CARTOGRAPHY

Rules for mapping

Types of Maps
Political Maps
Maps that have boundaries on them (I.e., countries, provinces, cities) Political boundaries are not natural, they are human-created.

Physical Maps
Maps that show the Earths natural, physical features (I.e., mountains, rivers, etc.)

An example of a physical map

An example of a political map

Rule #1: Title

Always add a detailed title to all maps. For example, the title Canada is not specific enough for a map of Canada. A political map of Canada is much more specific.

Rule #2: Legend

A legend is a useful tool to help understand the features of a map.

Rule #3: Scale

The scale of a map helps us understand the actual size of the places represented on the map. A scale is very important because otherwise you would not know how far certain areas are. Looking at a map, I may think that South America is very close, when in reality is far away.

Scale
Scale shows the relationship between the distance on a map and the actual distance on the Earths surface Direct Statement Scale uses words to describe what a distance on a map represents in the real world 1 cm = 10 kilometres Linear Scale uses a special ruler on a map to show what a distance on a map represents in the real world 0 km 400 km Representative Fraction Scale is a ratio where one unit on a map represents a specific number of the same unit in the real world 1:50 000 (1 cm on the map represents 50 000 cm in the real world)

Scale
Area Large Scale Maps Small Scale Maps Small Detail A lot (streets, schools, railways, ) A little (borders, lakes, large rivers, ) Example Topographic maps, road maps, city bus maps Globes, world maps, atlases

Large

Scale Mapping Our Location

Central Peel Area

Scale Mapping Our Location

City of Brampton Map

Scale Mapping Our Location

Southern Ontario Map

Scale Mapping Our Location

Ontario Map

Scale Mapping Our Location

Canada Map

Scale Mapping Our Location

World Map

Rule #4: Compass

A compass is a way of finding direction The four cardinal points are N, E, S, W The twelve ordinal points are NE, SE, SW, NW, NNE, ENE, ESE, SSE, SSW, WSW, WNW, NNW The points all have corresponding degrees of a circle (0 360)

Rule #5: Name & Date

All maps should have the name of the person who created them. All maps should also have the date the map was created. This is because maps are constantly changing. If we dont know when the map is from, it may not be applicable anymore.

Why should we always include the date?

Rule #6: Colour

Water bodies must always be coloured blue. Never colour land blue

Rule #7: Labeling

Map labels should always be printed, not in hand-writing. Never label vertically (up & down), always label horizontally. Water bodies should always be labeled in italics. When labeling larger features, always label them in UPPER CASE letters. When labeling smaller features, use lower case letters.

U.S Americans Don't Have Maps?

Types of Maps
General Purpose Maps A map drawn to scale using symbols and colours to indicate major roads for transportation purposes Often includes parks, hospitals, and tourist attractions Can be both small scale (a country map) and large scale (a city map)

Types of Maps
General Purpose Map of the Golden Horseshoe (Niagara Falls to Clarington)

Types of Maps
Topographic Maps
A map that indicates scale, using symbols and colours for both natural and human features on the Earths surface Shows the Earths surface in great detail (large scale) Depicts the height of land features (topography) Often shows roads, settlements, vegetation cover, power lines, etc.

Types of Maps
Topographic Map of Blue Mountain (Collingwood)

Types of Maps
Thematic Maps
A map that reveals the geographic patterns of statistical data Are designed to display distributions over the Earths surface Usually focuses on one theme or topic (e.g., population distribution)

Types of Maps
Thematic map showing electricity generating stations in Canada

Types of Maps
Digital Maps
Computer programs Handheld devices Online

Types of Maps
Google Maps is an example of an online map.

www.maps.google.com

Types of Maps
Google Earth is an example of a computer program using digital maps.

www.earth.google.com

Bias in Maps
The Earth is a three-dimensional sphere (hopefully this is not news to you) and a map is flat (two-dimensional), so it is impossible to produce a map which combines the true shape, bearing, and distance. ALL map projections misrepresent the surface of the Earth is some way. There are errors in distance and distortions in shapes.

Bias in Maps
Cartographers try to preserve four things on a map. Shape an areas shape is directly related to the actual shape in the real world Area an areas size is proportional to its actual size in the real world Direction the lines of constant direction remain constant anywhere on a map Distance distance measured on a map is accurate

Bias in Maps
A knowledgeable map reader, recognizing that a map is both a simplification and a distortion of reality, will look for clues to the cartographers purposes and biases.

Bias in Maps
Mercator Projection Used for navigation since 1569, is most common Compass direction along a straight line between 2 points on the map are accurate Distortion in shape & size of regions (north is larger, tropics are smaller) Polar regions are larger, equatorial regions are smaller Still used by ships & pilots, in many atlases for school use

Bias in Maps
Robinson Projection In use from 1988 - 1998 by National Geographic Minimizes the distortion of size & shape of most regions Badly compresses & distorts the shape of countries in polar region

Bias in Maps
Winkel Tripel Projection Created by Oswald Winkel in 1921 Prime Meridian & Equator are straight lines while all other parallels & meridians are curved
Adopted by National Geographic in 1998, replacing Robinson as it better represents the size & shape of Earth features, especially in the polar regions

Bias in Maps
Gall Projection Used in many textbooks Shows area-accurate view of the world (except at poles) Land mass size accurate, shape distorted

Is this map upside down, or is that merely a Northern Hemisphere perspective?

Bias in Maps
Which one is reality?

Bias in Maps
Which one is reality?

Bias in Maps
Which one is reality?

Bias in Maps
Which one is reality?

Bias in Maps
Which one is reality?

Bias in Maps
Which one is reality?

Bias in Maps
Which one is reality?

Bias in Maps
The only one that comes close to reality is a globe!

Assignment #1
Complete the map of Canada using your mapping rules. This map will be collected and marked.