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 Definitions I use

Map

Let’s keep it simple.

First off, what’s a map? Simple enough question, right?

 

Whoa, not so fast. I was astonished to learn that some kids in high school and college DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT A MAP IS!

 

So, I’ll get REAL BASIC in answering the question, “What is a map?”

 

Let’s ask Webster – Webster’s New World Dictionary: “a (map is) a representation of all or part of the earth’s surface, showing countries, bodies of water, cities, etc.”

 

That may do it for Webster but it doesn’t do it for me. First, it’s not inclusive enough. I would say a graphic representation. But, of course, scientists who deal with X’s and O’s that they call maps might disagree.

 

Second, Webster’s definition is TOO inclusive. “What’s that?” you say. “Too inclusive?”  Yep. I’m bothered by Webster’s “etc.”.

 

In my book, a map in its simplest form shows land and it (usually) shows water. It MAY show countries. It MAY show cities. It MAY show mountains. It MAY show roads. It MAY even show land forms under the sea.

 

Let’s try a different source: DeLorme, publisher of paper atlases and digital map products. Here’s how DeLorme’s cartographers define MAP:

 

“A map is a graphic representation of the physical features (natural, artificial, or both) of a part or the whole of the Earth’s surface. Using some form of projection, a map transforms data from a three-dimensional object, the spherical Earth, to a two-dimensional plane, usually a paper surface or a computer screen.”

 

I like that last sentence.

 

But, what all those definitions omit (including mine) is the word INFORMATION.

 

To distill all this, I’ll define a map this way:

 

A map is a flat graphic representation of part of the round Earth, differentiating land and water and usually adding physical, political, and man-made features whose purpose is to disseminate information to the user.

 

So, there you have it. That is how this website defines MAP. If you have a different definition, visit my blog and give me yours. No prizes – yet.

 

Cartography

Cartography is the academic’s term for mapmaking. But that’s an oversimplification of a complicated discipline. A cartographer:

 

        Collects geographic information

        Processes geographic information

        Communicates geographic information


For this site’s purposes, the communicating is primarily in print media – books, newspapers, etc. – but can be digitally.

 

May I emphasize this: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION is what a cartographer deals in, almost exclusively.

 

Chart

A chart is a map used for aeronautical and/or navigational purposes. Updated frequently for these purposes, it rarely shows commonly used features as completely or as up to date as other maps do.

 

Geography

The Internet has more than a dozen definitions of geography.


Is it any wonder, then, that a high school or college student would throw up his hands and say, “Aw, shucks. This is just too complicated for me. Why should I bother learning where things are?”

Mention geography and most people think maps. That’s good. They don’t realize that it’s a lot more than maps. That’s bad.

I like the definition of the Assn. of American Geographers:

“Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment.

“There are two main branches of geography: human geography and physical geography.

“Human geography is concerned with the spatial aspects of human existence – how people and their activity are distributed in space, how they use and perceive space, and how they create and sustain the places that make up the earth’s surface. Human geographers work in urban and regional planning, transportation, marketing, real estate, tourism, and international business.

“Physical geographers study patterns of climates, land forms, vegetation, soils, and water. They forecast the weather, manage land and water resources, and analyze and plan for forest, rangelands, and wetlands."

GIS
A GIS (Geographic Information System) is a computerized mapping system using complex database technology to store, manipulate and display various types of map information.

It enables the user to extract and recombine various types of spatial data (for instance, all parks and preserves larger than 100 acres in a county) and perform sophisticated analyses of geographic entities (types of crops or soils, zoning and land use, underground water systems, pipes, etc.).

GIS has become a key tool for government (all levels), business (e.g., MapQuest), recreation, and academic research.

GPS
You hear a lot about GPS these days, but do you know what it means – or how it works?

GPS is an acronym for Global Position System, and it has nothing – absolutely nothing – to do with maps that this website produces.

But, in the interest of educating this site’s visitors, here goes:

Using a constellation of at least 24 Earth-orbiting satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, the Global Navigation Satellite System enables a GPS receiver to determine its location, speed, direction, and time.

Since 1983, when President Ronald Reagan decided to share U.S. knowledge with the world, GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide, and a useful tool for mapmaking, surveying, commerce, and science.

Infographic
STOP. GO. You wouldn’t normally think of these as infographics, but they are. Infographics (information graphics) are all around us – in newspapers and magazines, in road signs and in many other forms of communication.

Truth be told, infographics are what got me into this business of maps. But that’s another story (See About Me).

So what are infographics? Very simply, they are graphics that communicate information. Most often, but not always, a map is a central part of an infographic.

You’ll find infographics most often in newspapers and news magazines, but also frequently in books. The most famous book using infographics that I’m aware of is David Macaulay’s The Way Things Work – a beautiful piece of communicating.

That’s what infographics are all about: communicating.

Not only are they used to illustrate news events, such as the weather or to show how a major catastrophe happened. They’re also used in children’s books and scientific literature to explain complex concepts in graphic form.

My infographic heroes are (in chronological order): Ludwig Cinatl (d. 1998), 1950s-60s, Milwaukee Journal; Frank Peters, 1960-70s, St. Petersburg Times; Megan Jaegerman, 1990s, New York Times. But not to be ignored are these true infographic artists: Peter Sullivan (d. 1996), The Sunday Times; and Nigel Holmes, 1980s, Time magazine. Edward Tufte has written several books on infographics.

Legend
Most maps have a legend, or a key, that shows and explains symbols used on the map. But not all. Not all maps need a legend. Whether a legend is needed on a map depends on these factors:

        The complexity (detail) of the map.
        The number of symbols used on the map.
        The expected level of comprehension of the targeted audience.

Most maps for books do not need legends.

Projection
Mercator probably is the best known of the many map projections.

Why so many?

Through the centuries, mapmakers have struggled with the question: “How do I depict the round Earth on a flat piece of paper?”

Few, if any, have succeeded. However hard they tried, each of their projections had some fault. Even Mercator’s. His projection accurately depicts shapes; but not sizes. Which is why Greenland is so big in his projection. But Mercator’s is the most familiar.

Know what? In 99 out of 100 books, the map projection means diddly squat. Because: IT’S NOT IMPORTANT FOR IMPARTING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION IN MOST BOOKS.

Scale
Most map users want to know the scale of the map. The scale is the ratio of a unit on the map to the equivalent distance on the ground.

It usually is shown as a graphical bar scale. Most often, it’s expressed in miles, sometimes in yards, sometimes in feet. Outside the U.S. (and sometimes inside), you’ll also see a scale in kilometers, usually compared with miles.

Scale is unimportant on many maps in books – but VERY important in others (See my Samples: Battle of the Bulge maps.).

Surveying
Surveying has nothing to do with the maps produced on this website, but I thought you’d like to know what it’s all about. (This won’t be easy.)

Let’s start with this:

Surveyors use geography, engineering, algebra, calculus, geometry, trigonometry, physics, and law to do what they do.

Does that give you a clue as to why this won’t be easy?

Does that give you a clue as to why a cartographer won’t often burrow into a surveyor’s den?

Hey, I won’t give you a lot of detail (because I don’t think you need it) on how they do it.

But I will tell you WHAT a surveyor does. And from that you can draw your own conclusion.

Engineering, especially civil engineering, depends heavily on surveyors. They are involved whenever there are roads (think maps), dams, retaining walls, bridges, or residential areas (think maps) to be built.

Surveyors determine the boundaries of private property (think maps) and the boundaries of political subdivisions (think maps). They also feed data to GIS (think maps).

You don’t really want to know more, do you?

Unless your market is surveyors, you really don’t.

As a cartographer would say, “Whew!”