Map

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

For other uses, see Map (disambiguation).

A map is a simplified depiction of a space which highlights relations between components (objects, regions) of that space. Most usually a map is a two-dimensional, geometrically accurate representation of a three-dimensional space: a geographical map. More generally, maps can be devised to represent any local property of the world or part of it, or any other space, such as the brain (see Brain mapping).

[edit] Geographical maps

ale, centred where possible on the same point. In-car satellite navigation systems are computerised maps with route-planning and advice facilities which monitor by satellite the position of the users.

From the computer scientist's standpoint, zooming in entails one or a combination of:

1. replacing the map by a more detailed one
2. enlarging the same map without enlarging the pixels, hence show more detail
3. enlarging the same map with the pixels enlarged (replaced by rectangles of pixels); no additional detail is shown, but, depending on the quality of one's vision, possibly more detail can be seen; if a computer display does not show adjacent pixels really separate, but overlapping instead (this does not apply for an LCD, but may apply for a cathode ray tube), then replacing a pixel by a rectangle of pixels does show more detail. A variation of this method is that interpolation is performed.

For example:

• Typically (2) applies to a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. The increase in detail is, of course, limited to the information contained in the file: enlargement of a curve may eventually result in a series of standard geometric figures such as straight lines or arcs of circles.
• (2) may apply to text and (3) to the outline of a map feature such as a forest or building.
• (1) may apply to the text (displaying labels for more features), while (2) applies to the rest of the image. Text is not necessarily enlarged when zooming in. Similarly, a road represented by a double line may or may not become wider when one zooms in.
• The map may also have layers which are partly raster graphics and partly vector graphics. For a single raster graphics image (2) applies until the pixels in the image file correspond to the pixels of the display, thereafter (3) applies.

See also Webpage (Graphics), PDF (Layers), Mapquest, Google Maps, Google Earth or Yahoo! Maps.

[edit] References

• David Buisseret, ed., Monarchs, Ministers and Maps: The Emergence of Cartography as a Tool of Government in Early Modern Europe. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992, [ISBN 0-226-07987-2]
• Miles Harvey, The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime. New York : Random House, 2000. [ISBN 0-7679-0826-0, cited above; also ISBN 0-375-50151-7]
• Mark Monmonier, How to Lie with Maps, [ISBN 0-226-53421-9]
• O'Connor, J.J. and E.F. Robertson, The History of Cartography. Scotland : St. Andrews University, 2002. http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Cartography.html

[edit] See also

General

• Cartography
• History of cartography
• Geography
• Atlas
• Ancient world maps

Map design and types

• Pictorial maps
• map design
• World map
• Topographic map
• Geologic map
• Dymaxion map
• Roadmap
• Navigation map
• Cartogram
• Plat
• Floor plan
• Planform

Modern maps

• WikiMapia
• Maps of the UK and Ireland
• Maps of the United States
• Google Maps
• MapQuest
• Japanese map symbols

Map history

• George Bradshaw, including maps of the British railway network, first published in 1839
• Sanborn Maps - detailed American fire insurance maps
• Ordnance Survey

[edit] External links

[edit] Map discussion and history

• Geography and Maps, an Illustrated Guide, by the staff of the US Library of Congress.
• Antique Maps by Carl Moreland and David Bannister - complete text of the book
• Map Room, a weblog about maps, with a links Directory
• The Upsidedown Map Page Pictures and info about maps which are oriented without North at the top
• Example of map legends (Cito-Plan city maps)
• Encyclopedia Jr:Maps, use of maps on Encyclopedia Jr
• slashgeo.org - Community-driven and ad-free website for news and discussions about Maps and Geospatial technologies
• GETTING THERE Article on Online Maps from The New Yorker

[edit] Map link sites

• Perry-Castañeda Library, Maps on Other Web Sites
• British Library links for historic maps and interactive mapping, both their own collections and other sites
• Odden's Bookmarks, The fascinating world of maps and mapping, a huge database of maps and articles; searchable, or use the categories list. Modern and historical maps and information.
• University of Iowa Links, many map-related links
• Online Map Catalogs in North America and Europe
• Geographical data resources online
• Primary sources for the research scholar, links to websites for archives of research material.
• Online Country Maps, links to country maps and capital city maps.
• Soil Maps of the world European Digital Archive on the Soil Maps of the world
• Maps and Routes - South America countries

[edit] Modern maps and atlases online

World:

• WikiMapia = Google Maps + Wiki
• Stickymap
• Schmap
• Some also at [1] and [2]; thumbnails.
• Physical Atlas of the World
• National Geographic Map Machine
• Wild Finder-World Wildlife Fund
• Blank World Maps

National:

• National Atlas of the United States
• National Map, United States Geological Survey
• TerraServer-USA and TopoZone host USGS topographic maps (and aerial photos on TerraServer-USA); Maptech hosts historical USGS topos in the northeast United States.
• Atlas of Canada
• Free vector maps
• USA Vector Maps
• Geography Network
• Geospatial One-Stop - geodata.gov
• Thematic maps of Australia

[edit] Antique and historical maps online

• Historical map web sites list, Perry-Castañeda Library, University of Texas
• Map history and collections introductory page and list of maps on the web organized by geographical region
• David Rumsey map collection, 12,600 maps online
• Online map collections at the Library of Congress
• Historical Maps from the Hargrett Library Collection (University of Georgia) - browse over 1000 maps from as early as 1544. DjVu format; requires free plugin or JAVA
• Historical Maps from the Portal to Texas History
• Antique maps of Europe and Mediterranean basin
• Collection of maps of early European efforts to document the Southern Hemisphere - State Library of NSW
• The Tasman Map - State Library of NSW

[edit] Online map creation tools

• Online Map Creation: Webinterface to GMT mapping package; new version at Planiglobe Beta
• OpenStreetMap The Free Wiki World Map

• Atlas •

Atlas • Geography • Topography • Cartography • Map • Map projection
History of cartography • list of cartographers • Ancient world maps
topographic map • geologic map • nautical chart • weather map • thematic map • linguistic map • pictorial map • cartogram

---

Maps of the World • Maps of Africa • Maps of the Americas • Maps of Antarctica • Maps of Asia • Maps of Europe • Maps of Oceania • Maps of the Oceans