The Changing Face of Maps

The Changing Face of Maps book cover — mapping in the modern world THE CHANGING OF MAPS FACE Tim Cooke Crabtree Publishing Company www crabtreebooks com

The Changing Face of Maps — page 1 — WHAT IS A MAP There are many different types of map Although we often associate maps with images drawn on paper modern maps cover a range of different purposes and media It is easier to recognize a map than to describe what a map is Traditional maps are two-dimensional drawings of a place used for navigation or for establishing boundaries between land owned by different people Other maps represent information rather than geography The information might be concrete such as the size of a population or abstract such as average wealth Many modern maps are actually photographs while some maps deliberately distort or change the shape and size of geographical regions This map of North America was created by Louis Hennepin a priest and explorer in 1698 At this time cartographers left unexplored regions blank 4

The Changing Face of Maps — page 2 — New Definitions Cartography the study of maps has evolved over time Today most cartographers see maps as graphic representations not only of places but also of events conditions or even ideas This definition includes images that would not have traditionally been considered as maps such as diagrams of the human body For example the Human Connectome Project is an ambitious program that aims to track the workings of the brain as a series of maps Researchers hope to map the billions of pathways in the human brain to better understand how our nervous system is connected Using special devices researchers for the Human Connectome Project create maps such as the one above which shows different color-coded pathways in the brain New Media New definitions of maps have to include a wider range of technology and media Some modern maps are on screens rather than on paper They use technology that changes the map to follow the user’s surroundings Smartphone apps allow users to track their own routes on Geographic Information Systems GIS Unlike traditional maps these maps are tailored to a person and his or her surroundings They can plot the best route between two places and follow progress along it They can even show how long the journey will take Mapping apps on smartphones are customized to their users needs and preferences 5

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