CARTOGRAPHY

Definition

It is the art and practice of making maps. Cartography, integrating science, aesthetics, and
methodology, builds on the idea that reality (or an imaginary reality) can be modelled in ways
that effectively convey spatial details.

he art and science of graphically representing a geographical area, usually on a flat surface
such as a map or chart.

The basic goals of conventional cartography are:

 Set the agenda for the map and pick the characteristics of the object that is to be
mapped. This is the main focus of map processing. The traits might be physical, like
roads or masses of land or might be abstract, like political borders or toponyms.
 Reflect the mapped object's terrain on flat media. This is the problem with map
projections.
 Decrease the sophistication of the features that are to be mapped. There is also the
dilemma of generalisation.
 To better transmit its vision to its viewer, organise the components of the map. This is
the major area of focus with map design.

Importance of Cartography

 Cartography is useful because it encourages spatial visualisation of data. This can

display population spatial trends, economic growth, urbanization, as well as more.
 Cartography often aids in the preparation and rehabilitation of disasters and allows
emergency responders to consider what is going on in the region where they operate.
 Cartography is useful because it encourages spatial visualisation of data. This can
display population spatial trends, economic growth, urbanization, as well as more.
 Cartography often aids in the preparation and rehabilitation of disasters and allows
emergency responders to consider what is going on in the region where they operate.
 Also, people use maps every day as they drive, locate restaurants, shops, and track
their online transactions as they reach, with GPS and maps readily available on
mobiles and other devices. The value of cartography is rising and becoming
profoundly ingrained in our lives.

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Cartographic Scale

 The size of a map determines the area that is depicted by the map. A fraction such as
1:250,000 or 1/150,000,000 typically denotes it. Such fractions mean that in the real
world, standard measure on the map is equivalent to 250,000 or 50,000,000 of those
same units.
 It is beneficial to use ratios to label the scale since they could be used in every
measurement device without converting from one system to the other (such as from
feet to meters). A map covering a large area is classified in cartography as a small-
scale map, whereas a map covering a small area is defined as a large-scale map. This
relates to the map's representative fraction.
 The 1:250,000 fraction is greater than the 1:50,000,000 fraction, much like 1/2 is
greater than 1/4 and 1/3 is greater than 1/6. A simpler way of describing the
difference, though, is that the characteristics of a large-scale map (buildings,
highways, rivers, etc.) are greater than the characteristics of a small-scale map.
 It must be remembered that although there is no standard unit of measurement for the
absolute level of a map, like meters, feet, or miles, the scale bar is used as a reference
bar for map readers.

Types of Maps

There exist three basic types of maps namely, thematic maps, general reference maps, and
cartometric maps.

General Reference Maps: Geographical location details such as highways, rivers, lakes,
seas, political borders, cities and mountains are displayed on a general reference map. Such
maps can be used for political maps, road maps, some topographic maps, and a basic all-
purpose map which can be used anytime and anywhere.

Thematic Maps: A particular theme and factors relating to a certain theme are represented
by thematic maps. A crime map in a district, areas where a disease was already established,
population size, the distribution of a species or the extent where a community can live, severe
flooding, climate models and more are examples of thematic maps. Thematic maps are also
used to examine spatial trends or the results of such studies.

Cartometric Maps: Cartometric maps are the ones which concentrate on parameters such as
area or distance that are unique. Such maps are mostly used for guidance, navigation and are

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also referred to as charts. Examples of cartometric maps are aeronautical and nautical
diagrams. To navigate waterways such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, nautical charts can be
used, whereas aeronautical charts enable airlines to navigate safely.

HOW TO MAKE MAPS

Three dimensional models of the earth (also called globe) best represent the spherical earth.
Much detail of surface features is not shown by them. Henceforth, maps are much useful tool
than globes. A map is a 2-D diagrammatic representation of the whole or part of the earth. It
is a picture of physical and cultural features on a flat surface at a given scale. They have
unique advantage of showing objects or patterns that may be intangible or invisible. For
instance, production crop’s distribution on the surface cannot be easily marked on the ground,
but on the map, its identification is easy. It may help us the crop production pattern in vast
area. There are numerous ways by which the mapping of earth can be done:

a) By freehand sketches and diagrams;

b) By actual survey with the help of survey instruments;

c) By photographs-ground and aerial both;

d) By manmade satellites.

The use of computers has developed the digital mapping through Geographic Information
System and Global positioning system.

