"CARTOGRAPHY"

The following sections provide brief summaries, in outline form, of the main points presented by the listed speakers at the March 2, 1999 meeting of the Massachusetts Geographic Information Council (MGIC). 

Moderator - Peter Van Demark, Caliper Corporation

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Overview

Maps have a story to tell. But how well does a particular map tell its story? What are the design issues to be aware of when you create a map? How can you avoid lying with maps? This panel on cartography presented some pointers.

The session started with an introduction to cartographic design principles, then discussed the wide variety of maps that were submitted for review. The panelists and the audience had the chance to discuss each map, to see how well the resulting map matches the stated purpose. The interaction provided good examples of how to get your point across more clearly by making maps that tell the intended story.

Panelists and Presenters:

• Peter Van Demark, Caliper Corporation
• David Weaver, Applied Geographics, Inc.
• Anita Beinikis, Mass. DEP-SERO

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Presentation by Peter Van Demark, Manager of Customer Services, Caliper Corporation, Newton, Mass.
"The Art and Science of Cartography"

• Is cartography an art or science? or both?
• Maps are a representation of reality
• Cartographers must develop a talent for "excellence in communication" by controlling what the user sees
• why was the map created
• what is shown
• what area/size of area shown
• who is audience
• technical limits
• Clarity and legibility are musts or the map is worthless
• Don't confuse the map reader with poor symbol choices
• Need good visual contrast
• shape
• size
• hue
• value
• pattern
• direction/orientation
• balance (non-disturbing layout)
• Need a hierarchy
• see boundaries of areas
• color and pattern
• typography

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Contact Information:

Peter Van Demark manager of Customer Services Caliper Corporation 1172 Beacon St. Newton, MA 02461 Phone: (617) 527-4700 Fax: (617) 527-5113 Web: http://www.caliper.com

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Presentation by Anita Beinikis, GIS Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Southeast Region
"Communicating With Maps"

•  Mapmakers must remember that maps are about communicating and exchanging information


Communication Model:

•  A bad map may fail to get across its message, or worse, convey the wrong message
• "Communication Static" can lead to the creation of bad maps


Sources of Communication Static:

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Contact Information:

Anita Beinikis GIS Coordinator DEP SERO Phone: (508) 946-2741 Email: Anita.Beinikis@state.ma.us

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Presentation by David Weaver, Vice President, Applied Geographics, Inc., Boston, Mass.
"Issues in Cartography"

Map issues haven't changed with the adoption of complex technology by cartographers

• Content - key for a useful map (data and how it is presented)
• Clarity
• Contrast - need a hierarchy to compare information
• Coherent Design - i.e. title/legend, the "look of the whole map"
• Creativity - important

Hierarchical maps

• use one hue with different densities, not the same density of different hues - this affects clarity

Map elements must work together

• coordinate system
• main map
• location map
• inset map
• scale
• north arrow
• legend
• border/neatline
• descriptive text (credits, other info, etc.)

Maps are an iterative process

• try, revise, ...

Things to watch out for:

• colors or symbols on the map that do not appear in the legend
• if a bright color stands out it shouldn't be a background
• but, bright colors can draw you in for a closer look if used properly
• Always set the proper relationship between the figure (main feature, focus of map) and the ground (the background)
• need some "ground", shouldn't be all "figure", for reference
• If one legend is for different maps, colors and symbols need to be the same on both maps
• Should be clear where insets are on small-scale maps, and scales should be present for each map on a page if they are at different scales
• text shouldn't be too small to read or too large, which makes it overwhelming
• text "halos" may be used atop images or other colors for clarity and may solve problem for readers with color blindness

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Contact Information:

David Weaver Vice President Applied Geographics, Inc. 100 Franklin Street Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 292-7715 Email: weaver@appgeo.com Web: http://www.appgeo.com

Last Updated 4/19/2000
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