Collaborative Cart

Working with others on cartographic projects is a great way to get things done quickly and efficiently. Data collection and map design can be enormous tasks on their own, so having others there to share the workload can make a project run much more smoothly. More importantly, collaborative cartography makes for a more aesthetically pleasing and organized map. Two sets of eyes are better than one, just as three sets are better than two. Every person sees and understands things differently. This being the case, map editing is improved with input from varying perspectives. Collaboration requires compromise, and because the ultimate goal is pleasing the map viewer, the final product will not doubt be the best solution to the public’s needs.

Mapping Nevada

There are countless ways to map the state of Nevada, so to narrow down my discussion, I performed a google image search for “Nevada Maps” to see what popped up first. Surprisingly, the first map to appear was a USGS map documenting major volcanic areas in Nevada. Who knew!?! The map doesn’t articulate what “major volcanic activity” is, so for all we know they are volcanoes that quit erupting eons ago.

Highway maps are the most common form of cartography the average person will encounter, so not surprisingly, most of the maps that appeared were road and highway maps. This is important because cartography is a form of discourse that shapes our perceptions of the world. More importantly, cartographic representations of the world are taken at face value for their credibility, meaning people trust maps no matter the content. Road maps, then, define how the average person mentally maps the world. Highway maps are one dimensional and lack specific imagery. They define the world in terms of transportation and rest stops, making the world seem very plain and very impersonal. The world is nothing more than a means to a destination. It ignores sense of place and other defining attributes of geographic spaces.

Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds are animated recreations of the physical world and its functions. At first thought, a virtual world may seem silly or useless, but virtual worlds have a multitude of purposes, ranging from education to recreation.

For example, many teachers use virtual worlds in the classroom to bring their students in closer contact with places and spaces. While a virtual world is not a perfect representation, it beats a one dimensional photo in a text book! Some teachers create virtual worlds for their classes, allowing students to interact in an alternate educational universe. Students may practice skills in an interactive web-based community.

In terms of recreation, virtual worlds are used in a number of video games (many multiplayer), including The Sims, World of Warcraft, Second Life, and Guild Wars. These games are enjoyed by people of all ages and provide people with a different sense of place and space. For instance, the Sims removes the player from his or her physical surroundings to control an artificial reality. Because virtual worlds are three dimensional, they are incredibly life like. In addition to video games, some virtual worlds are used by everyday people to document experiences. For instance, the blog below provides a virtual world tour of bars he visited in the UK. In this case, the virtual world is an opportunity for the blogger to provide the public with more detailed information about a particular place.

http://barblog.lastminuteliving.com/my_weblog/virtual_bars/index.html

Very Spatial Games

Spatial games are modern forms of cartography with unique benefits. Spatial games can be designed for any age group, but they all have one attribute in common: learning. Spatial games are a great way to learn where states, countries, and other geographic features are located, but they are also a wonderful way for children and young adults to develop their spatial cognizance. At any age, it is important to know where important landmarks and other places are located. Knowing this information sheds context on the world and provides for an enriched understanding of other places and cultures. Spatial games are a fun way to learn and remember locations.

Spatial cognizance is also important. Our world is growing day by day, becoming more interconnected. This being the case, it is important to grasp direction and sense of place in this ever changing world. It may not be the same a few years from now, making the ability to spatially readjust ever more important.

Below is a great spatial game for young kids:
http://www.meddybemps.com/9.600.html

Political Maps

Maps are incredibly useful tools for conveying information about a particular place or region. Complicated ideas can be reduced to generalized imagery, making difficult ideas easier for the average person to grasp. This, of course, is not without disadvantage. Maps are often employed for political ends, which in and of itself is not a bad thing. The problem is that politically charged maps are created with a clear purpose and intended message. Political maps can be used to define a particular issue or persuade the public towards a certain position. Maps are ideal for political use, because they are credible and easy to understand. By this, I mean maps are considered a legitimate source of information. Below is an example of a map with a political purpose.

