4 Steps to Mapmaking and Descartes Cartesian Coordinate System

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4 Steps to Mapmakingand Descartes Cartesian
Coordinate System
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What Is a Map?

• Maps are one of the most important types of
  documents associated with exploration.
• A map is a graphic representation that explains
  space and proportion.

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4 Steps to MapmakingStep 1Where Are We?

• The first step an explorer takes in preparing a
  map is to determine his or her location.

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4 Steps to MapmakingStep 1Where Are We?

• The location of any place can be understood with
  reference to its distance and direction from
  another point or place.

45 Miles south-east
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4 Steps to MapmakingStep 2Determining
Projection and Scale

• Putting the imaginary grid system of the Earth on
  a flat piece of paper cannot be done without
  distorting the map's shape, area, distance or
  direction and changing its scale.
• To compensate for these distortions, mapmakers
  construct map projections to emphasize or
  de-emphasize one or more of the basic map
  properties cited.

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Examples of Map Projections
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4 Steps to MapmakingStep 2Determining
Projection and Scale

• Map scale refers to the proportional relationship
  between the distance of two points on a map with
  the actual distance on the ground.

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4 Steps to MapmakingStep 3Adding Symbols

• The next step of an explorer is to add features
  of the physical, natural, and cultural landscapes
  that will most accurately represent the pattern
  and texture of the area mapped.
• Map symbols are small graphic images that stand
  for something else.

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4 Steps to MapmakingStep 4Naming Things

• The final step in creating a map is selecting
  names that identify relevant features, landmarks,
  and places.

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4 Steps to MapmakingStep 4Naming Things

• Geographical names are fundamental elements of
  maps and they also provide important reference
  frameworks in our daily life.

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Rene Descartes

• Lived from 1596 to 1650 and was a French
  mathematician , philosopher and anatomist.
• He contributed to many modern ideas involving
  science and the scientific method
• He is most famous for the Cartesian Coordinate
  System that still serves as the foundation for
  graphing over 350 years after his death.

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The Cartesian CoordinateSystem

• Descartes discovered that he could accurately
  describe an objects position at any time by just
  three numbers.
• The three numbers would describe the object's
  position in relation to where it was to the floor
  and two adjacent walls.
• It is known as the x, y, z coordinate system.

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Lets simplify this thing
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X one plane, Y the other plane, Z Elevation
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Examples of the Cartesian Coordinate System in
Maps

• A contour map is a flat surface that depicts
  elevation by the distance between contour lines.
• A contour map uses the z coordinate and shows
  elevation.

Z height of an object
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Examples of the Cartesian Coordinate System in
Maps

• Using the Cartesian Coordinate System today would
  show a map in three dimensions.

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The Cartesian CoordinateSystem

• The two-dimensional coordinate system is
  frequently used in math.
• It is also very common in mapmaking and the
  planning of cities

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Examples of the Cartesian Coordinate System in
Maps
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Cartesian System in use

• In this class we will use a simplified system of
  moving on a flat earth, to get general
  distances.

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