1. Michael A. McAdams Geography Dept. Fatih University Istanbul, Turkey
Nature of Cartography
Michael A. McAdams Geography Dept. Fatih University Istanbul, Turkey

2. What are we trying to do when we study Cartography?
Discover spatial reality?
Meaning of spatial relationships?
Where things are absolutely located, measured and how find directions?
Make pretty maps?
I really do not know?

3. Maps Represent the World
Contested meanings ~ maps are texts to be “decoded”
Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it’s essential. To portray meaningful relationships for a complex, three-dimensional world on a flat sheet of paper or a video screen, a map must distort reality.
Mark Monmonier
How to Lie with Maps (1996)
All maps, in one sense are lies since they involve a massive partial (mis)representation of the solid world on a smaller object….Maps do show us the lie of the land, in the multiple sense of the word “lie.”
John Rennie Short
The World through Maps: A History of Cartography (2003)

4. Decoding Maps Key terms
Projection – the formal representation of the round world on a flat surface
Scale – maps compress, “scale” is the measure of compression
Orientation – the “directionality” of a map
Symbols – make visible the features, places, and other locational information represented on the map.

5. Projection

6. Maps as Spatial Imagery
Map - the graphic representation of the geographical setting.
Cartography is the making and study of maps in all their aspects.
Cartography is an efficient way of manipulating, analysing and expressing ideas, forms and relationships that occur in two- and three-dimensional space.

7. Characteristics of Maps
Locations in two-dimensional space
Attributes - qualities or magnitudes
Examples:
Relationships among locations, e.g. Distance
Relationships among various attributes at one location, e.g. Temperature, rainfall and soil
Relationships among the locations of the attributes of a given distribution, e.g. Rainfall
Relationships among the locations of derived or combined attributes of given distributions, e.g. Relation of GDP and population

8. More Characteristics of Maps
All geographical maps are reductions.
Scale.
All maps involve geometrical transformations.
Map projection.
All maps are abstractions of reality.
All maps use signs to stand for elements of reality.
Symbolism.

9. Catagories of Maps Classed by scale Small-scale map Large-scale map
Classed by function General reference maps Thematic maps Charts
Classed by subject matter

10. Processes in Cartography
Collecting and selecting the data for mapping
Manipulating and generalising the data, designing and constructing the map
Reading or view the map
Responding to or interpreting the information

11. Map Effectiveness Map Effectiveness Map Use Map Making
Simplification
Symbolisation
Analysis
Map Effectiveness
Map Making
Map Use
Selection
Interpretation
Classification
Exaggeration
Reading

12. Geographic Information Transformation
Census Ground survey Remote sensing Compilation
Selection Classification Simplification Exaggeration Symbolisation
Reading Analysis Interpretation
Geographical Environment
Recognised Geographical Information
MAP
Map Image
Transform 1
Transform 2
Transform 3

13. The Scope of Cartography
Map Maker
Data
Map
Map User

14. Emphasis on Cartographic Representation
The principal task of cartography is to communicate environmental information.
The emphasis on cartographic representation is map effectiveness in thought and communication.
This is best achieved by treating the making and using of maps equally.

15. Spatial and Non-Spatial Disciplines Intergration
Cartography

16. Conclusion
Cartography is a complex discipline that has a rich and varied history
It is intergrated part of geography
The root and the guidance for all spatial technologies
Is and art involving design and also a science due to representation of the earth (or another planet) visual and non-visual attributes

17. General Reference Map

18. Map of Central Istanbul

19. General Reference Map??

20. What is the purpose of maps?
General Reference
Show spatial patterns (Cloropleth, Dot maps, Graduated Symbols, animation, etc.) for data

21. Cloropleth (thematic) map

23. Steps for Communicating Map Informatıon
1. Consider what the real-world distribution of the phenomena might look like.
2. Determine the purpose for making the map
3. Collect data appropriate for the map purpose
4. Construct the map
5. Determine whether users find the map useful and informative
Source: Slocum, Terry A. Thematic Cartography and Visualization, 1999.

24. Animated Map (Expansion of Ottoman Empire)