More About Maps

Maps provide the visual representation of the area. There are different types of maps that are meant for different purposes. Learning their type would help you analyze which map is used for certain situations.

A Visual representation of an area is a map. It shows relationships between elements of the space such as:

-objects
-religions and
-themes

A map is a:

-stationary two-dimensional,
-Geometrically precise representation of three-dimensional space.

Maps may represent any space, real or imagined, without considering the context or scale.

Examples:

-Brain mapping
-DNA mapping
-Extraterrestrial Mapping

Geographic maps are celestial maps from the 17th century. This was made by the Dutch cartographer Frederick de Wit.

Cartography (mapmaking) is the study and practice of crafting representations of the Earth upon a flat surface. A Cartographer is the person who makes maps.

Road maps form a subset of navigational maps. It includes the following:

•aeronautical maps
•nautical charts
•railroad network maps and
•hiking and biking maps

For quantity, the largest number of drawn map sheets is made up of local surveys carried out by:

•municipalities
•utilities
•tax assessors
•emergency services providers and
•other local agencies

ORIENTATION of MAPS

The relationship between directions on a map and compass is called ORIENTATION. Orient comes from the word “oriens” which means “east”. The T and O maps, during the Middle Ages, were drawn with the east at the top portion. Now, the common cartographic convention is that the North is at the top of the map.

Maps that are not oriented to the north are:

-Reversed Maps

These are also called the Upside-Down maps or South-Up maps. These maps generally show Australia and New Zealand at the upper part of the map instead of being at the bottom.

-Polar Maps

These include the map of the Arctic or Antarctic regions. These maps are traditionally centered on the pole. The north direction is away from the center of the map.

-Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion Maps

These maps are based on the projection of the sphere of the Earth onto an icosahedron. The triangular pieces may be arranged in any order.

-Maps from Non-Western traditions.

These maps are oriented in different ways. The old map of Edo has the Japanese Imperial Palace at the top and at the center portion. The labels are oriented in a way that you cannot read them correctly. You can read it only if you put the Imperial Palace above your head.

- The Medieval European T and O Maps

One example of this type of map is the Hereford Mappa Mundi. It is centered on Jerusalem with the east at the upper part. Before the reintroduction of Ptolemy’s Geography to Europe in the year 1400, there was not even a single meeting in the West. Portolan charts are oriented to the shores that they are described in.

-Route and Channel Maps

These maps are traditionally oriented to the road or channel they dare described in.

-Maps used in the Society for Creative Anachronism

These maps show the west at the upper part portion. This is made in honor of the Society starting in California.

SCALE AND ACCURACY

There are lots of maps but not all are drawn onto a scale. This is expressed as a type of ratio like 1:10,000, which means that 1 out of any unit of measurement on the map, is equivalent to 10,000 of that same unit in reality.

This allows the reader to calculate the sizes of and distances between depicted objects. A bigger scale can give out a more detailed and accurate estimate. This means that it requires a larger map in order to explain the same area. Those highly detailed maps are now often printed on books or computer software.

The printed version includes:

-Broad Index
-Tables of distances between cities and
-even a Cross Reference of important destinations

Computer software-based maps provide several tools in order to help the user. It includes:

-User adjustable scale or zoom and
-Customized Search Engines

Large maps are also presented before as scrolls. Tabula Peutingeriana is an example of this. This is a hand-made copy that was rediscovered only recently.

USGS Topographic Maps or Topos is a type of modern printed map designed for hikers. It is scaled at the ratio of about 1:25,000. On the other hand, maps designed for motorists display major highways that are scaled at 1:250,000 or 1:1,000,000.

Thus, an accurately made map may either show its scale or it can declare that it is not scaled. This can not be reliably used in order to assume distances.