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DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY
GSS284
TOPIC 1
Introduction to Cartography
LESSON OUTCOME
At the end of this topic, student will be able to:
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Understand the Define the map Describe the
definition of communication basic map
cartography process elements and
map layout
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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”.
CONT..
• The organization and communication of geographically related
information in either graphic or digital form. It can include all stages
from data acquisition to presentation and use.
• Cartography is not only profession dealing with the technical aspects
of mapmaking
• CORE of cartography: contents, purpose and use of the final product
• Cartography engaged in manipulation and graphic visualization of
data
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CONT..
• With the advent of digital technology and GIS, the scope of
cartography includes production, usage of maps, organization,
management, analysis and exploitation of cartographic digital
files.
• Cartography is an efficient way of manipulating, analysing and
expressing ideas, forms and relationships that occur in two- and
three-dimensional space.
Nature of Cartography
Forms of Representations
• Early representation – used utterances and drawing known as Knowledge
representation.
• Literacy – written and verbal languages
• Numeracy – is a way symbolizing, and dealing with relationships among
abstraction, sets, numbers and magnitudes.
• Graphicacy – extend from drawing and painting to the construction of plans
and diagrams.
• Maps are the graphical representation of real-world data
• They are the core of the maps to visualize the crucial idea to the user
• The way these data are depicted on a map is known as the data
representation
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Who Is Cartographer?
Person who making maps and applying cartographic
principles in their artwork.
Responsible for map designing and produce map for
map users.
Must have a strong cartographic skills, adequate data,
sufficient instruments and suitable map selection.
Scope of Cartography
Usually collected by 3rd parties:
Ex: geodesist, photogrammetrists, Geographers, statisticians.
DATA Collected by : 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 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.
Person who will derive certain information from map, however those information will
MAP never overlap/coincide with the original information. If the cartographers interpret the
original information incorrectly, then map reader may read out the data in the wrong way
USER which resulting wrong conclusions about phenomenon.
MAP Must study the information before be able to represent the
MAKER information correctly in map format.
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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.
What Is A Map
• A map is representation of the Earth’s features drawn on a flat surface
• Map use color and symbol to represent feature of an area, simplifying
the real world
• Map maker of the map decide which features to include and which
to ignore.
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MAPS – WHAT FOR?
• For what tasks do we use maps?
• What is the role of maps in these tasks?
• What is necessary to answer a question?
Nature of Cartography
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MAPS AS INFORMATION
PRODUCTS
• Three fundamental economic questions:
1.What is produced?
2.How is it produced?
3.For whom is it produced?
• Adapted to cartography:
How do I say what to whom and is it effective?
Nature of Cartography
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THE MARKET FOR MAPS
• About 80% of all decisions are linked to space and
time:
• How do I get from here to the train station?
• How much paint do I need to buy?
• Where should a new airport be built?
• Where does SARS originate?
• Which city has the lowest crime rate?
• ...
Nature of Cartography
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What Is On A Map?
• Cultural features
• Roads, lakes, buildings, rivers, contours, etc.
• Numeric data
• income, population data (census data), etc
• Physical Features
• Geology, landuse, forestry, soils, vegetation, landcover etc.
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Types Of Map :
1. Reference maps
A topographic map is a detailed and accurate graphic
representation of cultural and natural features on the ground. Eg :
Topographic maps (produced from national mapping agencies)
2. Thematic maps
A specific geographic themes. A map designed to
convey information about a single topic or theme
(ex: population census statistics, soil types and climate zones)
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Thematic Map
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Topographic Map
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Function Of Map
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Basic purposes of maps?
i. To reduce the spatial characteristics • To communicate information
of a large area and putting it in through spatial ways
map form to make it observable.
• To store geographical
ii. Carefully designed instrument for information.
Why- we need maps?
recording, • To serve mobility and navigation
- calculating, needs.
- displaying, • For analytical purposes, e.g.
Measuring and computing.
- analysing
• To summarize statistical data to
- understanding the interrelation
of things. assist forecasting and spotting
trends.
iii. To communicate spatial information
(more efficient than linear communication) • To visualize invisible.
iv. Most fundamental function is to • To stimulate spatial thinking.
bring the things into view
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Limitations Of Maps.
• can leads to miscommunications accidentally or on purpose. (Ex:
incorrect use of symbols can convey the wrong message to
users)
• are often created using complex rules, symbology, and
conventions. (it is difficult to understand and interpret by the
untrained viewer )
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MAPPING SCALE VS DATA SOURCES
Mapping Scale Data Sources
a) Data sources from ground survey
b) Recent advancement in remote
Large scale sensing & photogrammetry surpass
( less than 1 : 25 000) existing constraints of these new methods
a) Aerial photograph and remote sensing
technique
Medium scale
(1 : 25 000 < x < 1 : 50 000)
a) Remote sensing technique
b) Additional data includes international
Small scale and worldwide coverage
( more than 1 : 50 000)
* Selection of data sources is actually varies with mapping scale
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LARGE SCALE MAPPING
• Detail mapping
• Require high precision data
• Experienced less
generalization from original
data source
• Method:
a) Details survey
b) DGPS – RTK
c) Photogrammetry
d) LiDAR
• Examples of common large
mapping:
a) Cadastral mapping
b) Topographic mapping
c) Nautical chart
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MEDIUM SCALE MAPPING
• Generalization process is
much deeper in medium
scale mapping
• Method : Remote sensing
& photogrammetry
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SMALL SCALE MAPPING
• Base map information normally cover a huge area
• Data format in pixel
• Mapping reach regional or international level scale
• Method : Remote sensing
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HOW IS SCALE WRITTEN?
• A fraction scale : 1:25,000.
• It is written: “one to twenty-five thousand
scale”.
• It is shown as a graph scale:
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Basic Elements of Maps
Legend Scale
Title Direction /
Indicator
Map
Map body Elements Inset /
Overview map
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Basic Elements of Maps
• Symbols and a legend
• Scale
• Direction (indicated by the north arrow)
• Map grid or coordinate system
• About the map (date created, title, author,
source information)
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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
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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.
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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.
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Map metadata
- Contain many other types of information
includes:
- Map projections,
- Date of creation,
- Data sources
- Authorship.
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Map Layout
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Map Layout
Use of white space
Fill white space with map title,
legend, scale bar, source, projection information,
north arrow
Space map elements with equal white space
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Why Use Symbols On A Map?
• Words alone would clutter the map.
• Symbols can help organise the information.
• Symbols can depict complex ideas or
things.
• The legend or reference explains the
symbols.
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