Cartographic Foundations-Fundamental concepts

Cartographic Foundations-Fundamental concepts

1. Fundamental Concepts

   • The reference surface of the Earth
     • Shape and size
       • *Earth is nearly spherical (6371 km of radius) with vertical variations of 20 km 
       • Geoid
         • Surface which the force of gravity is everywhere perpedicular. Polar radious shorter than the equatorial radius. Gravity. F=m*a
         • Vertical reference datum for heights on maps
       • Ellipsoid
         • Horizontal reference datum for large scale
         • Orthometric height
       • Sphere
         • Horizontal reference datum for small scale
     • Movement
       • The rhumb line (Loxodrome)
         • Line that cross the meridians with a constant angle
           • Line with constant bearing or constant azimut.  In equi-angle projections this will be a stright line but doesn't means is the shortes distance ONLY if correspond to a paralele or a meridian
       • Great circles G (orthodrome)
         • Line of the shortest distance
           • in 3D is a line because the experiment of the apple. The shortest distance is the plane that contains both points.  In 2D looks longes-like an arc (plane on 2D is a curve).
     • Representation
       • Map scale
         • distance on the map : distance on the earth surface ALSO RF
       • Scale Factor
         • reciproco de la escala
   • Coordinate Systems
     • Geographic coordinate system
       • Latitud
         • Angle from the ecuator
           • Paralelos
       • Longitud
         • Angle form the poles-Greenwich
           • Meridianos
     • Planes coordinates
       • N-E
       • Polar
   • Characteristics of maps
     • map is a REDUCED and ABSTRACT GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION of the earth with ACCURATE MATHEMATICAL REFERENCE and SYMBOLIZATION
     • Escaled representation
     • Accurate mathmatical reference
     • Abstraction of the reallity
     • Simbolized with meaninful
   • Categories of cartographic presentations
     • PURPOSE
       • Topographic or general maps
       • Thematic map (themes)
       • Navigation maps
     • GRAPHIC STRUCTURE
       • Line map
       • Image map
     • ORGANIZATION
       • Map series
       • Individual map
       • Atlas
     • USAGE FORMAT
       • Wall map
       • Table map
       • Pocket map
     • DURATION OF VALIDITY
       • Durable map
       • instant map
     • USE OF FREQUENCY
       • reusable
       • one-time
     • PUBLICATION DATE
     • PRESENTATION FORM
       • Static map
       • interactive map
       • Web map
   • The cartographic process
     • SYMBOLIZATION
       • Reallity to grpahics
     • MAP DESIGN
       • General plan
         • projection, data selection, lyout...
       • Special plan
         • symbolization, color,..
     • EXECUTION
     • MAPS USES
       • Reading
         • Symbolization
       • Analysis
         • comunicate the message
       • Intrepretation
         • Reasoning and solve problems