Introduction Flashcards
What is a map?
A means of communicating a message
More Complicated:
A map is a symbolized image of geographical reality, representing selected features or characteristics, resulting from the creative effort of its authors execution of choices, and is designed for use when spatial relationships are of primary relevance
What is an authoritative map?
NRCan map etc.
What is a “silence” in a map?
A bias
- can be significantly more important than what is actually represented as selected features are what is shown
- Can be used for propaganda
What is Graphicacy?
Visual/spatial language
- Communicates what cannot be effectively communicated with with words (Literacy/Oracy) or numbers (Numeracy)
- Intellectual skill necessary for effective communication/ understanding of maps
Canada Projections
A whole map of Canada is not accurate with a North Arrow unless using a specific projection
- Often a Mercator projection
Anthropomorphic map
Map shaped to look like people or animals
- Placing ourselves or animals on a map
- Reason: Missing info, low literacy
Cartography
Art & Science of map making
Why use maps and cartographic communication?
- Efficient way of communicating geography & scale
- But it requires Geographic Information Literacy (GIL)
- Make maps for a particular audience
- Art for other people
Geographic Information Literacy (GIL)
Ability to read/understand maps
- This is why we make maps for a particular audience, not ourselves
Maps vs. GIS
- GIS’s excel in processing information but not cartographic representation
- Developments in GIS graphic representation still requires an existing GIS skill set to take advantage of the advancements
- Many people are making maps w/o the education/design capability
- Design software excels in supporting graphic design but can’t handle geoprocessing of a GIS
Another name for a thematic map?
A statistical map
