Thematic Cartography

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims students to get acquainted with the principles of Cartography. Rules and methodologies in thematic map design are presented. Students get familiar to collection, modification and presentation methods of thematic cartographic facts of the real world. Students also develop skills on composition and representation.

After course’s successful completion, students are expected to:

• Know the theoretical background and principals of cartography, the specific rules of thematic cartography, to recognize, evaluate and classify cartographic sources and data
• To comprehend fundamental definitions of graphic semiology and to implement optic and conceptual equilibrium rules on thematic cartographic symbology
• To comprehend and the function and to implement methods of concurrent information systems and software, in the field of thematic cartographic representation
• To analyze the needs of the potential map-reader and to decide over the type of the cartographic basemaps and data that would be used for thematic representation, to decide over data management and to implement the best-fitting technical processing methods for their transformation to cartographic information
• To correlate the available cartographic information/data to the cartographic synthesis scope and the represented geographical projects and to decide over the appropriate cartographic symbology
• To produce integrated thematic cartographical representations using digital cartographic data and state-of-the-art cartographic software and GIS, to implement cartographic analysis methods, so as to interpret spatial distributions and identify spatial patterns
• To evaluate analysis results, to perform comparative analysis and to conduct relevant technical reports and documentation on the results of cartographic approach in spatial phenomena and problems
• To elaborate with other students in project elaboration and oral presentation

 

General Competences

• Search, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology
• Adaption to new work conditions
• Decision-making
• Independent work
• Team work
• Self-evaluation
• Free, creative and inductive thinking

 

SYLLABUS

1. Introduction. Historic review. Geographic space perception. Fundamental characteristics of maps. Maps types and classification. Maps Use. Concurrent context. Technical developments and prospective
2. Introduction to Thematic Cartography. Cartography and thematic representations. Cartographic communication and thematic cartography. Thematic maps use. Applications. Cartographic, basemaps. Cartographic generalization and classification. Map scales and dimensional issues. Cartographic models and geographical data models
3. Cartographic information. Data and sources. The topographic nature of cartographic data. Spatial continuity and geometry. Cartographic data sources. Classification and evaluation methodologies. Geographic phenomena and representation models. Data and geographical variables types and classification. Geographical reference units. Geographical data measurement. Scales and measurement levels. Basic statistical prossesing.
4. Graphical semiology. Cartographic data visual organization. Components. Visual variables. Visual balance. Visual balance rules. Design principles. The use of color. Dimensions of color. Color models. Organizational issues of cartographic and thematic content. Nomenclature and typography.
5. Thematic mapping and Symbolization. Qualitative distinction of geographic data. Symbols of qualitative and ranked data referred to areas, points and lines.
6. Quantitative Data. Continuous Phenomena – Isarithmic maps – Statistical Surfaces. Symbolization of absolute and grouped values. Proportional Symbols. Dot maps. Chartograms. Choropleth maps, classification and grouping values. Accuracy of choropleth maps. Quantitative data on lines. Combining data and spatial relationships.
7. Cartographic production. Cartographic composition. Completeness and components. Preparatory procedures. Design of thematic maps. Graphical elements of cartographic composition. The geometry of the graphic page. Auxiliary frames and lines. Presentation of thematic content. Legends. Orientation and Scales. Coordinate systems and cartographic grid. Text elements.
8. Cartographic Atlases. National, school, special purpose maps and digital atlases. Thematic maps and multimedia. WEB-GIS and mapping applications.

 

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Evaluation Language: Greek (English)
Evaluation methods:
• Written exam (winter or September exams period)
• Exercises evaluation
• Individual project evaluation
Team project evaluation

 

ATTACHED BIBLIOGRAPHY

– Suggested bibliography:
1. Arlinghaus, S.L. 1996. Practical Hand Book of Spatial Statistics. CRC Press.
2. Bertin, J. 1983. A new look at Cartography: Graphic communication and design in contemporary Cartography.
3. Bertin, J. (1983). The Semiology of Graphics, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison.
4. Brewer C.A., 2005. Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users, ESRI, pp. 220
5. Cuff, J.D., Mattson, T.M., 1982, Thematic maps. Their design and production., Methuen, London
6. Dent, B., 1990. Cartography: Thematic Map Design. Wm.C.Brown Publishers, Dubuque U.S.A.
7. Longley, P., Goodchild, M., Maguire, D., Rhind, D. 2001. Geographic Information Systems and Science. John Wiley& Sons, New York.
8. MacEachren, A., 2008, How Maps Work: Representation, Visualisation and Design, Guilford Press 5
9. Robinson, A. H., Sale R. D., R. D., Morrison, J. and Muehrcke, P., C. (1995) Element of Cartography, (VIth Ed.)J Wiley, New York.
10. Slocum, Α. Τ., 2009, Thematic Cartography and Geographic Visualization, Pearson Prentice Hall

 

International Cartographic Association: http://icaci.org/
GeoVISTA Center:  http://www.geovista.psu.edu/
http://www.askmaps.com/001/
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/thematic.html
Milestones in the History of Thematic Cartography: http://www.datavis.ca/milestones
http://www.geodata.gov.gr (INSPIRE): http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/general_provisions/l28195_el.htm
Τhe INSPIRE geoportal: http://inspire-geoportal.ec.europa.eu/
Joint Research Centre – JRC – European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/about
Environmental Systems Research Institute: http://www.esri.com/

 

– Related academic journals:
Journal of Maps: http://www.journalofmaps.com
Cartography and Geographic Information Science: http://www.cartogis.org/publications/journal.php
MDPI Land