MS. PATTEN 2010

Maps, Projection and Scale

What is a map?

a graphic representation of the real world

Title Orientation Date Author Legend Scale Grid

What are the two main types of maps?

Reference Maps show the locations

of a variety of features

CountiesRoadsCountriesTopographic

Thematic Maps emphasize a

particular theme or special topic

Dot MapChoroplethProportional

SymbolIsorithmicCartogram

Reference Maps: West Virginia Counties

Reference Maps: Minnesota Roads

Reference Maps: South American Countries

Reference Maps: Topographic Map

Thematic Map: Dot Map

Thematic Map: Choropleth Map

Thematic Map: Proportional Symbol

Thematic Map: Isarithmic Map

Thematic Map: Cartogram

What is scale?

Ratio of the distance between two points found on a map compared to the actual distance between these points in the real world.

All map scales are an expression of the numerical relationship between the MAP and the LAND that is represented. The MAP unit is always mentioned first.

Types of Scale

Graphic

Types of Scale

Verbal 1 Map Unit = x Land Units 1 inch = 63,360 inches 1 inch  = 1 mile

Types of Scale

Representative Fraction 1 : 24,000 1:250,000 1/50,000

Large Scale vs Small Scale