Cartography

What is Cartography?

Cartography is the manufacture of maps in printed and Digital media, with creation of projections, design, collection, drafting, and reproduction. It is the art, technique or science of making maps/charts.

The International Cartographic Association (ICA) defines cartography;

      ‘cartography as “the discipline dealing with the conception, production, dissemination and study of maps”.

Cartographic process is concerned with
•      Data manipulation,
•      Data capture,
•      Image processing
•      Visual display
 Basic cartography covers two data components, location data (mathematically) and attribution data (Spatial characteristics of the location).

What is a Map?

A map is a representation of whole or part of an area of real world on a flat surface. A map is a mode of communication. Language has words to communicate; maps have lines, symbols, colours, letters and digits as means to communicate. The map maker uses these elements in communicating with the map user. It is a way of representing on a two-dimensional surface model of reality and it included;

Graphical representation of the earth surface     Information system     Mode of Communication     Symbolized image of geographic reality     Graphic representation or scale

The International Cartographic Association (ICA) defines Map

;…”a representation, to scale and on a flat medium, of a selection of material or abstract features on the surface of the Earth…” 

What is map making?

Map making is the combination of scientific and imaginative elements. Map making is not just placing of the North arrow, legend, scale or how to combine colours. The traditional analog map making method replace by digital system. When making a map, it is required to select real world features and its classifications. Map should be simplified as much as possible, when we draw complex lines like rivers.   

What is digital cartography?

Cartographic representations of computer assisted mapping systems which replace existing traditional methodologies. It may appear in printed form or as dynamic images generated on a computer display screen. Principally the computer was used to automate the existing mapping system such as calculation of map projections, plotting of the grid. In digital system came to realize that calculations were possible with digitized data so that distances, areas, volumes etc. could be calculated using computers.

 Different between manual and digital maps.

Manual Maps

-          It takes more time to produce.
-          Required some essential tools.
-          It is difficult to calculate distance, area and volumes.
-          Difficult to product different maps types.
-          It is very difficult to update or re product.
-          More space required to store.
 

Digital maps

-          Easy to produce
-           It produce only computers
-          Printed form or as dynamic images.
-          Computer assisted mapping system.
-          Easy to calculate distances, area, volumes.
-          Easy to analyses the ground.

What is a good map?

-          Exact data and up to date.
-          Only the relevant information.
-          Uses proper symbolization.
-          Clear and readable.
-          Communicates its message.
-          Designed for the purpose required

Elements of a Map

-          Scale
-          Legend
-          Title
-           North arrow
-          Location information
-          Date of Publication
-          Source of information

Map Scale

Scale of a map is the ratio between distances on the map and corresponding distances in the real world. There are three methods in giving a scale.

-          Statement of Scale
-          Representative Fraction (R.F.)
-          Linear Scale (Graphic or Bar Scale)

Cartography Symbology

Symbologies represent the real world objectives. The quality of a map's design is its reader's ability. Cartographic Symbology has been developed in an effort to represent the world accurately and effectively convey information to the map reader.

Symbol design

There are two types of basic symbol designs in map producing, pictorial map symbols and abstract map symbols.