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{{dablink|For other uses, see [[Map (disambiguation)]]. For the acronyms, see [[MAP]] and [[MAPS]]}} | {{dablink|For other uses, see [[Map (disambiguation)]]. For the acronyms, see [[MAP]] and [[MAPS]]}} | ||
A '''map''' is a simplified depiction of a [[space]] which highlights relations between components ([[objects]], regions) of that space. Most usually a map is a [[2D geometric model|two-dimensional, geometrically accurate representation]] of a [[three-dimensional space]]; e.g., a [[geographical map]]. More generally, maps can be devised to represent any local property of the world or part of it, or any other space, such as the brain (see | A '''map''' is a simplified depiction of a [[space]] which highlights relations between components ([[objects]], regions) of that space. Most usually a map is a [[2D geometric model|two-dimensional, geometrically accurate representation]] of a [[three-dimensional space]]; e.g., a [[geographical map]]. More generally, maps can be devised to represent any local property of the world or part of it, or any other space, such as the brain (see Brain mapping). | ||
== Geographical maps == | == Geographical maps == | ||
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[[Image:Physical_world.jpg|thumb|333px|right|Physical map of the Earth.]] | [[Image:Physical_world.jpg|thumb|333px|right|Physical map of the Earth.]] | ||
Geographic maps are abstract representations of the world. It is, of course, this abstraction that makes them useful. [[Lewis Carroll]] made this point humorously in ''Sylvie and Bruno'' with his mention of a fictional map that had "the scale of a mile to the mile". A character notes some practical difficulties with this map and states that "we now use the country itself, as its own map, and I assure you it does nearly as well". This concept is elaborated in a one-paragraph story by | Geographic maps are abstract representations of the world. It is, of course, this abstraction that makes them useful. [[Lewis Carroll]] made this point humorously in ''Sylvie and Bruno'' with his mention of a fictional map that had "the scale of a mile to the mile". A character notes some practical difficulties with this map and states that "we now use the country itself, as its own map, and I assure you it does nearly as well". This concept is elaborated in a one-paragraph story by Jorge Luis Borges, generally known in English as "[[On Exactitude in Science]]". | ||
Road maps are perhaps the most widely used maps today, and form a subset of navigational maps, which also include aeronautical and | Road maps are perhaps the most widely used maps today, and form a subset of navigational maps, which also include aeronautical and nautical charts, railroad network maps, and hiking and bicycling maps. In terms of quantity, the largest number of drawn map sheets is probably made up by local surveys, carried out by municipalities, utilities, tax assessors, emergency services providers, and other local agencies. Many national surveying projects have been carried out by the military, such as the British [[Ordnance Survey]] (now a civilian government agency internationally renowned for its comprehensively detailed work). | ||
== Orientation of maps == | == Orientation of maps == | ||
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The most common cartographic convention is that [[North]] is at the top of a map. This is far from universal, however: | The most common cartographic convention is that [[North]] is at the top of a map. This is far from universal, however: | ||
* | *Polar maps of the Arctic or [[Antarctic]] regions are conventionally centered on the pole, making "north is up" meaningless. | ||
*Azimuthal or Gnomonic projections are often used in planning air routes, centered on specific origin points. | *Azimuthal or Gnomonic projections are often used in planning air routes, centered on specific origin points. | ||
*[[Richard Edes Harrison]] produced a striking series of maps during and after World War II for [[Fortune magazine]]. These used "bird's eye" projections to emphasize globally strategic "fronts" in the air age, pointing out proximities and barriers not as apparent on a conventional rectangular projection of the world. | *[[Richard Edes Harrison]] produced a striking series of maps during and after World War II for [[Fortune magazine]]. These used "bird's eye" projections to emphasize globally strategic "fronts" in the air age, pointing out proximities and barriers not as apparent on a conventional rectangular projection of the world. | ||
