1,2 Introduction & Map functions and types

VL: Week 1 & Week 2, Buch: Kap 1

Buch LZ

Thematic map vs general reference map:

• Definition

• Examples of map types

• Examples of displayed variables

Thematic:

Maps used to emphasize the spatial pattern of one or more geographic attributes (variables)

Map type: choropleth

• population density

• family income

• daily temperature maxima

General-reference:

Maps used to emphasize the location of spatial phenomena

Map type: topographic

• location of streams

• roads

• houses

• oher natural and cultural features

Other thematic map types?

• Choropleth

• proportional symbols

• isarhythmic

• dot

• flow (e.g. flight routes)

What are thematic maps used for, which information do they provide?

• provide specific information about particular locations

• provide general information about spatial patterns

• compare patterns of different maps

Example: Who in which state voted for Biden? → particular
Overview of voting behaviour in US 2020 → general

List the five basic steps for communicating map information and indicate why it is important to consider these steps

Steps (picture)

Important because of following problems:

• emphasis on specific information is not always helpful for displaying the map → only focusing on percentage of votes makes it difficult to see the political party

• the memory of the viewer impacts how the symbolization is perceived → wrong associations can be created

What technological changes have influenced cartography?

Crowdsourcing: collective knowledge of users is put into a product

→ contributed geographic information (CGI), e.g. OpenStreetMap

Lightweight programming models: easy creation of

→ map mashups can be created from data from different sources

Social media: facebook, twitter

→ e.g. geotagged tweets can be mapped

Internet is public: Google earth

→ available locational and attribute data, maps, software, teaching material

Discuss four consequences of technological change in cartography

• map production is accessible → more mapmakers (+), inaccuracies (-)

• expert systems → reduced inaccuracies (+), not always incorporated (-),

• complex maps → classed, animated

• interactive maps → fast data exploration (+)

• 3D environment → exploration of research area without field trip (+)

Define geographic visualization and contrast it with map communication

Geovisualization:

Private activity, in which unknowns are revealed in a highly interactive environment

Map communication:

Public activity, in which knowns are presented in a noninteractive environment

Explain why the term geographic visualization fails to cover the breadth of potential mapping approaches and consider the alternative term cybercartography

Geovisualization focused on the sense of vision

→ cartographers are starting to include other senses into maps

→ maps should become more inclusive

Cybercartography

• multisensory

• multimedia

• interactive

• creators from other fields

• new research

VL LZ (Week2)

Definition: map

symbolized representation of geographical reality, which represents selected features

always an abstraction of reality and (geographic) representation, a model

Definition: cartography

discipline dealing with the art, science and technology of making and using maps

Definition: GIS

scientific context of spatial information processing and management

includes technology, data analysis and visualization

includes commercial, social and environmental implications

Functions of a map

storage medium for information

depiciton of the world

How did mapping change? Before digitalization vs today

before: expensive, influenced by people in power

today: cheap, “objective”, different media and forms

Why is mapping fundamental for cartography?

“language of geography”

Geographic thought is inevitably linked to maps, if you cannot map a thought you do not have a geographic thought

• data organisation & contextualisation

• documentation & archive

• external memory

• navigation aid

• model

• perspective-taking

• analysis tool

• communication across language barriers, story telling

What kind of spaces can be represented with maps?

• Geographical spaces

• non-geographical spaces (brain activity, political movements

• Mental spaces

• Planetary spaces (planets, space missions)

(spaces belong to “world” in picture)

How can maps be classified by scale?

How can maps be classified by function?

• topographic

• thematic

• reference

• navigational

• mobile

Thematic map: definition and qualitative + quantitative attributes

Depiction of a distribution of an attribute over space, designed for a specific purpose, illustration of spatial patterns

• Qualitative: distribution map, what, when and where? Category membership

• Quantitative: statistical map, what when, where and how much? Sequences, ranks and magnitude

Reference map: Definition

gives overview of an area

stores spatial information

• Tangible features in the environment

• location, type and variety of the feature

General purpose dictionary:

• Geographical features, e.g. coastlines, rivers, mountains, lakes, …

• Landmarks à Where? What? When?

Navigational map

Difference btw. mapmaking, cartography and geovisualization

Mapmaking is the process of creating a map, cartography the science and art behind it, geovisualization the activity of visualizing unknown facts

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Why is Web GIS used for collaborative map making and sharing?

• easy distribution

• web services

• various clients and applications

• efficient

• digital, cloudbased

• collaborative

• re-use of work