Type of Credit: Required
Credit(s)
Number of Students
Cartography is the Technique, Science and the Art of turning data into maps. These maps become a tool for visualizing and communicating complex spatial relationships.
Maps are ubiquitious and are used everyday by everyone without having to think about it. While the conventional paper-printed large-format map has often been complemented or even replaced by digital formats, the specific techniques of transforming data into information remain essentially the same. With the advent of the Digital Revolution the ancient science of cartography and map-making has been experiencing a huge overhaul and was required to reposition itself in a modern digital area. It did so successfully.
This course on Cartography deals with maps and the process of map making, starting from data selection and integration, over filtering of information, to designing a map that eventually helps to communicate spatial information. In this course, students discuss these aspects and create their own maps with state-of-the-art digital tools. Due to its nature Geographic Information System Technology (GIST) is closely linked to topics of Cartography and will therefore provide an invaluable tool in the process of map creation.
能力項目說明
The objective of this course is to introduce the theoretical as well as practical fundamentals and concepts of cartography and map design.
Upon successful completion, students will be able to find and select spatial data, create map concepts, distill data to higher-level information, and turn data into maps that are created using standard techniques of communication and map production. They will be able to make use of international terminology to describe their digital map product.
Classes are 3 hours and take place in the GIS lab (270610). Due to the highly practical nature of this course, we will follow a hybrid approach with mixed theory and practice.
This course and all handout/upload material are provided in English, therefore a basic command of the English language will be required. Also, a basic understanding of spatial data and a feeling for spatial information and relationships are of advantage. For the technical aspects of this course, a basic knowledge about trigonometry and trigonometric identities, coordinate systems and transformations as well as partial differentiation techniques (for error propagation) will be beneficial but not needed.
For a topical schedule see course attachment.
This course has a midterm and final exam. Homework assignments and bonus exercises will help to consolidate the obtained knowledge.
All relevant material will be distributed during class. A good, though slightly out-dated introductory text is provided by
The International Cartographic Association (https://icaci.org) and its commissions on all sorts of cartographic topics (https://icaci.org/commissions/).