Maps and Cartography

Profiling interesting maps and geography items. Also listed in this category are articles relating to cartography (aka map making) and cartographic techniques.

New Edition of Making Maps

August 29, 2016By Caitlin DempseyMaps and Cartography

The new edition of “Making Maps” contains over 40 pages of new content, over 35 new maps, and updated and expanded discussions on a variety of topics including when mapping is inappropriate, time and mapping, and geodata locational services and privacy.

Land cover of the area under study in the 1st Military Survey map in the lowland area of Nové Dvory and Zehusice, Czech Republic. Source: Skaloš et al., 2011.

GIS and Modern Research from Historical Maps

August 28, 2016By Mark AltaweelMaps and Cartography

While GIS offers a way to digitize detailed historical records and maps, it can also provide a new way to understand history and trends over time.

High Speed Rail Map. Image Courtesy Wikimedia

Using Maps to Share Information in a Visual and Engaging Way

July 26, 2016By Troy LambertMaps and Cartography

What does a more global economic strategy mean in the world of GIS? It all relates back to one simple thing: maps can be used to share information in a visual and engaging way.

After the Map GIS Data Available for Downloading

July 6, 2016By Caitlin DempseyMaps and Cartography

A bonus to the book, After the Map, is the companion site, www.afterthemap.info which offers access to all of the imagery, spreadsheets, and GIS data used in the book.

For Indian Users, Google maps shows Arunachal Pradesh as part of India.

India Preparing Law to Fine Cartographers Up To $15 Million For Making Maps Not To Its Liking

May 25, 2016By Elizabeth BornemanMaps and Cartography

India has drafted a law that would require mapmakers to depict India in a very specific way or face a possible monetary fine and imprisonment.

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Geospatial Redux: National Map Reading Week, Esri UC Call for Papers, Google Maps’s Blue Beam Measures Accuracy

This edition of Geospatial Redux takes a look at the first annual Map Reading Week hosted by the Ordnance Survey, Esri’s Call for Papers, and Google Maps’ new blue beam for directional accuracy.

Line of sight analysis showing the obstructed (red) and visible (green) points across a terrain.

Using GIS to Map Telecommunications

Mapping telecommunication networks is of great importance to both urban and rural regions, particularly as telecommunication networks become even more vital for our daily lives. Terrain, vegetation, urban regions, and other potential interference are often assessed together and GIS tools such as ArcGIS have developed into an industry standard for forecasting cellular tower locations.

Connecting to GPS in Tunnels

Waze is testing out technology it calls “Waze Beacons” to keep drivers connected to GPS navigation systems in tunnels.

Open Source GIS and Freeware GIS Applications

An open source application by definition is software that you can freely access and modify the source code for. Open source projects typically are worked on by a community of volunteer programmers. Open source GIS programs are based on different base programming languages. Three main groups of open source GIS […]

Learn GIS for Free

There are a few online options to learn GIS for free. Take advantage of resources that provide you access to free courses from some of the world’s best universities and institutions. Learn GIS on your own or supplement your existing geospatial education with these free resources.

Elements of a Map

Maps are the primary tools by which spatial relationships are visualized. Maps therefore become important documents. There are several key elements that should be included each time a map is created in order to aid the viewer in understanding the communications of that map and to document the source of […]