. From 1986 to 1989 he was the director of mapping in the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority. He was also president of the Norwegian Association for Cartography, Geodesy, Hydrography and Photogrammetry from 1969 to 1975.
He owed his interest for cartography to his background in the orienteering sport. He was a board member of the Norges Orienteringsforbund
Norges Orienteringsforbund
Norges Orienteringsforbund is the national Orienteering Association in Norway. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Norway by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member. The association was founded 1 October 1945, and is a member of the Norwegian...
(NOF) from 1961 to 1975, and chaired the organization for four years. He was a pioneer in the development of the specialized orienteering map
Orienteering map
An orienteering map is a map specially prepared for use in orienteering competitions. It is a topographic map with extra details to help the competitor navigate through the competition area....
, including international cooperation. He chaired NOF's first mapping committee, which was established in 1961. This committee published a normative book, which was used as a basis for mapping courses. He was employed by NOF as a specialized consultant on mapping in 1963. The International Orienteering Federation
International Orienteering Federation
The International Orienteering Federation is the international governing body of the sport of orienteering. The IOF head office is located in Helsinki, Finland....
(IOF) was founded in 1961, and the first international mapping committee was established in 1965, chaired by Larsen, the other members being Ernst Spiess from Switzerland
Swiss Orienteering
Swiss Orienteering is the national Orienteering Association in Switzerland. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Switzerland by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member....
and Christer Palm from Sweden
Svenska Orienteringsförbundet
Svenska Orienteringsförbundet is the national Orienteering Association in Sweden. It is recognized as the orienteering association for Sweden by the International Orienteering Federation, of which it is a member.Svenska Orienteringsförbundet was founded 6 January 1938.-References:...
. The IOF committee drafted a mapping standard in 1965, which lasted until it was replaced by a new standard in 1975.
Larsen was also a member of Asker
Asker
Asker is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Viken traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Asker. The municipality is a suburb of Oslo, the national capital...
municipal council from 1995 to 2007, representing the local green
Green politics
Green politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
party Askers Grønne Venner. He has chaired the local history association, and has written a number of books on local history. In 2002 he was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav.