Nature of Cartography Michael A Mc Adams Geography

Nature of Cartography Michael A. Mc. Adams Geography Dept. Fatih University Istanbul, Turkey

What are we trying to do when we study Cartography? n Discover spatial reality? n Meaning of spatial relationships? n Where things are absolutely located, measured and how find directions? n Make pretty maps? n I really do not know?

Maps Represent the World Contested meanings ~ maps are texts to be “decoded” Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it’s essential. To portray meaningful relationships for a complex, three-dimensional world on a flat sheet of paper or a video screen, a map must distort reality. Mark Monmonier How to Lie with Maps (1996) All maps, in one sense are lies since they involve a massive partial (mis)representation of the solid world on a smaller object…. Maps do show us the lie of the land, in the multiple sense of the word “lie. ” John Rennie Short The World through Maps: A History of Cartography (2003) http: //www. accd. edu/sac/lrc/librns/celita/keller. ppt

Decoding Maps Key terms n Projection – the formal representation of the round world on a flat surface n n Scale – maps compress, “scale” is the measure of compression Orientation – the “directionality” of a map Symbols – make visible the features, places, and other locational information represented on the map. http: //www. accd. edu/sac/lrc/librns/celita/keller. ppt

Projection http: //www. accd. edu/sac/lrc/librns/celita/keller. ppt

Maps as Spatial Imagery Map - the graphic representation of the geographical setting. n Cartography is the making and study of maps in all their aspects. n Cartography is an efficient way of manipulating, analysing and expressing ideas, forms and relationships that occur in two- and three-dimensional space. n http: //geog. hkbu. edu. hk/geog 1150/Lect 01_files/frame. htm n

Characteristics of Maps Locations in two-dimensional space n Attributes - qualities or magnitudes n – Examples: – Relationships among locations, e. g. Distance – Relationships among various attributes at one location, e. g. Temperature, rainfall and soil – Relationships among the locations of the attributes of a given distribution, e. g. Rainfall – Relationships among the locations of derived or combined attributes of given distributions, e. g. Relation of GDP and population http: //geog. hkbu. edu. hk/geog 1150/Lect-01_files/frame. htm

More Characteristics of Maps – All geographical maps are reductions. n Scale. – All maps involve geometrical transformations. Map projection. n All maps are abstractions of reality. n – All maps use signs to stand for elements of reality. – Symbolism. http: //geog. hkbu. edu. hk/geog 1150/Lect 01_files/frame. htm

Catagories of Maps Classed by scale Small-scale map Large-scale map n Classed by function General reference maps Thematic maps Charts n Classed by subject matter n

Processes in Cartography n Collecting and selecting the data for mapping n Manipulating and generalising the data, designing and constructing the map n Reading or view the map n Responding to or interpreting the information

Map Effectiveness Simplification Selection Symbolisation Map Making Classification Map Effectiveness Exaggeration Analysis Map Use Reading http: //geog. hkbu. edu. hk/geog 1150/Lect-01_files/frame. htm Interpretation

Geographic Information Transformation Census Ground survey Remote sensing Compilation Geographical Environment Selection Classification Simplification Exaggeration Symbolisation Recognised Geographical Information Transform 1 Transform 2 Reading Analysis Interpretation Map MAP Image Transform 3 http: //geog. hkbu. edu. hk/geog 1150/Lect-01_files/frame. htm

The Scope of Cartography Map Maker Data Map User

Emphasis on Cartographic Representation n The principal task of cartography is to communicate environmental information. n The emphasis on cartographic representation is map effectiveness in thought and communication. n This is best achieved by treating the making and using of maps equally.

Spatial and Non-Spatial Disciplines Intergration Cartography

Conclusion n Cartography is a complex discipline that has a rich and varied history n It is intergrated part of geography n The root and the guidance for all spatial technologies n Is and art involving design and also a science due to representation of the earth (or another planet) visual and non-visual attributes