Cartography Definition
The research and practice of making maps is cartography. Cartography, integrating science, aesthetics, and methodology, builds on the idea that reality (or an imaginary reality) can be modelled in ways that effectively convey spatial details.
The basic goals of conventional cartography are:
Set the agenda for the map and pick the characteristics of the object that is to be mapped. This is the main focus of map processing. The traits might be physical, like roads or masses of land or might be abstract, like political borders or toponyms.
Reflect the mapped object's terrain on flat media. This is the problem with map projections.
Decrease the sophistication of the features that are to be mapped. There is also the dilemma of generalisation.
To better transmit its vision to its viewer, organise the components of the map. This is the major area of focus with map design.
Cartographic Process
Evaluating the viewer and using a diagram is the first step in mapmaking. It might help in deciding the map scale, the map size and text features that are most essential to show the map colour schemes, as well as what projection is being used. It is necessary to understand this data because it will allow the map to be transparent and simple to comprehend.
The cartographer can start with making the map only after the decisions regarding size, colour, essential characteristics, and projection are identified. Most maps are produced on computers in modern cartography. Through internet sources, cartographers can collect the details they require, upload the information into their mapping software, and modify the functionality to match the necessary requirements.
Types of Maps
There exist three basic types of maps namely, thematic maps, general reference maps, and cartometric maps.
General Reference Maps:
Geographical location details such as highways, rivers, lakes, seas, political borders, cities and mountains are displayed on a general reference map. Such maps can be used for political maps, road maps, some topographic maps, and a basic all-purpose map which can be used anytime and anywhere.
Thematic Maps:
A particular theme and factors relating to a certain theme are represented by thematic maps. A crime map in a district, areas where a disease was already established, population size, the distribution of a species or the extent where a community can live, severe flooding, climate models and more are examples of thematic maps. Thematic maps are also used to examine spatial trends or the results of such studies.
Cartometric Maps:
Cartometric maps are the ones which concentrate on parameters such as area or distance that are unique. Such maps are mostly used for guidance, navigation and are also referred to as charts. Examples of cartometric maps are aeronautical and nautical diagrams. To navigate waterways such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, nautical charts can be used, whereas aeronautical charts enable airlines to navigate safely.
Cartographic Scale
The size of a map determines the area that is depicted by the map. A fraction such as 1:250,000 or 1/150,000,000 typically denotes it. Such fractions mean that in the real world, standard measure on the map is equivalent to 250,000 or 50,000,000 of those same units.
It is beneficial to use ratios to label the scale since they could be used in every measurement device without converting from one system to the other (such as from feet to meters). A map covering a large area is classified in cartography as a small-scale map, whereas a map covering a small area is defined as a large-scale map. This relates to the map's representative fraction.
The 1:250,000 fraction is greater than the 1:50,000,000 fraction, much like 1/2 is greater than 1/4 and 1/3 is greater than 1/6. A simpler way of describing the difference, though, is that the characteristics of a large-scale map (buildings, highways, rivers, etc.) are greater than the characteristics of a small-scale map.
It must be remembered that although there is no standard unit of measurement for the absolute level of a map, like meters, feet, or miles, the scale bar is used as a reference bar for map readers.
Importance of Cartography
Cartography is useful because it encourages spatial visualisation of data. This can display population spatial trends, economic growth, urbanization, as well as more.
Cartography often aids in the preparation and rehabilitation of disasters and allows emergency responders to consider what is going on in the region where they operate.
Cartography is useful because it encourages spatial visualisation of data. This can display population spatial trends, economic growth, urbanization, as well as more.
Cartography often aids in the preparation and rehabilitation of disasters and allows emergency responders to consider what is going on in the region where they operate.
Also, people use maps every day as they drive, locate restaurants, shops, and track their online transactions as they reach, with GPS and maps readily available on mobiles and other devices. The value of cartography is rising and becoming profoundly ingrained in our lives.
Fun Facts about Cartography
Ever since ancient times, lots of people are making maps. Thousands of years ago, cave drawings depicted hunting areas.
Thanks to satellite imagery and GPS today's mapmaking is very accurate because of such factors. However, the earliest maps were constructed using basic methods and mathematical equations.
FAQs on Cartography
1. What exactly is cartography?
Cartography is the art and science of creating maps. It involves the entire process of gathering, processing, and communicating geographical information in a visual form. The main goal is to represent a part of the Earth's surface on a flat medium, like paper or a digital screen, in a way that is accurate, clear, and useful.
2. Who is known as the father of cartography?
The ancient Greek scholar Anaximander is widely regarded as one of the first cartographers. Around 600 B.C., he created one of the earliest maps of the known world. While older maps exist, his work is significant for its attempt to represent the entire world in a systematic way.
3. What are the main types of cartography?
Cartography is generally divided into two main branches:
- General Cartography: This involves making maps for a broad audience. These maps show many different features at once, like road maps, political maps in an atlas, or topographic maps.
- Thematic Cartography: This type focuses on showing the distribution of a specific topic or 'theme'. Examples include maps that illustrate population density, rainfall patterns, or voting results.
4. What does a modern cartographer actually do?
A modern cartographer's work is highly technical. They use advanced tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite imagery, and aerial photography to collect and analyse spatial data. Their job is to design maps that effectively communicate this data, choosing the right colours, symbols, and layout to make complex information easy to understand for navigation, planning, or analysis.
5. Why is 'scale' such a critical concept in making a map?
Scale is crucial because it represents the relationship between a distance on the map and the actual distance on the ground. Without a proper scale, a map is just a sketch with no sense of size or distance. It ensures that all features on the map are proportionally correct, allowing users to make accurate measurements and judgments about the area shown.
6. How is modern digital cartography different from traditional map-making?
The biggest difference is interactivity and data. Traditional maps are static, printed documents. Modern digital cartography creates maps that are dynamic and layered with information. Users can zoom in, search for locations, and view different types of data (like traffic or businesses) on the same map. Tools like GPS and GIS have made modern maps incredibly precise and capable of being updated in real-time.
7. How is cartography used in fields besides just geography?
Cartography is essential in many fields. For example, city planners use maps to design infrastructure, epidemiologists use them to track the spread of diseases, historians use them to understand territorial changes, and businesses use them to analyse customer locations and plan delivery routes. Maps provide a powerful way to visualise and understand patterns in almost any type of data that has a location component.
