The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Topographic maps: methodological approaches for analyzing cartographic style

Topographic maps: methodological approaches for analyzing cartographic style
Topographic maps: methodological approaches for analyzing cartographic style
Despite their status and ubiquity, modern state topographic maps are seldom the topic of cartographic research. There is a notable deficiency in the number of empirical studies that investigate their design, or, given their heritage, examine their symbology with a view to identifying the ingredients of style. The issue of stylistic similarities and differences raises important questions for the history and development of map symbology and the wider relationship between maps and society. The absence of critical interpretations of topographic map symbology—which lay beyond a discussion of the problems of cartographic representation—has also meant that the cultural rationale for stylistic diversity has been neglected. This paper describes a strategy for identifying and explaining similarities and differences in the cartographic style of topographic maps, with a view toward developing a methodology for classifying and analyzing their symbology. It provides a review of existing approaches for investigating style in thematic cartography (such as transport maps and national atlases) before proposing that a future method should be based on that of Piket (1972), and offer direct application. A systematic analysis of topographic map symbology would be particularly useful for identifying supranational styles and for exploring the extent to which national conditions—specific variables such as population density and cars in use, together with wider ideological changes such as the achievement of political independence—are intrinsically expressed through topographic map symbology.
topographic maps, map symbols, map design
1542-0353
131-156
Kent, Alexander
2cbf5426-6e66-43f0-acbf-b8db5c9d541c
Kent, Alexander
2cbf5426-6e66-43f0-acbf-b8db5c9d541c

Kent, Alexander (2009) Topographic maps: methodological approaches for analyzing cartographic style. Journal of Map and Geography Libraries, 6 (2), 131-156. (doi:10.1080/15420350903001187).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Despite their status and ubiquity, modern state topographic maps are seldom the topic of cartographic research. There is a notable deficiency in the number of empirical studies that investigate their design, or, given their heritage, examine their symbology with a view to identifying the ingredients of style. The issue of stylistic similarities and differences raises important questions for the history and development of map symbology and the wider relationship between maps and society. The absence of critical interpretations of topographic map symbology—which lay beyond a discussion of the problems of cartographic representation—has also meant that the cultural rationale for stylistic diversity has been neglected. This paper describes a strategy for identifying and explaining similarities and differences in the cartographic style of topographic maps, with a view toward developing a methodology for classifying and analyzing their symbology. It provides a review of existing approaches for investigating style in thematic cartography (such as transport maps and national atlases) before proposing that a future method should be based on that of Piket (1972), and offer direct application. A systematic analysis of topographic map symbology would be particularly useful for identifying supranational styles and for exploring the extent to which national conditions—specific variables such as population density and cars in use, together with wider ideological changes such as the achievement of political independence—are intrinsically expressed through topographic map symbology.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: July 2009
Keywords: topographic maps, map symbols, map design

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 69809
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/69809
ISSN: 1542-0353
PURE UUID: 584e8353-5f53-4fab-9e71-410abc22ba32

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 04 Dec 2009
Last modified: 13 Mar 2024 19:47

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Alexander Kent

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×