Cartegraphic Representation

Question 1

What is cartography?

Answer 1

the study, art and practice of making maps.

A representation, to scale and on a flat medium,
of a selection of material or abstract features on
the surface of the Earth.

is a method of modelling reality to communicate
spatial information effectively.

Question 2

What is the cartographic process?

Answer 2

the map making process
Reality > technology > map > user

Question 3

What is a map?

Answer 3

simplified representation of spatial features or spatial
phenomena on the earth’s surface.

communicate spatial information visually and they are a universal medium for communication of geospatial information.

Question 4

What makes a good map?

Answer 4

Designed well and communicates spatial information effectively.

a poor map distorts the communication of spatial information.

Question 5

What is map design?

Answer 5

The process of developing a visual plan to achive a maps purpose.
primary component of cartographic process.

Question 6

What is cartographic representation?

Answer 6

Representation of real life thing using symbols.
Visual variables show the attributes of map sysmbols.

Question 7

What are visual variables?

Answer 7

Size
Texture
Shape
Pattern
Colour/ hue
Value
Chroma

Question 8

What are map symbols used to indicate?

Answer 8

The location of a spatial
feature on a map while visual variables indicate the attributes associated with map symbols.

Question 9

What are the groups of map symbols?

Answer 9

1. Symbols by relationship - intuitively suggest general kinds of data.
2. Symbols by resemblance - look like particular data or concepts.
3. Symbols by convention - symbols “make sense” even tho they dont really make sense.

Question 10

Different types of map symbols accommodate different types of
data:

Answer 10

1. Are your data at points, along lines, or in areas?
2. Are your data qualitative (different types) or quantitative (vary in number)?
3. Do you have individual data values, or are they grouped (aggregated)?

Question 11

What is quanlitative data?

Answer 11

Not associated with numbers (Nominal):
√ house location
√ border or boundary
√ land vs. water
√ animal species
√ plant types
√ political affiliation

Question 12

What is quantitative data?

Answer 12

– Nominal
categories
√ no rank
– Ordinal relative
√ high/medium/low
– Interval measurable no absolute zero
√ temperature (F or C)
– Ratio measurable absolute zero
√ population in countries
√ temperature Kelvin

Question 13

What are maps classified by?

Answer 13

function and symbolization

Question 14

What is a reference map?

Answer 14

General purpose. Serve as base maps, e.g.
topographic maps.

Question 15

What is a thematic map?

Answer 15

Special purpose. Emphasis on single “theme“.
* Qualitative maps — Different types of data, e.g. vegetation types
* Quantitative maps — Ranked data, e.g. population data

• One topic i.e. theme
• On a base map
• Base map gives spatial context
• Scheme for symbolization

Question 16

Map can be split into qualitative and quantitative maps

Answer 16

Quantitative maps consist of:
- Dot
- Choropleth
- Graduated symbol
- Pie Chart
- flow
- Isarithmic

Question 17

What is a base map?

Answer 17

• Provide the underlying geography for creating
  thematic maps
• Outline maps are a type of base map

Question 18

What is a topographic map?

Answer 18

shape and elevation of terrain

Question 19

What is map typography?

Answer 19

is treated as a map symbol
* Has many type variations
* Typography is perhaps the most important map element when legibility is considered
* Used to create pleasing and coherent maps
* sans serif and serif fonts

Question 20

What is font?

Answer 20

• Complete set of all variants of a given typeface
• Type varies in Size & Colour

Question 21

What is type size?

Answer 21

Type Size
* Points - a printer’s measurement of type height
* 72 points to the inch
* Measured from lowest point of the descender (p, q, g, y) to the highest
point of the ascender (t, d, b, f)

Question 22

What is type colour?

Answer 22

• Main color plus variants of shadow, halo, fill pattern
• Rule of Thumb:
• Use bold, bright colors for small letters for maximum contrast
  between letter and its background; avoid using pastel colors for
  lettering

Question 23

What is legibility?

Answer 23

• Check all areas of map

Question 24

What is harmony?

Answer 24

• Limit type choices to one or two typefaces
• San serif on the map & serif for title & legend

Question 25

What is convention?

Answer 25

* Italic for natural features & upright for cultural features

Question 26

What to consider for text placement?