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Many but not all maps are drawn to a [[Scale (map)|scale]], allowing the reader to infer the actual sizes of, and distances between, depicted objects. A larger scale shows more detail, thus requiring a larger map to show the same area. For example, maps designed for the hiker are often scaled at the [[ratio]] 1:24,000, meaning that 1 of any unit of measurement on the map corresponds to 24,000 of that same unit in reality; while maps designed for the [[motorist]] are often scaled at 1:250,000. Maps which use some quality other than physical area to determine relative size are called [[cartogram]]s. | Many but not all maps are drawn to a [[Scale (map)|scale]], allowing the reader to infer the actual sizes of, and distances between, depicted objects. A larger scale shows more detail, thus requiring a larger map to show the same area. For example, maps designed for the hiker are often scaled at the [[ratio]] 1:24,000, meaning that 1 of any unit of measurement on the map corresponds to 24,000 of that same unit in reality; while maps designed for the [[motorist]] are often scaled at 1:250,000. Maps which use some quality other than physical area to determine relative size are called [[cartogram]]s. | ||
A famous example of a map without scale is the [[Tube map|London Underground map]], which best fulfils its purpose by being less physically accurate and more visually communicative to the hurried glance of the commuter. This is not a cartogram (since there is no consistent measure of distance) but a | A famous example of a map without scale is the [[Tube map|London Underground map]], which best fulfils its purpose by being less physically accurate and more visually communicative to the hurried glance of the commuter. This is not a cartogram (since there is no consistent measure of distance) but a topological map that also depicts approximate bearings. The simple maps shown on some directional [[road sign]]s are further examples of this kind. | ||
In fact, most commercial navigational maps, such as road maps and town plans, sacrifice an amount of accuracy in scale to deliver a greater visual usefulness to its user, for example by exaggerating the width of roads. With the [[end-user]] similarly in mind, cartographers will censor the content of the space depicted by a map in order to provide a useful tool for that user. | In fact, most commercial navigational maps, such as road maps and town plans, sacrifice an amount of accuracy in scale to deliver a greater visual usefulness to its user, for example by exaggerating the width of roads. With the [[end-user]] similarly in mind, cartographers will censor the content of the space depicted by a map in order to provide a useful tool for that user. | ||
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{{main|World map}} | {{main|World map}} | ||
[[Image:Ocean_gravity_map.gif|right|thumb|200px|Map of large underwater features. (1995, [[NOAA]])]] | [[Image:Ocean_gravity_map.gif|right|thumb|200px|Map of large underwater features. (1995, [[NOAA]])]] | ||
Maps of the world or large areas are often either 'political' or 'physical'. The most important purpose of the political map is to show territorial borders; the purpose of the physical is to show features of | Maps of the world or large areas are often either 'political' or 'physical'. The most important purpose of the political map is to show territorial borders; the purpose of the physical is to show features of geography such as mountains, soil type or land use. Geological maps show not only the physical surface, but characteristics of the underlying rock, [[Geologic fault|fault]] lines, and subsurface structures. | ||
Maps that depict the surface of the Earth also use a [[map projection|projection]], a way of translating the three-dimensional real surface of the [[geoid]] to a two-dimensional picture. Perhaps the best-known world-map projection is the [[Mercator Projection]], originally designed as a form of | Maps that depict the surface of the Earth also use a [[map projection|projection]], a way of translating the three-dimensional real surface of the [[geoid]] to a two-dimensional picture. Perhaps the best-known world-map projection is the [[Mercator Projection]], originally designed as a form of nautical chart. | ||
