Elements of a map

Chapter 2:
Elements of a map
• Different elements of a map play an important role in describing map
details.
• Numbered here are descriptions of cartographic elements commonly
found on map layouts.
• These essential features of a map are found on almost every map
around us.
• They are- title, direction, legend(symbols), north areas,
distance(scale), labels, grids and index, citation – which make it easier
for people like us to understand the basic components of maps.
1. Title - ชื่ อแผนที่
• The title of a map is one of its vital features. It is the keyword that
grabs the reader’s attention.
• A short ‘title’ might be apt if readers are familiar with the theme
being presented. The need for a suitable title, whether small or long,
depends on the reader but the title should provide an answer to their
“What? Where? When?”
Examples
Examples
2. Scale- มาตราส่ วน
• Map scale refers to the #relationship (or ratio) between distance on
a map and the corresponding distance on the ground. For example,
on a 1:100000 scale map, 1cm on the map equals 1km on the ground.
• Map scale is often confused or interpreted incorrectly, perhaps
because the smaller the map scale, the larger the reference number
and vice versa. For example, a 1:100,000 scale map is considered a
larger scale than a 1:250,000 scale map.
 Ground distance of 1cm on map Number of maps held by GA Example uses
Scale
Largest 1:10000 100m
In-car navigation, education,
facilities, street directories
Bushwalking, in-car navigation,
1:25000 environmental impact assessment,
250m
(Local scale) agriculture, emergency response,
adventure touring
Bushwalking, fauna surveys, 4 wheel
1:50000 500m 2338 maps
driving, emergency response,
(Local scale) (limited coverage only)
adventure touring
Emergency response, planning, GPS
1:100000 1630 maps
1km navigation, reports/books, 4 wheel
(Regional scale) (limited coverage only)
driving, adventure touring
4 wheel driving, route planning, GPS
navigation, mineral exploration,
1:250000 516 maps
2.5km environmental planning,
(Regional scale) (covers Australia)
reports/books, emergency
management, tourism
49 maps General reference, tourist maps,
1:1 million 10km
(covers Australia) wall map
4 maps General reference, tourist maps,
1:2.5 million 25km
(covers Australia) wall map
1 map General reference, tourist maps,
1:5 million 50km
(covers Australia) wall map
1:10 million 1 map General reference, tourist maps,
Smallest 100km
(covers Australia) wall map
• Scope or Extent-Often "scale" is used as a synonym for "scope," or
"extent."
• Measurement - The word "scale" can also be used as a synonym for a
ruler--a measurement scale. Because data consist of symbols that
represent measurements of phenomena, it is important to
understand the reference systems used to take the measurements in
the first place
Ways to Indicate Scale
There are three common ways to indicate the scale of a map:

