Cartography

While my major is currently undecided I do have a good idea of what I am going to study. I have always been interested in the art of map making and maps itself. I enjoy geography and applying my keen sense of direction to everyday life. As someone who draws maps for fun I have already seen how math plays into the art of map making simply by having to preform math equations to set an accurate map up. In this paper, I will combine my personal uses of math in cartography along with the research I have found regarding the use of math in cartography. The three main uses of math in cartography that I will be discussing is map scales, coordinate systems and map projections. Cartography has been around since prehistoric times and was popular in depicting hunting and fishing territories. Today it is questioned if map making is still relevant due to the amount…

Albane Valenzuela History 95N Thematic Maps and Maps as Products: A Social Story All maps tell stories that have either shaped or were shaped by history. During the age of exploration and discovery, cartography was primarily a political enterprise that helped the state assert its colonial and imperial endeavors by drawing the boundaries of newly claimed territories. Gradually, these topographic maps evolved into more specific, accessible objects. The numerous social,…

As a new member of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, I have been assigned to do a GPS survey and a GIS analysis of the Kennedy Valley Trail (Sam Rayson Valley Trail) for the purpose of the development of the trail as there are no amenities in the trail. To get a general idea of how things are placed in a trail, I did a pre-survey on the trail west of Kennedy Rd. (Etobicoke Creek Trail) and found that it was quite undeveloped as well. Below is the data of how many light posts there…

Introduction There are many situations where maps come in handy because there are many forms of maps. There are maps that express ideas, maps that explain how to complete a task and maps that are small-scale representations of a large area or location that is difficult to navigate. This small representation is to help the user find their way around the area or location. This document proposes a reevaluation of the usefulness and accessibility of the maps that are on the University of Houston…

Geographers use a variety of maps because it helps us explain what goes on, on the Earth, see what the Earth will be like in the future, and research why the earth does things the way it does. Maps help us explain the weather, the patterns in geology, and other miscellaneous facts. They also help us see what we need to wear, and prepare for like tornados or hurricanes, even earthquakes. Lastly maps help us research why there are hot and cold days, what the average whether will be in a country or…

Are Maps Biased? What is a map? A map is a diagrammatic representation of an area of land or sea showing physical features, cities, roads, etc. Many people believe all maps are biased, because they have learned that all world maps are distorted and centered on a single landmass, causing every map projection to be biased. But while this is true, this perspective only takes into account world maps, and does not include the many other often-used maps in our daily lives which do not have a bias.…

After a general introduction to the history of Russian cartography in chapter one, the book looks at two distinct genres of map. For the first part of the book, chapters two, three, and four look at large-scale maps of local property in the heartland of Russia, produced/drawn by ordinary civil servants, locals and military men, so that officials of Muscovy can deal with conflicts about fields, mills, land or anything dealing with territory and that on it. Using these maps, and documents that…

Frank Jacobs takes an unorthodox approach to quantifying the perceived political geography of Earth in his article “Coffee and Cannibals – the Weird Geography of Autocomplete Maps.” By examining a series of maps, ostensibly generated from Google’s search autocomplete, Jacobs attempts to provide readers with insight into the “mental maps” of different cultures. Before analyzing the article, it is important to first understand exactly what a mental map is in the context of political geography.…

Maps serve as powerful objects that can change the way viewers think or perceive the world. When maps contain lies, people can be led into a false sense of belief. A New Map of Africa from the Latest Authorities, was created by cartographer John Cary- a former apprentice of William Palmer- reinforces this idea. The map was created in 1805, at the height of European colonization and exploration of Africa. Most explorers were not familiar with Africa’s landscape while undertaking these long…

Unit Topic/Title: Early European Explorers Lesson Plan Number & Title: Lesson Plan #4 Map Skills Indiana Academic Standards: Social Studies 5.1.2 Examine accounts of early European explorations of North America including major land and water routes, reasons for exploration and the impact the exploration had. Content Covered: During this lesson, students will identify the continents, oceans, accurately draw a compass rose, and trace their explorer’s route. These skills will help them to…