Airplane pilots use aeronautical charts based on a [[Lambert conformal conic projection]], in which a cone is laid over the section of the earth to be mapped. The cone intersects the sphere (the earth) at one or two parallels which are chosen as standard lines. This allows the pilots to plot a great-circle route approximation on a flat, two-dimensional chart. | Airplane pilots use aeronautical charts based on a [[Lambert conformal conic projection]], in which a cone is laid over the section of the earth to be mapped. The cone intersects the sphere (the earth) at one or two parallels which are chosen as standard lines. This allows the pilots to plot a great-circle route approximation on a flat, two-dimensional chart. | ||
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== Electronic maps == | == Electronic maps == | ||
[[Image:Topographic_map_example.png|thumb|200px|A [[USGS]] [[digital raster graphic]].]] | [[Image:Topographic_map_example.png|thumb|200px|A [[USGS]] [[digital raster graphic]].]] | ||
From the last quarter of the 20th century, the indispensable tool of the cartographer has been the computer. Much of cartography, especially at the data-gathering survey level, has been subsumed by | From the last quarter of the 20th century, the indispensable tool of the cartographer has been the computer. Much of cartography, especially at the data-gathering survey level, has been subsumed by Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The functionality of maps has been greatly advanced by technology allowing, for example, the superimposition of spatially located variables onto existing geographical maps. Having local information such as rainfall level, distribution of wildlife, or demographic data integrated within the map makes for more efficient analysis and better decision making. In the pre-electronic age such superimposition of data led to [[John Snow (physician)|Dr. John Snow]] discovering the cause of cholera. Today, it is used by agencies as diverse as wildlife conservationists and militaries around the world. | ||
Even when GIS is not involved, most cartographers now use a variety of computer graphics programs to generate new maps. | Even when GIS is not involved, most cartographers now use a variety of computer graphics programs to generate new maps. | ||
Interactive, computerised maps are commercially available, allowing users to ''zoom in'' or ''zoom out'' (respectively meaning to increase or decrease the scale), sometimes by replacing one map with another of different scale, centred where possible on the same point. In-car [[ | Interactive, computerised maps are commercially available, allowing users to ''zoom in'' or ''zoom out'' (respectively meaning to increase or decrease the scale), sometimes by replacing one map with another of different scale, centred where possible on the same point. In-car [[satellite navigation]] systems are computerised maps with route-planning and advice facilities which monitor the user's position with the help of satellites. | ||
From the computer scientist's point of view, zooming in entails one or a combination of: | From the computer scientist's point of view, zooming in entails one or a combination of: | ||
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*(2) may apply to text and (3) to the outline of a map feature such as a forest or building. | *(2) may apply to text and (3) to the outline of a map feature such as a forest or building. | ||
*(1) may apply to the text (displaying labels for more features), while (2) applies to the rest of the image. Text is not necessarily enlarged when zooming in. Similarly, a road represented by a double line may or may not become wider when one zooms in. | *(1) may apply to the text (displaying labels for more features), while (2) applies to the rest of the image. Text is not necessarily enlarged when zooming in. Similarly, a road represented by a double line may or may not become wider when one zooms in. | ||
*The map may also have layers which are partly [[raster graphics]] and partly | *The map may also have layers which are partly [[raster graphics]] and partly vector graphics. For a single raster graphics image (2) applies until the pixels in the image file correspond to the pixels of the display, thereafter (3) applies. | ||
