Cartography

Cartography is one of the oldest professions in the world and is known as "The Art and Science of Making Maps". Cartography, the art and science of graphically representing a geographical area, usually on a flat surface such as a map or chart; it may involve the superimposition of political, cultural, or other nongeographical divisions onto the representation of a geographical area. These days most commercial-quality maps are made using software that falls into one of three main types: CAD, GIS and specialized illustration software. Spatial information can be stored in a database, from which it can be extracted on demand. These tools lead to increasingly dynamic, interactive maps that can be manipulated digitally. With the field rugged computers, GPS and laser rangefinders, it is possible to perform mapping directly in the terrain. This comprehensive book bridges the evolution in cartography by presenting both traditional methods and recently developed cartographic techniques. Students of map history and art history, map collectors, cartographers will find this book as a necessary benchmark in writing on the rapprochement of art and cartography.