Map Uses and Tasks
One of two pages on Map Uses, Tasks, and Functions
Many maps are designed and produced to serve very specific uses while other maps contain
so much information that they are used by a variety of users for a great variety of tasks.
For this discussion we examine Map Uses from the perspective of the generic task, such as
analysis, communication, exploration, etc.
In another section we look at the user communities who share common interests in having
maps to address the subjects they are interested in, such as soils productivity, sport and
recreation, or transportation and navigation.
Many people make their livings making maps, marketing map information, storing and
warehousing maps, distributing maps, framing and repairing maps, and writing about maps.
We acknowledge these tasks, but we do not list such tasks as forms of map use.
Muehrcke and Muehrcke in their popular text called Map Use break this topic up into
`reading, analysis, and interpretation.'
Generic Map Uses
Analysis - There are many ways humans carry out analyses. When the subject of study
involves change over space then a graphic representation of that space is in order. For
analysis of spatial pattern, we use such graphics as brain scans, x-rays of luggage,
photos of an intersection where there was a traffic accident, maps of the occurrence of
the incidence of a disease, or a GOES satellite image at a spectral frequency to show
water vapor content. Brain scans and x-rays of luggage are not maps, but share the
commonality of the view of the spatial image. Maps are keyed to the earth through a system
of georeference and tell us where things are.
Maps and geo-referenced imagary are used heavily in analysis. The classic example of
analysis based on the use of maps is that of Dr. John Snow plotting the occurrence of
cholera in London in 18??. When analyzing his map it showed that the incidence of cholera
centered around one water pump. This gave a basis to focus attention on the supply of
water which lead to the discovery of the cause of cholera.
There are many ways maps are used in analysis. In some cases, a sequence of maps are
employed to show change of the subject over space and time. We may see maps as movies or
in a computer system where the operator can move forward and backward through a sequence
of maps. Many times multiple items are shown on the same map to give insights into how two
or more items are related to each other in space. Maps are important tools ??? intuition.
Confirmation - After surmising about certain relationships, or carrying out various
analyses, we often turn to a map to verify our hypotheses. Or, on our recent journey we
saw some interesting things and want to find out what we saw. We read about a political
flare-up in a distant country.
Communication and Propoganda - Many maps are produced to convey general information
about an area or thematic information about any number of subjects. The maps in newspapers
and magazines to accompany an article are included to aid in communicating the story. The
reference and thematic maps in an atlas are designed to ??? Maps are hung in front of the
classroom to give a basis
Decoration, Collection and Investment - Maps are sold and displayed simply because
they are maps and many people like the appearance of a map. It is not uncommon to see a
map in an advertisement, although it might be used as background.
Exploration and Hypothesis Stimulation - Humans employ many tools to explore our
world. Some scientists use the microscope to look at ever smaller features to see things
that we cannot see with the naked eye. Other persons employ maps as macroscopes to look at
ever larger areas to see things that are too large and complex to see with the naked eye.
No one can see the entire world at one time, but through the use of maps we can picture
our entire world. Population density ...
Map Compilation - The making of a map in almost all cases requires the use of maps.
Once the map data are collected, we turn to the task of compiling the data to create a new
map. Map production is an iterative process and in that process a number of maps may be
made as we converge on a appropriate design. In many cases we consult other maps to check
geographic names, to confirm boundary changes, or to look at land use and topography to
better place dots on a map portraying the distribution of dairy cattle in a region.
Navigation and Control - Whether we move on land, at sea, or in the air we rely
heavily on maps to plan our routes and to maintain our course. There are many government
agencies, as well as private operations, around the world that regularly produce maps in
support of navigation. We now hear about `precise farming' where a detailed soil map of a
farm field is used with GPS signals as a basis for applying different rates of treatment
to the management of that field, illustrating an example of control.
Planning - The obvious forms of planning that use maps are urban planning and
regional planning. Military operations rely heavily on maps whether for the movement of
vehicles and troops, the assessment of enemy positions, or any number of other
possibilities. We have come to realize that we need to identify the potential of areas
subject to hazards, natural and man-made. Thus we see maps being made to
Map Reading - Almost everyone will turn to a map at some time just to find out where a
place is, relative to other places.
Storage of Information - The topographic maps that are produced by most countries
are good examples of this type of map use. These maps are produced to provide a
standardized inventory of features that are deemed to be important, such are boundaries,
hydrography, topography, and place names. These types of maps are produced in series and
all maps in the series should be at the same scale and have consistent forms of data
capture and representation. The maps are fixed in time and therefore the information on
the map is only exact relative to the time the map was compiled, but much of the
information on these types of maps changes slowly so that maps that are fifty years old
may still be useful for the examination of such things as topography and hydrography.
Because of the information available from maps, some governments restrict the ability of
their peoples to get access to maps. Other governments will attempt to keep maps away from
potential adversaries, on the assumption that the information on the map may strengthen
the enemy, or possible enemy.
Maps reflect a representation of some aspect of the earth at some point in time. While
most of these maps were produced for specific purposes, in a historical sense any map can
tell us something about what was there in the past as well as what someone thought was
important, elements of design in earlier times, and something about the character of the
individual or institution which produced the map.
This historical perspective is a concern for those maps that are now being produced online
in a computer system or shown on television. Such maps are not being captured and stored
so we are not building a database of past conditions.
Synthesis - Many maps serve well to synthesize a number of things in a region or
area. In Illinois, Schroeder assembled a map of the date of settlement of all of the lands
of the State. The State was not settled randomly, or systematically, as is evidenced by
the broad patterns of brillant colors that make up the map.
Spatial Modeling and Visualization -
You are at the bottom of the page on Map Uses and Tasks. The complement of this page is
that on Map Functions. These pages are under the master page on Map Uses, Tasks and Functions.
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Note: The effort to build these pages is on-going. If you have something to
contribute, contact: Dr. James R. Carter, Illinois State University. jrcarter@ilstu.edu
last updated: 31 August 1999
return to my Map Use Home Page