Tyner indb

© 2010 The Guilford Press
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Printed in the United States of America
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Last digit is print number: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Tyner, Judith A.
Principles of map design / Judith A. Tyner.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60623-544-7 (hardcover)
1. Cartography. 2. Thematic maps. I. Title.
GA105.3.T97 2010
526—dc22
2009049691
Maps and Graphics by Gerald E. Tyner, PhD
GIS Consultant James A. Woods, MA
vii
Preface
A
map says to you, “Read me carefully, follow me closely, doubt
me not.” It says, “I am the earth in the palm of your hand.
Without me, you are alone and lost.”
—B
eryl
M
arkham
,
West with the
Night, 1942
An earlier version of this book was published in 1992. In the years between its writ-
ing and the present version, changes in mapmaking have been enormous. We have
moved in the last 20 years from pen-and-ink drafting to computerized mapping.
Mapmaking is in the midst of a revolution that had its beginnings over 50 years ago.
This revolution is based on changes in technology, in kinds of data, and in social
influences. Data that would not have been available in 1950, such as satellite imagery,
are now routinely available to anyone with Internet access. The Internet itself is a
product of only the last 20 years. Mapmakers have become more aware of the impact
of their products on society and have an increased concern with ethics and privacy.
Technological advances including satellites and computers have had a major impact
on the field. The impact of research on how maps work, how readers perceive maps
and symbols, and visualization has changed our thinking about maps. Rapid changes
in software and hardware continue unabated. A sophisticated cartography lab hardly
more than 15 years ago would have had perhaps 10 desktop computers with “line”
printers, digitizers, and perhaps a plotter; this seems primitive today. GIS exploded
onto the scene in the 1990s (although its antecedents go back to the 1930s). It seems,
in fact, that the only constant in the field is change.
However, if one looks beyond the technology, there are principles that remain
sound regardless of production methods. These principles are the basis of “good”
maps whether produced with pen and ink or the most recent GIS package, whether
printed or viewed online.
viii
Preface
It is important to remember also that creating maps goes beyond the look of the
page. Maps have an impact on society; they are used in decision making at many
levels, from a simple “How do I get there?” to “Where should the money be allo-
cated?” The mapmaker must take into account the purpose of the map, the intended
audience, and where and how the map might be used. The mapmaker must never lose
sight of the power that maps have.
This book is divided into five parts. Part I is titled Map Design. This may seem
contrary to common sense. After all, one must gather data, then select a scale, a pro-
jection, and symbols; shouldn’t all this come before design? Map design is actually
a twofold process. This book focuses on “design” in the broad sense of planning the
map, not merely on layout and how to make the map “pretty.” Design is a decision-
making process and, for maps, includes choosing data, choosing projection, choosing
scale, establishing a hierarchy, choosing symbols, choosing colors, and choosing type
in order to make an effective map for a given purpose. Thus, design is the heart of
mapmaking. Part II focuses on the geographic and cartographic framework. This
includes compilation, generalization, projections, and scale.
Part III involves sym-
bolization and how to represent various kinds of data. Symbols are often called the
“language of maps” and while this isn’t strictly true, choice of symbol is critical in the
effectiveness of a map. Part IV concentrates on what might be considered nontradi-
tional mapping and more advanced visualization techniques. Here, design principles
for web mapping, animated maps, cartograms, interactive maps, and maps for the
visually impaired are discussed. Part V, Critique of Maps, is a series of map “make-
overs,” evaluating and improving maps.
A list of suggested readings is included at the end of each chapter for the reader
who would like more information on the material in that chapter, and a complete
bibliography that includes the readings plus other sources used in creating the book
is provided at the end of the book.
Three appendices are included: a table of common projections, a list of resources,
and a glossary of terms. URLs are listed under “Resources” in Appendix B. Those
included are primarily government sites such as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),
the Census Bureau, and cartographic organizations. Few individual websites are
included, since they are subject to rapid change and often disappear.
This book does not focus on any specific software, but on principles of making
maps. It is not a “how-to” book. Numerous manuals are available for use with dif-
ferent software packages; some of these are listed in the bibliography. The industry-
standard software at the time of this book’s writing could well be out of date by the
time of publication. The principles are those that are generally accepted.
It is the task and objective of a textbook author to translate and summarize cur-
rent thinking and practices in the discipline. Any textbook is somewhat idiosyncratic
and reflects the thinking of the author or authors. It reflects what the author believes
is important in the discipline. This book is no exception. I have drawn on many
sources, including conversations and input from other mapmakers, and I have tried to
present the most accepted principles at the time of writing, but this book is essentially
my view of cartography, and any errors that may have insinuated themselves into the
text are mine.