Graphic Graphic CommunicationsCommunications

Assoc. Assoc. Prof.DrProf.Dr. Cengizhan . Cengizhan İİpbpbüükerker&&

Modified by Assist. Prof. Dr. M. Zeki COModified by Assist. Prof. Dr. M. Zeki COŞŞKUNKUN

Lecture 3: Cartography as Communication

İİTTÜÜ--SUNY SUNY 20062006--20072007 FallFall

Geographic InformationGeographic Information??

is any information that can be geographically referenced, i.e. describing a location or any information that can be linked to a location.

What is What is CartographyCartography??• The art, science,

and technology of map design andproduction.

• The organisation and communication of geographically related (spatial) information in either graphic or digital form. It includes all stages from data acquisition to presentation and use.

What is What is CartographyCartography??

Presentation...• Graphical• Digital• Embossment

• Communication• Organization • Usageof geographic information.

OneOne of of thethe mostmost usefuluseful approachesapproaches toto thethestudystudy of of cartographycartography is is toto viewview mapsmaps as a as a form of form of visualvisual communicationcommunication----a a specialspecial--purposepurpose languagelanguage forfor describingdescribing spatialspatialrelationshipsrelationships..

http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/cartocom/cartocomhttp://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/cartocom/cartocom_f.html_f.html

Cartographers must pay special attention to coordinate systems, map projections, and issues of scale and direction that are in most cases of relatively little concern to other graphic designers or artists.

Cartography is related to, but different from other forms of visual communication.

TheThe ValueValue of of MapsMapsMapsMaps gaingain theirtheir valuevalue in in

threethree waysways::1. As a way of recording

and storinginformation

2. As a means of analyzing locationaldistributions andspatial patterns

3. As a method of presentinginformation andcommunicatingfindings

CartographyCartography as as CommunicationCommunication

Cartography is a type of graphical communication, some insights to the demands of cartography can be gleaned from the literature of graphical communication and statistical graphics.

Maps are symbolic abstractionsMaps are symbolic abstractions----"generalizations" or "representations""generalizations" or "representations"----of realityof reality

In most cases, this means that the world In most cases, this means that the world represented on a map has been greatly represented on a map has been greatly simplified, or generalized, with symbols being simplified, or generalized, with symbols being used like words to stand for real things. used like words to stand for real things.

WhatWhat Is a Is a GoodGood MapMap??

••WhatWhat is is thethe motive, motive, intentintent, , oror goalgoal of of thethe mapmap??•Who will read the map?•Where will the map be used?•What data is available forthe composition of themap?•What resources areavailable in terms of bothtime and equipment?

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This raises a series of questions;This raises a series of questions;

BasicBasic ElementsElements of of MapMap CompositionComposition

Distance and scale can be indicatedin a variety of ways on a map in verbal, numeric, or graphic form.

•Distance or scale:

BasicBasic ElementsElements of of MapMap CompositionComposition

The question of what is north can be an issue on maps

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•Direction

BasicBasic ElementsElements of of MapMap CompositionComposition

The legend liststhe symbols usedon a map andwhat they depict.

•Legend

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS of MAPESSENTIAL ELEMENTS of MAP

THAT ARE SENSITIVE THAT ARE SENSITIVE toto CONTEXTCONTEXT

••TitleTitle••ProjectionProjection••CartographerCartographer••DateDate of of ProductionProduction

ELEMENTS THAT ARE USED SELECTIVELY TO ELEMENTS THAT ARE USED SELECTIVELY TO

ASSIST EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONASSIST EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

••NeatlinesNeatlines••LocatorLocator mapsmaps••InsetInset mapsmaps••IndexIndex mapsmaps

Elements are balancedwithin the visual

hierarchy and frame of the map

http://www.theodora.com/maps/abc_world_maps.htmlhttp://www.theodora.com/maps/abc_world_maps.html

As one considers each map element, the cartographer As one considers each map element, the cartographer must determine its importance to and priority within the must determine its importance to and priority within the overall map design. The most important elements in a overall map design. The most important elements in a given design should be featured in more prominent given design should be featured in more prominent positions and perhaps occupy a larger area within the positions and perhaps occupy a larger area within the map frame. map frame.

the importance of a given map element the importance of a given map element should be reflected in its position and the should be reflected in its position and the amount space it occupies on the map. amount space it occupies on the map.

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Experiment with map layoutsExperiment with map layouts

Experimentation is often required to achieve an Experimentation is often required to achieve an effective layout. Computereffective layout. Computer--assisted drafting assisted drafting systems can be useful at this stage because of the systems can be useful at this stage because of the ease with which they permit you to experiment with ease with which they permit you to experiment with possible layouts. possible layouts.

The Semiotics of CartographyThe Semiotics of Cartography

Cartographers employ symbols to Cartographers employ symbols to represent location, direction, distance, represent location, direction, distance, movement, function, process, and movement, function, process, and correlation. These features of the real correlation. These features of the real world are abstracted and symbolized world are abstracted and symbolized on maps as points, lines, and areas. on maps as points, lines, and areas.

The range of visual resources The range of visual resources

As cartographers reduce the world to points, lines, and areas, As cartographers reduce the world to points, lines, and areas, they use a variety of visual resources. These resources are the they use a variety of visual resources. These resources are the categories of size, shape, value, texture or pattern, hue, categories of size, shape, value, texture or pattern, hue, orientation, and shape.orientation, and shape.

Strategies of symbolization Strategies of symbolization

Nominal dataNominal data is information that is simply grouped into is information that is simply grouped into categories on the basis of qualitative considerations categories on the basis of qualitative considerations

Ordinal dataOrdinal data is grouped by rank on the basis of some is grouped by rank on the basis of some quantitative measure. quantitative measure.

Ratio dataRatio data is information that can be arranged along a scale is information that can be arranged along a scale but, in addition, the scale begins at a nonbut, in addition, the scale begins at a non--arbitrary zero point. arbitrary zero point.

Problems of Realizing Ideals Problems of Realizing Ideals with Computer Systems with Computer Systems

••Systems vary greatly in their strengths and weaknesses: Be Systems vary greatly in their strengths and weaknesses: Be aware of both aware of both

••Consider availability of needed functions and ease of use Consider availability of needed functions and ease of use

••Be aware of the problems of designing for particular output Be aware of the problems of designing for particular output devices devices

••Experimentation and multiple iterations are often required Experimentation and multiple iterations are often required

••Never trust defaults Never trust defaults

••computers don't make good or bad maps, cartographers do.computers don't make good or bad maps, cartographers do.

Into the FutureInto the Future

Computer systems are certainly changing the way cartographers produce maps.New systems allow computers to simulate and model reality by using visual and auditory cues in three dimensions. These same systems might be used to create virtual maps in which users can traverse and study real and simulated environments and landscapes.

ReferencesReferences

http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/cartocom/cartocom_f.html