Principles of Cartography GLS362
LECTURE 1 : INTRODUCTION TO CARTOGRAPHY CONTENTS: - Nature of Cartography - short history of Cartography
DEFINITION: What is Cartography?
Cartography - can be defined as an “Art, science and technology of making maps together with their study as scientific documents and works of art”. (International Cartographic Association,1973). Cartography is - “the part of conveying of geospatial information by means of maps”. Cartography is - “the making and study of maps in all their aspects”.
Who is Cartographer? • Person who making maps and applying cartographic
principles in their artwork. - responsible for map designing and for map users. - must have a strong cartographic skills, adequate data, sufficient instruments suitable map selection.
produce map
and
History of Carthography Cartography dates back thousands of years to a time before
paper, but the main visual display principles were developed during the paper era Historically, the origins of many national mapping can be traced to the need for mapping for “geographical campaigns” of infantry warfare, for colonial administration and for defense Until 18th century, most maps are general maps and charts From late 17th century, thematic maps began to appear The growth of modern cartography since19th century related with the inventions of photography and computers Although the military remains a heavy user of mapping, such territorial changes reflects more interplay of economics, political and historical considerations. The time frame over which events took place is also much more rapid – more maps produced as mapping technology expands.
ď‚— The earliest extant world map
ď‚— An map made in Ancient Egypt
is a Babylonian clay tablet from the sixth century B.C., on which Earth is shown as a flat circular disc surrounded by ocean and several mythical islands.
with an estimated date to 3200 B.C. showing the trace of gold workings in Egypt. The map, now in Turin, depicts gold workings around the time of King Seti I (1350-1205 B.C.).
ď‚— The earliest printed map made
in the South Song Dynasty showing east part of China in the modern history.
ď‚— Map of Hecataeus (about 500
B.C.) of ancient Greece by an empirical approach, relying on exploration and travel instead of pure geometry alone
ď‚— Ancient Chinese topographical
ď‚— The earliest paper map made
map (200B.C.) A silk map in the ancient tombs.
in the West Han Dynasty, almost at the same time when the paper itself was invented by Chinese.
ď‚— The world-view of the Roman
Empire (400A.D.) A circular earth disc, set in a surrounding ocean, became the dominant interpretation of the Middle Ages cartographer.
ď‚—
The map constructed in the 15 century from Ptolemy's written directions, descriptions, and reflects geographical knowledge of the known world in the 2nd century A.D.
ď‚— The perceived shape of France
before and after the 1693 survey by Picard and La Hire
Current map applications
Scope of Cartography Data
Map User
Scope Map Maker
Map
Map
Data Usually collected by 3rd parties: geodesist photogrammetrists, Geographers statisticians. Collection of data varies on its purposes: surveying, data input from enquiry / statistics, photo interpretation (photogrammetry) satellite images digitized maps/census data.
Map is a representation or abstraction of geographic reality.
Map can be said to show 3 dimensions (3D) of the phenomena represented which are nature or the value of the objects and their true location.
Map Maker/Cartographer ď‚— have to study this
Map User/Reader ď€
Person who will derive certain information from map, however those information will never overlap/coincide with the original information.
ď€
If the cartographers interpret the original information incorrectly, then map reader may read out the data in the wrong
information before be able to represent the information correctly in map format.
MAP
DEFINITION What is Map?
defined as a;
- representation, - usually on a flat surface, - of a whole part of an area. describe digital or analog (whether in softcopy or hardcopy form) to
shows geographic information using well-established cartographic conventions. Both paper and digital maps have important role in
economics, - environmental - social activities.
-
2 types of Map : 1. Reference maps
ď‚— Eg : Topographic
maps (produced from national mapping agencies)
2. Thematic maps
ď‚— Depict specific
geographic themes (ex: population census statistics, soil types and climate zones)
Basic purposes of maps?
Why we need maps? i.
ii.
To reduce the spatial characteristics of a large area and putting it in map form to make it observable. Carefully designed instrument for - recording, - calculating, - displaying, - analysing understanding the interrelation of things.
iii.
To communicate spatial information (more efficient than linear communication)
To communicate information
through spatial ways To store geographical information. To serve mobility and navigation needs. For analytical purposes, e.g. Measuring and computing. To summarize statistical data to assist forecasting and spotting trends. To visualize invisible. To stimulate spatial thinking.
Limitations of Maps. ď‚— can leads to miscommunications accidentally or on purpose. (Ex: incorrect use of symbols can convey the wrong message to users) ď‚— are often created using complex rules, symbology, and conventions. (it is difficult to understand and interpret by the untrained viewer )
Basic Elements of Maps : Legend
Scale Direction / Indicator
Title
Map body
Map Elements
Inset / Overview map
Map Body The principal focus of the
map Some map consists of
comparative map, hence it needs 2 or more bodies. should filled with
symbology appropriate to its purposes.
Title used to inform the reader
about it contents
Legend item represented on the
map and how they are symbolized.
Scale provides an indications of the
size of objects and distances between them Scale is a ratio of one unit on
the map; represents some multiple value in the ground Types of scale :
1. Numerically, 2. graphically 3. text.
Direction / Indicator can be displayed
either in: Grids (Network or
parallel and perpendicular lines on a map.) Graticules (Network of
longitude and latitude lines on a map to their true location on the earth) Directional
symbols ( north arrow ).
Inset/overview of map May be used to
identify the map and to inform the reader about its content.
Map metadata ď€ Contain many other
types of information includes: -
map projections, date of creation, data sources authorship.