This map was created by an individual interested in tracking terrorist activity. The subject matter of this map is political by itself, but clearly, the mapmaker has a political message in mind. Note the symbolization. The author is tracking Al-Qaeda and the “Axis of Evil.” This is significant, because the author singles out a terrorist organization that has history with the United States and uses George W. Bush’s threat-constructing nickname for a host of countries he considers enemies of the United States. Clearly, this map is ethnocentric in content and made in support of the “War on Terror.”

Political maps can be useful and legitimate sources of information, but it is important to be wary of politically motivated maps.

Mapping Technology

Mapping technology is a broad topic area for discussion, because it encompasses a variety of tools and software programs. For the lay map user, the first thing that comes to mind might be virtual mapping resources, like Mapquest or Google Earth. For the cartographer, other technology comes to mind. Most notably: GIS, Map Viewer, Illustrator, and mapping tools, like GPS. Rather than speaking to the merits or weaknesses of any particular type of mapping technology, I’d like to comment on what technology means for cartography. First, the growing use and development of technology for cartographic design indicates a dramatic change in how our world is portrayed. Mapmaking began with the most primitive tools and designs. There was little standardization, and accuracy was wanting. As time has progressed, cartographers have developed tools to standardize and improve accuracy. Pen and paper is certainly a thing of the past. Today, almost anyone is capable of creating a map. Mapmaking technology has simplified the cartographic process. Mapmaking technology has also improved the accessiblity and utility of maps. Maps are everywhere; classrooms, stores, the internet. Not only are maps everywhere, thanks to technology, they are interactive. Modern mapmaking technology allows the mapmaker to make maps more informative and more useful to the average user.


The interactive map above is a great example of mapping technology’s utility. The map above tracks a bike rider’s path around the Iberian Peninsula. The mapviewer can click on different points in order to learn more about that location.

3D Cartography

3D Cartography is a developing area of cartographic design that has entered the mainstream through popular software programs, like Google Earth. 3D Cartography has unique benefits that cannot be replicated via traditional cartographic design. First, 3D Cartography provides a more detailed representation of an area. Google Earth maps display the map from every angle, and more importantly, can be zoomed as far/close away as the map viewer desires. Second, 3D Cartography provides better context for the map viewer. Because Google Earth, and other software programs, use satellite imagery, the map viewer is able to see the location of a city, state, country relative to the rest of the world with greater ease and greater accuracy. Traditional cartographic maps utilize projections that provide accuracy for one area at the expense of an area. 3D Cartography eliminates this problem, because the location is being projected in its original form.

The image above is a screen capture from Google Earth’s 3D imaging database. The image is a view of Manhattan in New York City. Clearly, Google Earth, and other 3D Cartographic programs, are superior in their unique ability to create a sense of place in their imagery. This image, for instance, depicts the buildings, road systems, and water bodies of Manhattan. Being able to see these features in 3D allows the map viewer to gain a sense of what locales are like in reality.

Old Map vs. New Map

Although they often lack geographic accuracy, old maps are useful tools in evaluating the landscape’s history. For example, the map to the left depicts the Western United States in 1841, 25 years before Nevada became a state and many more years before the Western frontier was settled. This map is a historical artifact, in that, it highlights where California and Oregon’s borders began and ended. Borders change with time and politics, and the nascent American Republic is no exception. Historical maps are also intriguing, because they raise a variety of questions about the cartographic methods used by early geographers. For instance, how were maps drawn? How long did it take them to be drawn? How accurate are early historical depictions of the Earth? What traditions have persevered over time?

