Not all maps have a title

1
Title

• Not all maps have a title
• Some maps are only titled with the name of the
  area they cover
• A good map title includes
• where
• what

2
Date

• Date the data was collected
• Date the map was published
• Historical time period the map portrays

3
Legend

• Colors, symbols, and patterns are used on maps to
  represent such things as physical and cultural
  features, quantity, and movement
• Some symbols are self-explanatory but it is best
  to include a legend to explain them
• It is ethnocentric to assume everyone knows your
  cultures symbols

4
Scale

• The scale of a map compares map distance with
  actual ground distance
• A graphic scale is a short horizontal line with
  little tick marks across it
• Each mark represents the distance shown, often in
  miles or kilometers.
• A fractional scale uses numbers to compare map to
  ground distance
• Fractional scales are shown as fractions or
  ratios (1/24,000 or 163360)

5
Direction

• Today most maps orient north at the top
• Most Medieval European maps were oriented with
  east at the top of the page
• If there is a geographic grid, it is unnecessary
  to use a direction arrow
• To save paper, it is sometimes necessary to
  rotate a map so that north is not at top
• Magnetic versus True North

6
Location

• Grid system

• Inset map

7
Projection

• There are thousands of map projections
• Equivalent vs. Conformal
• Projection Families
• Elliptical
• Azimuthal
• Conic
• Cylindrical

8
Equivalent vs. Conformal

• Equivalent preserves accurate area
• Conformal preserves shape
• No projection can be both

9
Elliptical (Oval) Projection

• Entire world
• The Equator is usually the central parallel
• One meridian crosses equator at right angles in
  the middle of the map.
• Lines of latitude are parallel to each other

10
Azimuthal (Planar) Projection

• Only one point (or circle) on the entire map is
  tangent to the surface
• This point is usually at the poles or Equator
• Distortion is minimal in the center but highly
  distorted on the edges of the map
• The map is often circular in shape
• The map often shows half the world

11
Conic Projection

• One or more lines, usually latitude, are tangent
  to the surface
• Distortion is minimal near the tangent line(s)
• The apex is usually above a pole
• Best suited for east-west oriented regions in the
  Mid-Latitudes

12
Cylindrical Projection

• Cylinder tangent to globe usually at Equator
• Usually a right-angled grid system with parallel
  lines of latitude and parallel lines of
  longitude
• Little distortion around Equator (or tangent
  line)
• Huge distortions at top and bottom of map