[CV4-1] Thematic mapping

A thematic map is a type of map especially designed to show a particular theme connected with a specific geographic area. These maps "can portray physical, social, political, cultural, economic, sociological, agricultural, or any other aspects of a city, state, region, nation, or continent". Cartographers use many methods to create thematic maps. Five techniques are especially noted: -Choropleth mapping shows statistical data aggregated over predefined regions -Proportional symbols, showing the relative value of attributes -Isarithmic or Isopleth, also known as contour maps -Dots, to show the location of a phenomenon -Dasymetric, which uses areal symbols to spatially classify volumetric data.

External resources

• Jenks, G. F., and Caspall, F. C. (1971). Error on choropleth maps: definition, measurement, reduction, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 61, 217-244.
  Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1111/j.1467-8306.1971.tb00779.x
• Slocum T. A., McMaster, R. B., Kessler, F. C., and Howard, H. H. (2008). Thematic cartography and geographic visualization (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson

Learning outcomes

• 539 - Explain the design considerations for different thematic maps

  Explain the design considerations for different thematic maps

• 540 - Evaluate the strengths and limitations of different thematic mapping methods

  Evaluate the strengths and limitations of different thematic mapping methods

• 541 - Propose thematic mapping methods for mapping numerical data

  Propose thematic mapping methods for mapping numerical data

• 542 - Choose suitable mapping methods for each attribute of a given type of feature in a GIS (e.g., roads with various attributes such as surface type, traffic flow, number of lanes, direction such as one-way, etc.)
  Choose suitable mapping methods for each attribute of a given type of feature in a GIS (e.g., roads with various attributes such as surface type, traffic flow, number of lanes, direction such as one-way, etc.)
• 543 - Select base information suited to providing a frame of reference for thematic map symbols (e.g., network of major roads and state boundaries underlying national population map)
  Select base information suited to providing a frame of reference for thematic map symbols (e.g., network of major roads and state boundaries underlying national population map)
• 544 - Create maps using each of the following methods: choropleth, dasymetric, proportioned symbol, graduated symbol, isoline, dot, cartogram, and flow map
  Create maps using each of the following methods: choropleth, dasymetric, proportioned symbol, graduated symbol, isoline, dot, cartogram, and flow map
• 545 - Create well-designed legends using the appropriate conventions for the following methods: choropleth, dasymetric, proportioned symbol, graduated symbol, isoline, dot, cartogram, and flow map
  Create well-designed legends using the appropriate conventions for the following methods: choropleth, dasymetric, proportioned symbol, graduated symbol, isoline, dot, cartogram, and flow map

Self assessment

Outgoing relations

• [CV4-1] Thematic mapping subclassof [CV4] Graphic representation techniques

Contributors

• Adnane Labbaci
  University Ibn Zohr - Agadir, Morocco
  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adnane_Labbaci
• Estefanía Aguilar Moreno
  Universitat Jaume I, Spain
  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ECdjngIAAAAJ&hl=es