CARTOGRAPHY

MZUZU UNIVERSITY
 CONTENTS
• Definition of Cartography
• Cartography as a communication tool
• Definition of a Map
• Characteristics of Maps
• Functions of maps
• Categories of maps

Read:
1. Robinson, A (1995), Elements of Cartography, 6th edition
2. Kraak M. J. & Ormeling, (1999), Cartography Visualization of Spatial Data, 4th edition
3. Clarke, K. C. (2005), Thematic Cartography & Geographic Visualization, 2nd edition
 Cartography Defined
• It is the use of graphics to capture the spatial
structure of the environment.

• Is the art and science of producing charts, plans and

maps graphically.

• It’s the making and study of maps in all their aspects.

– Includes any central activity which is concerned with
presentation and use of maps.

– Also includes the collection, manipulation of data and

designing and preparation of maps, charts and atlases.
Cartography as a communication process
Cartography as a communication process
• The sender of the message is a cartographer
– audience in mind when communicating the message.
(conventional symbols and cartographic grammar).

• The medium of communication is through

graphics (map symbols)

• The receiver is map user

– map user may use prior knowledge in interpreting the
map symbols
– receiver may send feed back (reaction)
…….. as a communication process (cont..)

• Concerned about “How do I say what to whom and is it

effective”

• The concerns are addressed by applying cartographic

methods and techniques and they are:
– Functions (e.g. algorithms)
• E.g. parameters and equations for projection transformation

– Rules (e.g. Cartographic Grammar, Generalization)

– Habits or Conventions (e.g. water represented in blue)

 Map defined…
• a representation on a flat surface of the features of an
area of ground showing them in their correct forms,
sizes, and relationships according to some convention
of representation (Maantay and Ziegler, 2006)

• a unique and complex combination of image, language,

and mathematics (Woodward, 1998)

• an abstraction of reality
• a graphic representation of the geographic
setting or reality.

• a tool for communicating spatial relationships

and forms.

• a geographical reduction i.e. it has a defined

dimensional relationship between reality and
the map.
 Main Characteristics of maps
• Maps provide answers (in graphics) to the following
elements:
➢Geographical locations – answering the question
“Where”
➢Thematic attributes – answering the question
“What”, “How”
➢Temporal dimensions (time) – answering the
question “When”
 Functions of maps
• storage of geographic information in spatial format

• analytical purposes e.g. measuring and computing

• spatial forecasting or predictions

• visualization purposes, to give an insight

• used as an interface to GIS

• used as an exploration tool

 Categories of map
• They are classified by:

(1) Scale

(2) Functions

(3) Subject matter

 (1) Maps Classified by Map Scale

• Maps are distinguished by the scale at which

features are displayed.

➢Large-scale 1 : 10,000

➢Medium-scale 1 : 100,000

➢Small-scale 1 : 1,000,000
 Large-scale maps
▪ The terms Large and Small scale refer to the
relative sizes at which objects are represented.

▪ Large-scale map is when a small part of reality

(e.g. less than 1km²) is shown on an A4 paper.

▪ On Large-scale maps many aspects of reality are

shown in the real proportion of the amount of
reduction used (selection is also involved)
Large Scale
Medium Scale
Small Scale
 (2) Classified by function
• General reference maps
• Thematic Maps
• Charts
 General reference maps

• The objective is to show locations of different

features, such as: water bodies, road network,
political boundaries etc.

• Large scale general reference maps of land are called

TOPOGRAPHIC maps.
General reference map
 Thematic Maps

• Single purpose maps

• Concentrates on distribution of single
attribute or relationship among them
Thematic Map
 Charts

• Have mostly one specific function

• They are designed to serve the needs of
navigators, nautical and aeronautical.
• They are worked on (unlike maps)
– navigators plot their courses, determine their
positions, mark their direction/bearings etc.
 (3) Classified by subject matter

• cadastral maps
– show geographic relationships among land
parcels

• plans
– detailed maps showing buildings, roadways,
boundary lines which are visible on the
ground and administrative boundaries
 Deed Plan with
contiguous properties
 MAP SYMBOLS

• maps use signs to represent elements of

reality (world features)

• symbols consists of various kinds of marks,

such as:
– dots, lines, colours, tones, patterns etc.

• symbol meanings defined on legend.

end of lesson