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Map Projections and Types
Cartography
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The art and science of making maps, including data
compilation, layout, and design.
Also concerned with the interpretation of mapped
patterns.
A stone tablet found in a cave in
Abauntz in the Navarra region of
northern Spain is believed to
contain the earliest known
representation of a landscape.
Maps
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Visual representation of the
earth’s surface or the
phenomenon (any observable
occurrence) that occur on
the earth’s surface.
Map Scale
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The degree to which a map “zooms in” on the area it is
representing.
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Scale tells you what extent the portion of the earth
represented on the map has been reduced from its
original size to fit on the map.
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For example, 1 inch on a map may equal 10 miles in the
real world.
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That scale might be written as 1 inch = 10 miles.
Sometimes, scale is indicated as a fraction.
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“1/10 miles” or “1:10 miles” means 1 inch on the map equals
10 miles in the real world.
THIS IS THE TRICKY PART
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Counterintuitive part of mapping:
“LARGE” OR “SMALL” scale.
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The more “zoomed in” the map is on an area, the larger is its
map scale.
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large-scale map depicts a smaller area
The less “zoomed in” the map is on an area, the smaller is its
scale.
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Small-scale map depicts a larger area
Map
Projections
Earth is
ROUND
!
So?
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Transforming something spherical into something flat
means that the 2-D image will never exactly represent
what is visible in three-dimensions.
Geographers use numerous mathematical equations to
produce map projections.
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All flat maps have some distortion in their representation
of:
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Distance
Shape
Area
Or direction.
Types of Projections
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Equal-area (or equivalent) projections: maps that maintain
area but distort other properties.
Conformal (or orthomorphic) projections: maps that
maintain shape but distort other properties (it is
impossible to have a projection that is both conformal
and equal area).
Azimuthal projections: maps that maintain direction but
distort other properties.
Equidistant projections: maps that maintain distance but
distort other properties.
Mercator Projection
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Cylindrical map projection
Useful for navigation because it maintains accurate
direction
Famous for their distortion in area that makes landmasses
at the poles appear oversized
Mercator Projection
Peters Projection
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Cylindrical map projection
Attempts to retain all the accurate sizes of all the world’s
landmasses
Sometimes used as a political statement- that we should
refocus our attention to the tropics, home to large
landmasses and many of the world’s poorest countries.
Peters Projection
Fuller Projection
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Maintains the accurate size and shape of landmasses
Completely rearranges direction such that the four
cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west) no longer
have any meaning.
Fuller Projection
Robinson Projection
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Attempts to balance several possible projection errors.
Does not maintain completely accurate area, shape,
distance, or direction, but it minimizes errors in each.
Used by National Geographic
Robinson Projection
Azimuthal Projection
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Planar
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Formed when a flat piece of paper is placed on top of the
globe and, as described earlier, a light source projects the
surrounding areas onto the map.
Either the North Pole or South Pole is oriented at the
center of the map which gives the viewer the impression
of looking up or down at the earth.
Azimuthal Projection
Map
Types
Reference Map
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Show locations
of places and
geographic
features.
Thematic Map
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Tell a story about
the degree of an
attribute, the
pattern of its
distribution, or its
movement.
Thematic Map
Contour Maps (Isopleths)
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Isolines- Lines on a map depicting
areas of same or like values.
Contour maps use isolines, or contour
lines, to depict where the same
elevation exists.
The contour interval of a contour
map is the difference in elevation
between successive contour lines.
Contour Maps
Proportional Symbols Map
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The proportional symbol technique uses symbols of
different sizes to represent data associated with different
areas or locations within the map.
Proportional Symbols Map
Proportional
Symbols Map
Dot Map
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A dot may be used to
locate each occurrence of
a phenomenon.
Where appropriate, a dot
may indicate any number
of entities, for example,
one dot for every 100
voters.
Military families in Ohio
Choropleth Map
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Shows statistical data aggregated over predefined regions,
such as counties or states, by coloring or shading these
regions.
For example, countries with higher rates of infant
mortality might appear darker on a choropleth map.
Choropleth Map
Cartogram
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A cartogram is a map in which some thematic mapping
variable is substituted for land area or distance.
The geometry or space of the map is distorted in order
to convey the information of this alternate variable.
Cartogram
Cartogram
Cartogram
GIS map
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A geographic information system (GIS) integrates
hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing,
analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically
referenced information.
GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and
visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships,
patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports,
and charts.
GIS map
Location Chart
Visualizations
Visualizations
Cognitive Map
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Mental map.
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Map drawn from memory.