Graphic Scales
• The graphic scale of a map is a bar
graph graduates by distance.
• To use a graphic scale, simply
measure a distance on the map (or
mark off the distance on the edge
of a piece of paper), then compare
the measured distance to the bar
graph to determine the actual
distance represented.
• Graphic scales are useful since they
remain accurate even if the map is
enlarged or reduced.
Fractional Scale
• The fractional scale or the
representative scale expresses
the scale of a map as a fraction
or ratio.
• Fractional Scale: 1/24,000 or
1:24,000, says that one unit of
measurement on the map
represents 24,000 units of
measurement on the Earth.
Verbal scale
• A verbal scale also referred to as
a “word statement” or “scale
expression”, is where the
response options are presented
to the respondent using words,
whether spoken or written.
3. Orientation- ทิศ
• Map should indicate which way is north (and/or south, east and
west).
• Commonly this is done by a north arrow or compass rose.
• Orientation may also be shown by graticule or grid marks (e.g. lines of
latitude and longitude).
• By convention north is towards the top of the page (thus some maps
do not have north arrows), but the orientation must still be given for
a 'proper' map. North does not have to be at the top of the page and
a north arrow is essential in maps where it is not.
Examples
4.Borders or Neatline- ขอบระวางแผนที่/ เส้นกรอบ
a border identifies exactly where the mapped area stops. The border
is often the thickest line on the map and should be close to the edges
of the mapped area.
The distance between the map and the border should be the same
on all sides (balanced).
There can also be a border around the entire map layout (enclosing
and grouping the title, legend, text boxes, etc.).
Both of these borders are sometimes referred to as a 'neatline.' In
addition, there is sometimes a thin additional line just outside of a
border (accentuating it and ideally making it more visually appealing)
that may also be referred to as a neatline.
Neatline - เส้นของระวาง
The distance between the map and the
border should be the same on all sides
(balanced).
5. LEGEND- สัญลักษณ์/คาอธิบายแผนที่
a legend defines the symbols or
colors (including shades of gray and
patterns) used on the map. Maps
do not need legends if the
symbology is so common or simple
as to be easily understood by the
reader.
However, it must be clear what
each marker or line type, weight
and pattern represents. The legend
does not need to be labeled
"Legend."
The more complicated the
symbology on a map the more
important the legend becomes.
6. MAP CREDITS- คำนิยม/แหล่ งทีม่ ำข้ อมูล
• SOURCE OF DATA (especially on
thematic maps)
• NAME of the cartographer
• DATE of the map
creation/publication
• DATE of the map data
• PROJECTION of the map
(especially small-scale maps)
6. MAP CREDITS- คำนิยม/แหล่ งทีม่ ำข้ อมูล
• Cartographer credits may be the actual name of the cartographer, as in the case of a GIS
101 lab, or may be the organization the cartographer works for, such as the USGS or
NOAA.
• Source credits do not need to be long or detailed or necessarily layer specific.
• If you create a map with which you have layers from USGS and your GIS 101 class, a
perfectly acceptable way to cite both sources is: “Data Sources: USGS and GIS 101 Lab
Data”.
• Dating the map’s creation is a required map element. A reader should know when
a thematic map was created to consider if the material is still relevant or if they should
be looking at it in a historic way.
• General reference maps tend to have a longer life span, but should still include a date - at
least a creation year, if not month and year.
• Credits and date should be presented in a clearly read font, avoiding scripts and
typefaces such as Comic Sans, and the text size should be one that can be easily read
without being a distraction.
• While the credits and date should always be included on maps, they shouldn’t be the star
of the show, either.
Using Text Boxes to Add Credits and
Projection Text in ArcGIS
 For credits and projection text, unless you need to set a frame and
background color, the easiest way is just to add a text box from the
Insert menu, type in the information, and place a carriage return (the
enter key on the keyboard) between each line.
 If you need to set a frame and background, see the instructions in
the “Titles and Subtitles” section to draw a Rectangle Text. You most
likely will want to avoid “Polygon Text” and “Splined Text” for credits
and projections, however, it’s not out of the question if you use
cartographic discretion.
Using Text Boxes to Add Credits and
Projection Text in ArcGIS
• Select”Text” from the Insert
menu
• Press “Enter” on the keyboard
• Double-click on the resulting
text box to more easily type the
information
• In the resulting Properties dialog
box, set the justification
• Use the “Change Symbol” button
to adjust the font
Using Text Boxes to Add Credits and
Projection Text in ArcGIS
7. LOCATOR MAP (INSERT)
a locator map is needed if the
area of the map is not easily
recognizable or is of large scale.
For example, if you map
Whatcom County, there should be
an inset map of Washington,
showing the location of Whatcom
County.
Inset DETAIL map(s) may also be
used to show an area of the map in
greater detail (larger scale).
8. EFFECTIVE GRAPHICAL DESIGN
• the layout design is as important as effective sentence structure is to
written text. Layout design refers to the planning and decision
making processes involved in the visual display of the spatial
data. You can achieve balance by rearranging the map elements (north
arrow, legend, scale, title, etc.) and changing size of the text, border. etc.
The map and map elements should be:

- Neatly drawn
- Appropriately and consistently generalized
- Symmetrically balanced (avoid crowding or large blank areas)
- Without unnecessary clutter (keep it simple, be wary of 'artistic' details)
9. VISUAL HIERARCHY
• a hierarchy of symbology should be used for the lettering, line
weights and shading.
• More important features are typically larger and/or darker, less
important/background information should be smaller and/or lighter.
• At the same time, do not "over weight" or "under weight" features.
10. PURPOSE
• All maps have a purpose which should influence every element of the
map and the map layout.
• A cartographer should be able to clearly articulate the purpose of
their map and should keep the audience (who the map is going to be
used by) and the client (who the maps is being produced for) in mind.
HomeWork

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