Exercise 1: Test Yourself

Subject: Principles of Cartography

Course Code: Geog 2003

Instructor: Dr. M. M. Yagoub

 

 

Students are required to read the questions and the answers first. Second, the student must train themselves to solve the questions and check their answers

 

Q1: Define Cartography?

The International Cartographic Association (ICA) defines cartography as

The art, science, and technology that deals with maps and all their aspects.

 

Q2: The major emphasis of cartography is effective communication of geographically referenced information. Effective map making comprises of five major steps: Selection, Classification, Simplification, Symbolization, Exaggeration. Define each of these steps.

Selection: representation of specific features

Classification: arranging the data into classes

Simplification: elimination/ exclusion of  unnecessary data

Symbolization: use of signs (marks) to stand for elements of reality

Exaggeration: magnification of features to be seen at small scale

 

Q3: Define the following means of communicating knowledge: Literacy, Articulacy, 

Mathematics or Numeracy, and Graphicacy.

 

Literacy: written language

Articulacy: spoken language

Mathematics or Numeracy: symbolizing and dealing with numbers

Graphicacy: is the most important method of communicating drawing, paintings, plans, diagrams etc

 

Q4:What is a map?

Map is a graphic representation of both physical and human environment

 

Q5: List the main map components?

 Location: position in 2D (x,y) and 3D (x,y,z)

 Reduction (Scale): The map is smaller than the region it portrays

Transformation: Conversion (Projection) from spherical earth (3D) to 2D in order to draw a map on a flat surface (paper)

Abstraction: representation of only information that has been chosen

 Signs and/or symbolization: use of signs (marks) to stand for elements of reality

 

Q6: List three purposes/usage of map? A map may serve n number of purposes

Representation of geographical information in a spatial format

Helps mobility and navigation (direction)

Measurement and computing (distance, angle, area, volume)

Spatial forecasting and assessing spatial patterns

 

Q7: Maps can be classified by scale or function, discuss?

Maps can be classed by scale and function. On the basis of scale maps can be kept in two categories

Small scale maps (Atlas or wall maps): scale 1:500,000 and smaller

Large scale maps (Cadastral maps): Scale 1:50,000 and larger

 

Classification by theme:

General reference maps (topographic, administrative maps): show location of geographic features

Thematic maps or Special purpose maps: Concentrate on distribution of single attribute or the relationship among several (population, atmospheric maps)

 

 

Q8: List the necessary elements that must be included in a map?

1. Title 2. Content (graphic + attribute) 3. Scale (e.g. 1:100) 4. Legend (symbols)

5. Direction (North Arrow) 6. Name of organization and date of production 7. Frame