The amount of information given on the map depends on:

 Scale,
 Projection,
 Conventional signs and symbols,
 Cartographer skills,
 Map making methods; and
 Requirement of the user.

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CLASSIFICATION OF MAPS

There are different types of maps. There is uniqueness in designing, construction, contenting
& hence a self-type of each map. There are two types maps classified broadly: Scale and
purpose or content. Further on two other bases these are also classified: topographic features
and nature of construction.

I. Classification Based on Scale

There are two broad categories of maps:

(i) Large Scale maps,

(ii) Small scale maps

Large Scale Maps: These maps represent small area of the earth surface on a large size
of paper with greater details. Such types of maps are:

1-Cadastral maps

2-Town plan maps

3-Topographical maps

a) Cadastral Maps: From French word cadastre the term cadastral is derived. It means a
register of territorial property. To register the ownership of landed property the

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 cadastral maps are drawn. It shows the demarcation of the boundaries of fields,
buildings. To realize land revenue and property taxes these are especially prepared by
government. Village maps are the large scale maps showing the field boundaries,
footpath, water bodies, public places, residential houses and so on. These maps are
drawn on a very large scale, varying from 20 cm to a km to 40 cm to a km, so as to fill
up in all possible details. To this category Rural Land use maps also belong. Also in
this category city maps may be included. Different details like water-line, individual
houses, sewer line, public buildings, roads, play grounds, parks etc. are showed by
these maps. House layout plan is also included in it. This map is of very large scale.
To this category town plan maps also belong. On a scale of 1:20000, Survey of India
publishes city and town guide maps
b) Topographical Maps: On fair large scale these maps are prepared. On precise survey
these are based that is conducted by survey of India, Dehradun. General surface
feature are shown by them in detail comprising both natural & cultural landscape. 'A
topographical map is on a sufficiently large scale to enable the individual features
shown on the map to be identified on the ground by their shape and position' is
according to Survey of India. These maps are not having the boundaries of individual
plots or buildings. Principle topographic forms like relief and drainage, swamps and
forests, villages and towns, means of communication like roads and railways, spot and
relative heights, contours are rather depicted from these. On the scale of 1:25:000,
1:50:000 and 1:250:000 in India, these maps are mainly prepared. It is to be noted that
the nature of details increase, with the increase in the largeness of the scale. For
example, a map of 1:25:000 scale shows much more details than the map of a scale of
1:250:000. With the help of convection signs various details are shown on these maps.
For the study of geography of an area these maps are very important. So, some
scholars have defined them as tools of geographers. For the study of an area at micro
level these maps are very important. According to their scale these maps are
numbered; suppose if the number of a map is 53K, it means that the scale of map is
1:250,000, when the number of topographical map is 53K/15, it is understood that the
map is on the scale of 1:50,000. The number of map with 53K/15/4 denotes the scale
of 1:250,00. Such topographical maps are not still in much use.

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Small Scale Maps: Large areas on a small sheet of paper are represented by these maps.
They have few details. Wall maps and Atlas are the best examples of small scale maps.
The maps included in any book, magazines, newspaper are also small scale maps. They
give only a general picture of the area represented.

(a) Wall maps: Though wall maps have large scale than Atlas or book maps, but their
scale is comparatively smaller one. These are drawn boldly so that they can be seen
from a distance. They are used in cater and classrooms to the needs of the large
audience. They are called wall maps because they are hanged on the flat surface
walls. In real sense these are geographical maps. Large areas like world as a whole,
continents, hemispheres, countries, states, districts & tehsils are shown by them. With
certain purposes these maps are drawn like to show the types of soils, climatic
conditions and distribution of minerals, types of vegetation and social, cultural,
means of transport, population, economic and political patterns. These maps are of
different size. On nature of objects it depends to be shown therein. Our Survey of
India prepares these wall maps on a scale of 1:15,000,000.

b) Atlas Maps: Book of maps is ‘Atlas’. On very small scale these are drawn and give a
highly generalized picture of natural and cultural aspects, such as physical climate,
drainage, soils, agricultural crops, industries and so on. These are mainly prepared on
1:20,000,000 scales or less than that. In our country, National Thematic Mapping
Organization (NATMO) is a well known important organization. For various purposes it
publish all kinds of maps, depicting different parts of the country and its product is
known as National Atlas of India. Other important Atlas is Oxford Atlas, Reader’s digest
Atlas, School Atlas, District Atlas, State Atlas, Census Atlas, and so on. These maps are
also called as chorographical maps.