Thematic maps visually display data on a relevant topic for a geographic area. Techniques include choropleth, proportional, dot, and contour maps. Mapping software can create custom maps for various uses, from epidemiology to politics.
A thematic map is a geographic map that also conveys data on a topic relevant to the geographic area represented. Thematic maps display information visually and can be used to quickly convey important information points in a highly accessible way. There are a wide variety of uses for thematic maps, ranging from epidemiology to politics, and a number of software products can be used to create these maps.
Several techniques are used in the production of thematic maps. One of the best known is a choropleth map, in which various areas on a thematic map are colored or shaded to represent visual information. Many people have seen this type of thematic mapping the morning after Election Day, when many news sources provide insight into how various communities voted with a shaded map. Shades can be varied to reflect intensity, such as in a map showing the strength of Democratic or Republican votes in various communities across the United States.
Proportional mapping is also used. In a proportional thematic map, geographic features may be distorted to provide information, or the symbols used on the map may vary in proportion. A map showing global energy use might scale different countries in line with the proportion of energy they use, for example, while a map showing the size of global cities might use different sized dots to indicate proportional size.
Dot maps, where information is presented in groups of dots, are another type of thematic map. Visually representing the information on such maps can provide insight into where your data points are concentrated, and this information can prove to be very useful. Contour maps that use contour lines to delineate information are another example of a thematic mapping technique. Garden zones are often shown on an outline map for people to find their location and see which zone it is in.
Map design can get tricky, especially when people want to show multiple datasets to illustrate the relationship between them. Mapping software offers options for generating thematic maps and people can also draw their own maps if they have custom needs. The ability to convey data in a simple visual form with a thematic map is invaluable in a wide variety of environments, from the classroom to the boardroom, and this technique has a long history of use. Even before people fully understood the geography of the world around them, they created thematic maps to illustrate concepts, data and other information.
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