Cartography or mapmaking (in Greek chartis = map and graphein = write) is the study and practice of making maps or globes. Maps have traditionally been made using pen and paper, but the advent and spread of computers has revolutionized cartography. Most commercial quality maps are now made with map making software that falls into one of three main types; CAD, GIS, and specialized map illustration software. Maps function as visualization tools for spatial data. Spatial data is acquired from measurement and c ...

Including:

• Cartography - History
• Cartography - Technological changes
• Cartography - Map types
• Cartography - Naming conventions

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Mapmaking involves advanced skills and attitudes, particularly the use of symbols to represent certain geographic phenomena, as well as the ability to visualize the world in an abstract and scaled down form. Maps have been an integral part of the human story for long time (maybe 8,000 years - nobody knows exactly, but longer than a written words). From cave/wall partings, ancient maps of Babylon and Greek philosophers, through the Age of Exploration, and on into the 21st century, people have created and used maps as the essential tool ...

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Cartography, Cartography - History, Cartography - Technological changes, Cartography - Map types, Cartography - Naming conventions

Read more here: » Cartography: Encyclopedia II - Cartography - History

There are several ways to name the places on a map. Early explorers named them in several ways — after themselves, people in their homeland, and the ruler(s) of their countries. Features were also named by appearance, local climate, incidents that happened in the vicinity, and location. Many places along the coast of Brazil were named by Portuguese explorers in the early 1500s after the saint of the day of discovery in the Catholic calendar of saints (so that the detailed timetable of their expeditions can of ...

See also:

Cartography, Cartography - History, Cartography - Technological changes, Cartography - Map types, Cartography - Naming conventions

Read more here: » Cartography: Encyclopedia II - Cartography - Naming conventions

In understanding basic maps, the field of cartography can be divided into two general categories: general cartography and thematic cartography. General cartography involves those maps that are constructed for a general audience and thus contain a variety of features. General maps exhibit many reference and location systems and often are produced in a series. For example the 1:24,000 scale topographic maps of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are a standard as compared to the 1:50,000 scale Canadian maps. A topographic map is primarily concerned with the topography of a place, and is typically different from other maps by it ...

See also:

Cartography, Cartography - History, Cartography - Technological changes, Cartography - Map types, Cartography - Naming conventions

Read more here: » Cartography: Encyclopedia II - Cartography - Map types