New maps are useful for obvious reasons. They are (usually) geographically accurate and abide by cartographic conventions. Color and content are among the conventions established in New maps are useful for obvious reasons. They are (usually) geographically accurate and abide by cartographic conventions. Color and content are among the conventions established in modern cartography, and they are useful, because they provide map-readers with a sense of consistency. More importantly, conventions make maps easier for the layperson to read. New maps are also useful, in that, they are not limited by tradition. By this I mean, maps are more than pieces of paper you hang on the wall; they can be animated or produced from satellite imagery. New maps are capable of introducing the lay map-reader to a new world of geographic understanding. modern cartography, and they are useful, because they provide map-readers with a sense of consistency. More importantly, conventions make maps easier for the layperson to read. New maps are also useful, in that, they are not limited by tradition. By this I mean, maps are more than pieces of paper you hang on the wall; they can be animated or produced from satellite imagery. New maps are capable of introducing the lay map-reader to a new world of geographic understanding.

Mapping the News

News maps are incredibly useful tools in illustrating points that are difficult to articulate. Take for instance, the map pictured below.



This map illustrates the security status of the country of Afghanistan. The purpose of this map is to highlight those areas that are high security threats. The article accompanying this map details the efforts being made by NATO, Britain, and the United States to secure these areas from the Taliban. I would argue that using a map to tell this story is more useful than words. A writer could summarize the provinces where security is a problem, but he or she would not be able to capture the geographic significance of these locations. Maps provide much-needed context, which allow the reader to question and criticize. By looking at the map of Afghanistan, one might wonder what role Pakistan plays in the security debacle or why security threats are concentrated along Afghanistan’s southern rim.

On the other hand, maps can lead to faulty assumptions. Maps are intended to be generalizations of land and human activity. Unfortunately, news, and the news’ underlying issues, can exceed the average map in complexity. This being the case, it is important that newsmakers collaborate with cartographers on news stories to prevent oversimplification.

Source: http://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8733593

Animated Maps

Animated maps are increasingly useful tools in depicting geographic patterns over space and time. While static map series can also achieve this goal, it is not with the same effect. Animation actively illustrates change over time, showing readers where and when change has occurred in a quick succession that is easier for the eye to see and the mind to comprehend. Mark Harrower* in “A Look at the History and Future of Animated Maps” agrees that animation has redefined the role of the mapmaker and the map user. “(T)he role of the user has expanded in the last 60 years, from watching, to controlling playback, to controlling depcitions, and finally to authoring” (41). Harrower also argues that animated maps benefit geospatial exploration and understanding by offering a new, and arguably improved, way of conveying geographic information. Despite its benefits, animated mapping does have drawbacks worthy of concern. According to Harrower, animated maps lack the cartographic conventions that static maps have adopted over time, leaving modern cartographers with the task of determing when animated maps “are well suited and when their use is little more than ‘technological eye candy’.” Even so, animated maps are a great learning tool and an innovative vehicle for spatial information.

Check this link out for a great example of an animated map!
http://quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Anim/canv.html

*Harrower, Mark. (2004). A Look at the History and Future of Animated Maps. Cartographica. 39(3). 33-42.

Maps and the American Identity

The American identity is a conflagration of values, ideas, and social norms. This being the case, it is impossible to map the American identity comprehensively. Instead, maps can illustrate sub-genres of the American identity, including gender, ethnicity, and politics. Not one of these attributes defines the American identity, but collectively they represent something more meaningful in the American experience. For example, presidential elections reflect changing attitudes and values in the United States. Mapping presidential election returns is even more illustrative of differing opinions and values. Presidential election results for the 2004 election are illustrated below.

Blue states are those states that went for John Kerry, while red states represent those states that went for George W. Bush. The apparent locational differences indicate cultural differences and, more specifically, political values. Democratic candidates are often associated with social programs and pacifism; whereas, Republican candidates are frequently associated with the religious right and war hawks. The 2004 presidential election map indicates where these values are predominant. Interestingly, Kerry dominates in populous coastal regions of the United States, including California and New York. Bush dominated the Midwest and the South. The most apparent commonality between the Midwest and the deep South is religion. While generalizations can be made from the 2004 presidential map, it begs more important questions. For instance, is geography a contributing factor in how people think and vote? Alternatively, are values responsible for the geographic disparities? Or, perhaps it is both. The argument could be made that the dense population centers of the blue states invite more diversity, and subsequently, more liberal thought. Political maps are useful in identifying where certain ideas reside, but they often invite more critical questions.