Answer 26

* When considering text placement we must recognize two types of text elements also called labels * Labels are directly associated with feature locations * Labels are names of features but may also represent an attribute value * Placement of other text elements (title, legend, etc.) are related to overall map layout. * Some rules of thumb, * Place name above and to the right of point symbol (if space permits) * Line symbols - label should be parallel to the symbol * Area symbols - label should show extent of the feature * Align labels either with map border or with lines of latitude * Place labels either totally on land or on water * Avoid clutter * Automated * Problems of legibility, overlap, clarity in identification of feature * Must follow cartographic convention * Problems worsen at small scales * ArcGIS offers: * Interactive labelling - one feature at a time * Converting labels to text elements * Dynamic labelling - simultaneously label all features of a given class

Question 27

What are the 3 steps in map design?

Answer 27

1. Visual hierarchy 2. Map Layout (planar organization of visual elements) * Map Size, Orientation Scale, Content * Map elements * Design 3. Map Production

Question 28

What is visual heirarchy?

Answer 28

* Visual hierarchy is created by placing map elements at different visual levels according to importance. * I.e. On a map the name of a city will be larger than that of a town because of its relative importance. * Important features are to be emphasized

Question 29

What is map layout?

Answer 29

* With regards to size, first ask yourself these questions: * What does the end user want or need? * Output limitations: Can you physically produce the desired size? * Are there publishing, framing, or laminating restrictions or limitations? * Will the data be legible or useful at the desired size? * Normally we go for smallest feasible size

Question 30

What are the map elements?

Answer 30

* Title/Subtitle * Legend * Scale Bar * Date * North Arrow * Place Names and Labeling * Map Symbols * Borders and Neatlines * Graticules and Grids * Inset Map * Credit Note * Logo

Question 31

What is the Map title?

Answer 31

* Provides description of spatial feature/phenomena and normally the study area * Important map element * Type size 2-3 X type on map * Subtitle (smaller) for * Longer titles * Complex map subjects

Question 32

Wha is the Legend?

Answer 32

* The objects on a map are represented using symbols. * A symbol is a picture on the map that represents something in the real world. * The Map-key usually show a small picture of each of the symbols used on the map, along with a written description of the meaning of each of these symbols.

Question 33

What is Scale?

Answer 33

1. Ratio scale * 1:50 000 or 1/50 000 2. Verbal scale 1cm equals 50 000 kilometers * Graphic or Bar scale * Visual scales are more intuitive * Visual scale will remain accurate even if scaled

Question 34

Wha is Explanatory text?

Answer 34

* Map content * Broader context * Cartographer’s goals * Interpretation of map patterns * Purpose = Communicate intent

Question 35

What are Sources and credits?

Answer 35

* Each map should include: * Data source(s) * Map maker, and when made * Map projection and coordinate system information

Question 36

What is the North Arrow?

Answer 36

* The North Arrow is a directional Indicator * Avoid large & complex N-Arrows * Include especially for * Maps not oriented north * Map area unfamiliar to intended audience

Question 37

What are graticules and grids?

Answer 37

* Often omitted from thematic map * Include if locational information is crucial to map’s purpose * Treated as background or secondary information * Grids display across the body of the map

Question 37

What are borders and neat lines?

Answer 37

* Borders and Neat-lines - Both optional * Borders can serve to restrain eye movement * Neat-lines are finer lines than borders * drawn inside borders * part of the graticule * used mostly for decoration.

Question 38

What is visual balance?

Answer 38

* After placing the focal element the reader should be directed to the rest of the map elements in an ordered fashion. * Visual balance results from two major factors: weight and direction. * Visual weight depends on size & location. * An object in the upper part of a composition is heavier than one in the lower part. * Objects on the right heavier

Question 39

Soft copy maps ## Footnote Map Production

Answer 39

* exported to Internet * projected * exported to other software * further processed for publishing * Complex topic * Color matching between computer screen and printed map not always exact

Question 40

How can data be displayed? ## Footnote Map production

Answer 40

Data Display * CRT (cathode ray tube) * LCD (liquid crystal display) * RGB color model (red-green-blue)

Question 41

What are the different colour models, and how does it relate to map production?

Answer 41

* HSV color model (hue, value, chroma/saturation) * CMYK color model (cyan, magenta, yellow plus black) * Color printers produce dots of ink in place of pixels on computer screen * Printers translate from RGB (monitor) to CMYK (inks in printer) * No exact translation, so variations in colour will occur– NB print a test page…!