M2 Cartography Lab Assignment

 M2 Cartography Lab Assignment

In this weeks lab we learned about Cartography, the history, and the essential map elements. When creating a map it is important to know what data one has and how the data should be represented. There are going to be times when you get the data and you need to figure out what is the best way it should be shown to the client. 

Cartography is the study and practice of making maps and charts. When studying about cartography it is important to look at the history of maps and charts. Starting in 600 B.C. was when the oldest maps were being done. Then in 1440, with the invention of the printing press, cartographers made new maps that could be seen by a greater population. Lastly, cartography changed even more in the 1960s because of the inventions of total station surveying, photogrammetry, and remote sensing.

When creating the maps for this lab assignment it was important to know the essential map elements. The different elements are Title, Scale, Legend, North Arrow, Border, Date, Data Source, and Cartographer Name. Each element is able to be created on an individual basis and it can be changed depending on what the map. Having the different options can be overwhelming at times, but each map needs all the elements to make a good map. When doing a title is important to make it clear, concise, and easy to see. The scale does need to end on a round zero number and one should know if they want miles, kilometers, or any other form of measurement. The legend needs everything represented and should be in complete sentences. One can change the titles of the shapefiles in the map layout. Also, you are able to change the order by dragging it up or down. The north arrow can be different but it needs to easy to see and not in the way. The border can change but it does need to be simple. Lastly, the date, data source, and cartographer can be put all together. The information can be found in the dynamic text section and is able to be changed.

Knowing all the information of the data, where it came from, and what it is representing can help make a map good to great. In the map below was the best representation of the information that was given to me.