See also [[Webpage#Graphics|Webpage (Graphics)]], [[Portable Document Format#Layers|PDF (Layers)]], [[Mapquest]], [[Google Maps]], Google Earth or [[Yahoo! Maps]]. | See also [[Webpage#Graphics|Webpage (Graphics)]], [[Portable Document Format#Layers|PDF (Layers)]], [[Mapquest]], [[Google Maps]], Google Earth or [[Yahoo! Maps]]. | ||
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*Cartography | *Cartography | ||
*[[History of cartography]] | *[[History of cartography]] | ||
* | *Geography | ||
* | *Atlas | ||
*[[Ancient world maps]] | *[[Ancient world maps]] | ||
*Globe | *Globe | ||
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*[[Pictorial maps]] | *[[Pictorial maps]] | ||
*[[World map]] | *[[World map]] | ||
* | *Topographic map | ||
*[[Geologic map]] | *[[Geologic map]] | ||
*[[Dymaxion map]] | *[[Dymaxion map]] | ||
*[[Road atlas]] | *[[Road atlas]] | ||
* | *Street map | ||
* | *Nautical chart | ||
*[[Cartogram]] | *[[Cartogram]] | ||
*[[Plat]] | *[[Plat]] | ||
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* [http://www.flourish.org/upsidedownmap/ The Upsidedown Map Page] Pictures and info about maps which are oriented without North at the top | * [http://www.flourish.org/upsidedownmap/ The Upsidedown Map Page] Pictures and info about maps which are oriented without North at the top | ||
* [http://www.citoplan.nl/citoplan/img/legenda_groot.gif Example of map legends (Cito-Plan city maps)] | * [http://www.citoplan.nl/citoplan/img/legenda_groot.gif Example of map legends (Cito-Plan city maps)] | ||
* [ | * [[wp-en:Wikipedia:Maps|Wikipedia:Maps]], use of maps on [[Wikipedia]] | ||
* [http://slashgeo.org slashgeo.org] - Community-driven and ad-free website for news and discussions about Maps and Geospatial technologies | * [http://slashgeo.org slashgeo.org] - Community-driven and ad-free website for news and discussions about Maps and Geospatial technologies | ||
* [http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060424fa_fact/ Getting There] Article on Online Maps from The New Yorker | * [http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060424fa_fact/ Getting There] Article on Online Maps from The New Yorker | ||
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National: | National: | ||
* [http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ National Atlas of the United States] | * [http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ National Atlas of the United States] | ||
* [http://nationalmap.usgs.gov/ National Map], | * [http://nationalmap.usgs.gov/ National Map], United States Geological Survey | ||
* [http://www.terraserver-usa.com/ TerraServer-USA] and [http://www.topozone.com/ TopoZone] host USGS topographic maps (and aerial photos on [[TerraServer-USA]]); [http://historical.maptech.com/ Maptech] hosts historical USGS topos in the northeast United States. | * [http://www.terraserver-usa.com/ TerraServer-USA] and [http://www.topozone.com/ TopoZone] host USGS topographic maps (and aerial photos on [[TerraServer-USA]]); [http://historical.maptech.com/ Maptech] hosts historical USGS topos in the northeast United States. | ||
* [http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/index.html Atlas of Canada] | * [http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/index.html Atlas of Canada] | ||
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[[gl:Mapa]] | [[gl:Mapa]] | ||
[[ko:지도]] | [[ko:지도]] | ||
hr:Karta | |||
id:Peta | |||
[[he:מפה]] | [[he:מפה]] | ||
lb:Landkaart | |||
[[ml:ഭൂപടം]] | [[ml:ഭൂപടം]] | ||
no:Kart | |||
[[nn:Kart]] | [[nn:Kart]] | ||
[[pl:Mapa]] | [[pl:Mapa]] | ||
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[[sk:Mapa]] | [[sk:Mapa]] | ||
[[sl:Zemljevid]] | [[sl:Zemljevid]] | ||
su:Atlas | |||
[[th:แผนที่]] | [[th:แผนที่]] | ||
[[vi:Bản đồ]] | [[vi:Bản đồ]] | ||
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[[zh:地图]] | [[zh:地图]] | ||
[[zh-classical:地圖]] | [[zh-classical:地圖]] | ||
[[Category:Hiking equipment]] | [[Category:Hiking equipment]] | ||
[[ar:خريطة]] | |||
[[da:Kort]] | |||
[[de:Karte]] | [[de:Karte]] | ||
[[fi:Kartta]] | [[fi:Kartta]] | ||
[[fr:Carte]] | [[fr:Carte]] | ||
[[nl: | [[it:Carta topografica]] | ||
[[nl:Topografische kaart]] | |||
[[sv:Karta]] | [[sv:Karta]] |