Cartography is the art and science of map making, with a history dating back thousands of years. Modern cartographers use computers and specialized knowledge to create accurate and informative maps. Maps can be topographical or topological, and require knowledge of geography, mathematics, science, and current events. The challenge of creating a world map has led to various approaches, including the Mercator projection.
Cartography is the art and science of map making, practiced by cartographers. Humans have been drawing maps for thousands of years, as part of an effort to understand their environment. The search for an accurate map prompted explorers to venture into remote areas as late as the 1700s, and modern-day cartographers still find frequent employment, thanks to constant political and geological changes around the world. To train in cartography, a student should be prepared to take years of coursework in multiple disciplines.
The term comes from two Greek words, chartis, which means map, and graphos, which means to draw or write. In historic times, a single cartographer’s hand drew a full map, often with limited information. Modern cartography professionals have the advantage of computers and other equipment to assist them in making their maps more accurate. The science of cartography has also evolved, as many maps have become explosions of multimedia data, jam-packed with information for the reader.
Basic cartography covers two data components. The first is location data, which indicates where the represented area is. In ancient maps, location data often showed where something was in relation to something else, but modern maps usually use geographic coordinates such as latitude and longitude to orient their features. The second type of data is attributive data, which shows bodies of water, mountains, valleys, hills, and other geographic features of interest and note.
A world map reflects an immense mathematical and aesthetic challenge, that of translating the globe into a two-dimensional surface. Many cartographers have struggled with this problem over the centuries, striving to project the globe’s features accurately and effectively. A number of approaches have been taken to solve this problem, including the Mercator projection, a map that distorts geological features north and south of the equator to fit the globe into an ordered rectangle. Other maps portray the globe in sections, reducing the amount of distortion needed.
The skills required for cartography are immense. Cartography relies heavily on mathematics to represent the Earth, along with science to help describe and understand geological features. Specialized maps can include things like ocean floors, which require knowledge of oceanography, or unique rock formations, which involve geological study of the region. Knowledge of current political events is also important, as nations divide, change names, or disappear more frequently than many realize.
The products of cartography can be divided into two broad types of map, although they can often overlap. A topographical map is designed to be true to the landscape it is depicting. Topographic maps usually include elevations, major geographic features, and other information that someone uses to navigate. These maps can often be used for decades, unless a major geological event such as a volcanic eruption or earthquake occurs.
A topological map, on the other hand, is used to convey information such as highway routes, dangerous regions of a country, or population density. Topological maps can sometimes be quite complex, showing readers multiple important features to highlight and educate, and change frequently as the lives of the people and places depicted on them change.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
