Data types

Nominal
• Nominal data are a type of categorical data. That is, they
are used to represent named qualities. However, nominal
data have no natural rank order to them (they differ by
their name only).
• For example, the colors red, green, and yellow all describe
the color of apples. However, no one color is greater than
or less than another color. These three colors have no
natural rank order to them. They differ by their name
alone.
• E.g. land use (residential, commercial) or tree species (maple,
oak)
Ordinal
• Ordinal data are a type of categorical data. That is, they
describe named qualities of things. However, ordinal data
do have a natural rank order to them. So they can be
sorted in order by their rank.
• For example, we could group apples into small, medium,
and large sizes. Medium apples are larger than small
apples, and large apples are larger than medium apples, so
they do have a natural rank order.
• E.g. small, medium, large cities or single, double lane roads
Interval
• Interval data are a type of numerical data. That is,
they represent measured quantities of things. Interval
data allow for a degree of difference between two
values and give order.
• However, interval scales have an arbitrary zero point
so division and multiplication does not work
• E.g. temperature 0 degree Celsius is arbitrary as
absolute zero is at -273 degree Celsius, Date(A.D, B.S.)
Ratio
Ratio data are a type of numerical data. That is,
they represent measured quantities of things.
Ratio data allow for a degree of difference
between two values, just like interval data.
However, unlike interval data, ratio scales do have
a natural (non-arbitrarily chosen) zero point
e.g. Mass, height, age
Thematic mapping
 Thematic maps

• Shows distribution and thematic characteristics of one

phenomenon or one subject
• Other  general reference maps, which regularly show the
variety of phenomena—geological, geographical, political
together. But  The thematic maps use the base data, such as
coastlines, political boundaries and places, only as points of
reference for the phenomenon being mapped.
• Thematic maps emphasize spatial variation of one or a small
number of geographic distributions. These distributions may
be physical phenomena such as climate or human
characteristics such as population density and health issues.
• Map showing population density by state
Thematic maps serve three primary purposes.
• They provide specific information about particular
locations.
• They provide general information about spatial
patterns.
• They can be used to compare patterns on two or
more maps
 Chorochromatic Map
• Also called Mosaic maps
• Greek words
Choros = Area Chroma= Colour
• Shows nominal values for area through
different colours
• The map readers get impression of nominal,
qualitative differences
• This type of map can be prepared easily by
using different colours or black and white
pattern
• To represent location, distribution, and nature
of nominal phenomena extending over areas
e.g. land use map
Municipalities of Kavre District
 Choropleth Map

• Greek words
• choros= area Plethos=Value
• Ordinal, interval, relative ratio data can be represented
• Values that are used to represent area
• The values are calculated for the areas, represented through area symbols
and expressed as a stepped surface, showing a series of discrete values.
• Generally the darker the grey values, the more intense or the higher the
densities of the phenomenon
• E.g population density map
 Dot Density Map
• A dot distribution map, or dot density map, is a map type
that uses a dot symbol to show the presence of a feature or a
phenomenon.
• Dot maps rely on a visual scatter to show spatial pattern.
• Dot density maps have been popular for 150 years because
they are easy to understand and, at a glance.
• There are two basic types: one-to-one dot density maps (one
dot represents one object or count) and one-to-many dot
density maps in which one dot stands for a number of things
or a value (e.g., 1 dot = 1,000 acres of wheat production).
e.g. each dot might represent 1000 people
• Magnitude of phenomenon is represented by varying number
of dots
  Dot density map showing
the incidence of malaria in
Africa Source: WHO (2017)
 Cartogram
• Map in which some thematic mapping variable or
phenomena – GDP, Population – is substituted for area
• The geometry is distorted to convey information of
this variable or phenomena
• The geometry or space of the map is distorted,
sometimes extremely, in order to convey the
information of this alternate variable.
• A diagrammatic presentation in highly abstracted /
simplified form, commonly of statistical data
United States with
each county rescaled in
proportion to its population.
Colors refer to the results of the 
2004 U.S. presidential election
 popular vote
 Dasymetric Map
• A dasymetric map is a method of thematic mapping in which a choropleth
map is refined by incorporating additional geographic information.
• In a dasymetric map, boundaries are modified to conform to known areas of
homogeneity and are not restricted to administrative or statistical
boundaries.
• Choropleth maps have a number of inherent issues due to the district
boundaries being arbitrary with respect to the data variable, so that nothing
is known about the variation within each district, and the boundaries affect
the apparent spatial pattern.
• The dasymetric technique uses geographic information about the
distribution of the phenomenon of interest to refine the district boundaries
so they better reflect the real-world patterns
• Delineation or representation of area based on densities
 Isopleth Map
• Isopleth or isarithmic maps simplify information about a
region by showing areas with continuous distribution.
• Isopleth maps may use lines to show areas or region with
similar values of the phenomena like elevation, temperature,
rainfall(Precipitation) and other; values between lines can be
interpolated; also called Isoline.
• Isopleths may also use colors to show regions where some
quality is the same.
• An isopleth differs from a choropleth because the lines or
regions are determined by the data rather than conforming
to a predefined area, such as a political subdivision.
 Flowline Map
• Flowline maps or flow maps are maps that use
lines or arrows to portray movement between
two or more destinations
• . These arrows or lines can represent
movements of people, migration of animals,
monetary aid, or any imports and exports
between countries. These lines or arrows can
also represent quantities of things being
transferred between locations.
Flowline Map
 Proportional point symbol map
type of thematic map in which absolute
quantitative variables or phenomena are
represented by means of a point symbol
the size of which varies with the data
values
Proportional point symbol
map of population of VDCs of
Kavre
Proportional point symbol shapes
Circles or squares?
 circles are visually most pleasant
 sizes of squares can better be estimated

Advantages of circles / squares over other shapes:

 simple geometric form
 easy construction
 easy scaling
Proportional point symbol scaling
Surface area of circle or square is proportional
to the value it represents

Surface area of a circle = r2

Surface area of a square = s2

Value is proportional to r2 or to s2

value is proportional to r or s
Proportional symbols: unit value
Unit value of proportional circles / squares can
be derived after a decision on:
• the size of the smallest symbol
• the size of the largest symbol
• the total area to be occupied by all
symbols together (10-15% of map area)
A common problem with proportional
symbol maps is that there can be overlap
and congestion of different symbols. A
way to fix this problem would be to make
the symbols on top of the overlapped
symbols transparent so that the map
viewer can see the symbols beneath
 Legend design proportional point symbol
maps

Rangegraded symbols: Graduated symbols:

show all classes show lowest, highest and some
representative data values in
between nested circles