Open map List

Attribute

In cartography, an attribute refers to descriptive information associated with geographic features on a map. Attributes provide non-spatial data that describe the characteristics of mapped objects, helping to convey meaningful information beyond just location.

Basic

Introduction

Key Characteristics of Attributes in Cartography:

  • Describe Geographic Features – Each point, line, or polygon on a map has associated attributes that define its properties.
  • Used in Thematic Mapping – Attributes determine how features are symbolized, classified, and displayed.
  • Linked to Spatial Data – Stored in attribute tables in GIS, where each row represents a geographic feature and columns represent its attributes.

Explanation

Types of Attributes in Cartography:

  1. Nominal Attributes (Categorical)

    • Describe features without numerical value or ranking.
    • Example: Land cover type (forest, urban, water), road names, country names.
       

  2. Ordinal Attributes

    • Have a ranked order, but the differences between categories are not measurable.
    • Example: City sizes classified as small, medium, or large.
       

  3. Interval Attributes

    • Numeric values with measurable differences but no true zero.
    • Example: Elevation (above sea level), temperature (in Celsius or Fahrenheit).
       

  4. Ratio Attributes

    • Numeric values with a true zero, allowing for meaningful comparisons.
    • Example: Population, distance, income levels.

Examples

Examples of Attributes in Maps:

Feature Type Attribute Example
City (Point) Name, Population, Elevation
Road (Line) Name, Type (highway, local), Speed Limit
Land Parcel (Polygon) Owner, Land Use, Area Size

Outgoing relations