Contents

1.1 To record and store information

 1.2 To analyze locational distributions and spatial patterns

 1.3 To present information and communicate findings

2.1 Cartography is closely related to graphical communication.

 2.2 Maps are symbolic abstractions of reality.

 

3.1 What is the goal of the map?

 3.2 Who will read the map?

 3.3 Where will the map be used?

 3.4 What data are available for the map composition?

 3.5 What resources are available (time and equipment)?

 

4.1 Format of the final product

4.2 Issues of generalization, simplification, and abstraction

 4.3 Basic map elements

 

A. Elements found on virtually all maps:

 

1. distance or scale

 2. direction

 3. legend

 4. sources of information/method of processing

 

B. Elements that are sensitive to context:

 

1. title

 2. projection

 3. cartographer

 4. date of production

 

C. Elements used selectively to assist effective communication:

 

1. neatlines

 2. locator maps

 3. inset maps

 4. index maps

 

4.4 Elements are balanced within the visual hierarchy and frame of the map.

 4.5 Experiment with map layouts.

4.6 There should be a defensible reason for each element placed on a map.

 4.7 Less is more.

 

5.1 The range of visual resources

 

hue, size, shape, value, texture, orientation
5.2 Strategies of symbolization

 

a. nominal data

 

Points Lines Areas
b. ordinal data

 

Points Lines Areas
c. interval data

 d. ratio data

 

Points and areas Lines
 
5.3 Typography and lettering

 

a. content

 b. form

 

5.4 Foreground-background (figure-ground) relationships

 5.5 Highlighting the theme

 

6.1 The importance of issues of statistical generalization

 6.2 Importance to cartography

 

Comparison of maps using different numbers of categories

 Comparison of maps using different ranging methods

 

6.3 Exploring the data and its "shape"

 6.4 Commonly employed ranging methods

 

a. equal steps

 b. quantiles

 c. percentiles

 d. arithmetic progressions

 e. geometric progressions

 f. standard deviation

 g. inverse methods

 

6.5 Symbolizing the category ranges
a. gray scale

 b. pattern or fill

 c. hue

 d. intensity

 

6.6 Statistical annotations may be needed for some complex datasets

 

7.1 Systems vary greatly in their strengths and weaknesses: Be aware of both.

 7.2 Consider availability of needed functions and ease of use.

 7.3 Be aware of the problems of designing for particular output devices.

 7.4 Experimentation and multiple iterations are often required.

 7.5 Never Trust Defaults!

 ___"default" map___ ___same map, better format

 

8.1 Toward the virtual map

 8.2 Animation and other new dimensions

 

 9. Examination and Study Questions

 Comments | Geography Home Page | The Geographer's Craft | The Virtual Department

 Revised 16 Oct 97 RRR