December 2017 Challenge - The DMZ Peace Park

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Hello all,

This will be my first attempt at a non-lite challenge. Wish me luck!

When I read the challenge specs this month, my mind immediately went to the real world for inspiration. Also, having lived in South Korea for a few years, my choice of subject matter just seemed to jump out to me:

Stardate, two-thousand-and-something: North and South Korea have reconciled their political differences and reunited to form one Korea, reestablishing a nation-state that traces it's history back over a thousand years. In the years since 1957, the demarcation line between the two feuding countries has been essentially unoccupied by anything artificial, save for the remnants of military vehicles, land mines, and human-kind's tools of war, which gather rust and decay - specters of a history of hate and fear. But, thanks to this abandonment by people, the DMZ has become what the international community refers to as an "involuntary park:" a vast stretch of land evacuated and forgotten by people, where wildlife slowly regains its hold on the world. In fact, some scientists believe the wild tigers that have been completely eradicated from the Korean peninsula remain here, roaming this mountainous no-man's land. Scientists, media moguls, and governments around the world have advocated for the creation of a wildlife reserve in the event the two opposed states ever set aside their convictions, and now, in my hypothetical future, this environmental mission has been accomplished and the resulting map depicts the DMZ as it is "now," complete with the (very) few sites available for tourist traffic, a reconnecting of select highways and rails, and the park itself.


Despite this map being set in the real world, it is very much a fantasy at this juncture. Having experienced the way North Korea is discussed among South Korean citizens, and of course all the concerning news coverage of these two states, I'm guessing it's likely to remain that way for a while, especially when framed within this challenge's perspective of voluntary coming together. Still, folks can dream.

First WIP forthcoming!

[LordCartoart]

Sounds like an interesting map. I look forward to seeing your first WIP.

[ChickPea]

Cool idea. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

[Diamond]

Great, great idea.

[Daistallia]

I like it!

[Bogie]

If only it could be reality. Cool concept.

[Greg]

Really awesome concept, GWN, looking forwards to the WIP!

Though I think you should rename it to "GWN's DMZ PP 2042" just to stick with the whole initialism thing.

[Wingshaw]

Great idea - if only someone could actually persuade NK and SK to get behind it... Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Wingshaw

[GreatWhiteNorth]

### Latest WIP ###

So here's my initial attack on the basemap. I'm planning on making a landcover-esque map similar to J Edward's Safari Maps (https://www.cartographersguild.com/s...ad.php?t=39081). The DMZ winds through a considerable amount of forest, but also shifts into prairies and wetlands near the Han River Estuary (Western side of the peninsula). I have a few ideas for how to pull it off, mostly relying on a few seamless patterns I've acquired over time, but if anyone has resources, hints, or strategies for how to achieve something similar, I would very much appreciate it. My initial tests weren't as successful as I had hoped.

DMZ Peace Park WIP 1 (Small).jpg

[GreatWhiteNorth]

### Latest WIP ###

With hills and mountains added in. These are simply representative of Korea's mountains, with the general trends captured based on satellite imagery. I couldn't find workable data at the scale necessary for this project, so they are just indications of how rugged the peninsula is.

I think they're a bit harsh and I want to smooth then out while still maintaining the obvious topography.

DMZ Peace Park WIP 2 (small).jpg