Maps & Cartography Flashcards
Define map, cartography, and cartographer.
Map - diagram of an area of land or sea showing relative (or exact) locations of features (e.g., cities, roads, landforms) over a defined extent
Cartography: map-making
Cartographer: map-maker
What is a planimetric map?
What are topographic maps?
How are aerial photographs used as maps?
Why does the earth’s shape present a challenge in map making?
What are datums?
What are geoids?
What are ellipsoids?
Picture how ellipsoids, geoids, and the earth’s surface/shape relate to one another
Explain how Geographic Coordinate System (Lat, Lon) works, including the +/- convention of expressing coordinates
Differentiate between parallels and meridians
Parallels are equidistant from one to the next, while meridians converge at the poles and are farthest apart at the equator.
How do time zones work?
When mapping, how do you choose the best datum to use?
What are map projections and why do we need them?
What are the basic steps to creating a map projection, and what are the projection shapes and aspects that can be used?
Describe the Mercator projection and its pros/cons
Since it is a cylindrical projection, the parallels are mapped to concentric circles around the circumference of the cylindar, and they get farther apart toward the poles. The meridians are mapped to evenly spaced vertical lines on the map.
Describe the Transverse Mercator projection and its pros/cons
- Transverse cylindrical projection
- Parallels mapped to evenly spaced lines along long axis of cylinder
- Meridians mapped to concentric circles around circumference of cylinder, get farther apart as you move E-W of the standard line
Describe the Lambert Conformal Conic projection process and its pros/cons
Describe the state plane coordinate system
What is the Albers Equal Area projection and what’s the main reason you should be aware of it?
Since the USGS and Census Bureau use it, most data you download from the feds will use this projection and wil likely need to be transformed for appropriate use.
How should you go about selecting an appropriate projection for a mapping project?
How are projected coordinate systems identified within a GIS system?
what components should every effective map include?
Explain the purpose and types of directional references on a map
what’s a map scale for and what are 2 types?
what’s the most common method for using graphical scales on a map?
explain the representative fraction scale type and how to use it
how would you determine the representative fraction of a map if it was not provided?
why is it important to provide details about a maps production on the map?
