Objectives  In disaster emergency services, the spatial-temporal distribution maps of geographic entities, thematic information statistical mapping, etc. have become important auxiliary decision-making methods. In the face of unpredictable, complex and changing situations of disaster prevention and reduction, disaster emergency mapping services require rapid response, real-time updates to comprehensively and dynamically reflect the information of all aspects of emergency and disaster reduction work.

  Methods   In order to fully meet the content and efficiency requirements of emergency disaster reduction work, we proposed an adaptive mapping method for disaster emergency services. First, based on the comprehensive analysis of the mapping requirements, map content and operation experience of the disaster emergency scene, we proposed a user-oriented adaptive mapping strategies, and described its specific mapping content in detail, including regional scale, mapping template, dynamic symbol and real-time data. Then, according to the characteristics of the disaster scene and adaptive mapping, the overall technical process was designed. The key technologies such as cartographic knowledge expression, construction of mapping templates, production engine of symbols, situational symbol plotting, order-based mapping mode and personal mapping space were also analyzed in depth to form a complete adaptive mapping solution for disaster emergency.

  Results   We used six types of disasters such as earthquake, fire, flood, building collapse, geological disaster and traffic accident as application examples.

  Conclusions   By analyzing previous excellent disaster maps and summering the mapping variables and the relationship between the variables, we used the proposed adaptive mapping technologies to extract 300 kinds of disaster mapping knowledge rules, 200 sets of disaster mapping templates and 100 kinds of dynamic mapping symbols, and build a disaster emergency adaptive rapid mapping platform to provide technical reference for disaster emergency services from the theoretical and practical levels.