Advantages of digital cartography:
 Less graphic / artistic skills needed
 Colours / patterns easier to apply
 Easier to make changes and updates
 Easy conversion of map projections
 Integration of geomatics –mapping, GPS, imagery
 .. and computers are ‘cool’ (if they don’t freeze)
Disadvantages of digital over manual
So much new to learn ..
Maps can be produced by anyone ?
GRRRR … computers … software
The promise of digital cartography
• Fast
updating… (?) ->
Reality: western europe
– every year
Canada – every 10 years,
Roads only
• Seamless databases
-Map data by sheet from NDTB: http://geogratis.ca
-Merge mapsheet tiles or download by AOI (Area of interest)
2005: online map viewers: e.g. Google Maps-Earth/PGmap
Mars Global Surveyor: Mars Orbiter Laser altimeter
Unprecedented access to map data and onscreen mapping
Google maps – updated regularly by local users using GPS
All online mapping – Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap use web
mercator
Web Mercator shares some properties of the Mercator projection:
north is always up, rhumb lines are straight, areas near the poles are
greatly exaggerated.
Conformal = zooms are quick as shape doesn’t have to recompute
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_Mercator
A Texas homeowner has said her life has been “wrecked” after a GPS error
Mars
Global Surveyor: Mars Orbiter Laser altimeter
resulted in her house being accidentally demolished. Demolition workers were
supposed to knock down 7601 Cousteau Drive, but Google Maps directed
them one block away to 7601 Calypso Drive. Lindsay Diaz, the owner of 7601
Calypso Drive, was informed by a neighbour that her home had been destroyed.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/offbeat/google-maps-error-sees-wrong-house-demolished/arBBqRwb7?li=BBnb4R7
Current trends in mapping
 Apps for mobile devices – ‘Ubiquitous cartography’
 Animations – moving maps
 3D perspectives and software applications
 More and more data e.g. LiDAR
 Mapping from UAVs
 Increasing use of google maps and google earth
The growth of Infographics
In this course, you should have learned:
• General overview of mapping technologies (geomatics)
• Use of (complex) GIS software for map output
• How maps and images are used in projects and the media
• How to generate a map for future projects and courses
• Appreciation of what makes a good display …. and bad !
Making a meaningful map
1. Do I know what my map’s story is?
2. Am I using the right map projection?
3. Am I using data at the right level of generalization ?
4. Is my symbology clear?
5. Do my symbols match my data?
6. Have I used the right text symbols?
7. Does my map have figure-ground organization?
8. Does my map have good visual hierarchy?
9. Do I need to add anything else to my map?
10. Have I asked for a critique? (Do you dare?)
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0911/files/mapchecklist.pdf
Second exam (10%) - Thursday 14.30
non-cumulative:
Covering lectures since the last midterm
 Figure-Ground in Cartography
 Projects (map critique)
 Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
 Mapping history before 1950
 Mapping history since 1950
Summary review
Multiple choice + Map critique
Q. Multiple choice: Who developed the first map projections ?
a. The Romans
b. The Greeks
c. The Vikings
d. Leonardo Da Vinci
e. Gerhard Mercator
Q: Identify four different ‘errors’ or poor design elements in the following map
Exam marks / final grades will be posted on the webpage under ‘keys’ tab
Map critique
Tetsa River Park, near
Fort Nelson, BC