Fact v. Fiction

The line between fact and fiction is blurred in the map “The World According to Dubya.” Normally, a map like this would instantly be perceived as a work of fiction, but its attributes (and more importantly, what we know about our president) suggest it might contain elements of truth. In any traditional geopolitical map of the world, Canada would be named Canada, not “Just like the United States….except for the French part of here,” and South America would be represented as South America, not “Uppity Democracies.” Considering these facts, it is important to remember that people are capable of representing what they perceive as true with maps. This means that even though a typical geopolitical map would contain different generalizations and different titles, Dubya’s map conveys what he believes the world to look like in fact. Personal interpretation is not unique in the map-making community. People make “mental maps” without even realizing it, and to a certain extent, these maps represent what those people perceive as fact. Similarly, Dubya’s map of the world, while not geopolitically or politically correct, contains elements, or distinguishing characteristics, that he believes to be true of those regions of the world. It is also important to note that the boundaries and borders established in geopolitical maps arguably do not exist in fact either. Geopolitical boundaries and borders are invisible and artificial; they are used to organize the world, and in some instances, without regard for the cultural makeup of the country or community they are delineating.

Good Map vs. Bad Map

Map design is an important part of the cartographic process; it can make or break the clarity or purpose of the proposed map. Good map design requires a cartographer to consider every aspect of map construction in order to achieve a product that is legible and appealing. In order to achieve this goal, there are certain elements that should always be kept in mind during the design process. First, good map design requires organization. A map that is unorganized is difficult to read and can affect the perceived meaning of the map. Organization also lends to a map’s aesthetic value, which is a primary aim in map design.

Map design also requires balance. A good map should utilize space in the best way possible, meaning that there should be little or no dead space and the map should not appear top heavy. Another important aspect of map design is clarity. The information on a map should not be obscured by its design; its purpose should be obvious to the average map viewer. To this end, the cartographer should always be wary of content, and more importantly, how it is transmitted through the map. Too much content can make a map confusing or complex. A map is intended to generalize, making simplicity an important goal in the design process. In terms of content, a map should also contain basic map elements, like a North arrow, a scale, a title, and a source statement. These are traditional marks of the trade and lend to a map’s overall credibility. Color and text usage are also significant in the design process. Traditional color schemes should be observed in order to avoid confusion (i.e. water is blue, forests are green), and excessive use of dark colors should be avoided. Map text should be limited to two or three fonts. More fonts than this can be distracting to the map viewer. Text should also utilize a logical hierarchy in order to indicate objects of importance.

Below is an example of “good” map design.



The map above abides by the basic elements of map design. It is both organized and balanced. The content flows from left to right, making its order easy for the audience to understand. The map design does not have excessive dead space or appear top heavy. Instead the weight of the larger image on the right is balanced by the three images on the left. The map’s intended purpose is also quite clear. The title is in a central location and written in a large font to indicate its importance. The map also utilizes a good range of colors. It uses a graduated color scheme in order convey percentage changes in the neighborhood. It uses black for high numbers, and lighter colors for lower numbers. This is a good map design strategy, because the meaning of light and dark colors is intuitive to the average map viewer.

The map on the left exemplifies poor map design. Not only is the map geographically inaccurate, it lacks a title specifying that the map is of the state of Nevada. It is missing essential map elements, like a North arrow, a key, and a title. The colors in this map are unappealing, and while it is safe to assume that the green areas represent forest areas or national parks, the map does not have a legend to verify that fact. The organization of this map is poor, in that, the map consumes the entire page, giving it an unprofessional quality.