Cartography--Maps and Map Construction

Catalog description

Mapping is crucial to exploring and understanding distributions of geographic phenomena. It is also an important phase of many database-intensive analyses because a map is often the best way to visualize results and show them to others. Emphases in this course will be on designing and producing both thematic and reference maps that use symbols and visual hierarchies which allow the content of the maps to be readily understood. In addition to principles of graphic design, students learn about map projections, generalization, and data classification, with the objective of becoming proficient mapmakers. Hands-on computer work for lab sections will involve working with varied digital data sources using geographic information systems (GIS) software. Maps are often built from existing data created by government mapping agencies, stored as GIS databases, and based on remotely-sensing imagery.