DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016

Chapter III Mapping Natural and Socio-Economic Data Using Cartographic

Software
3.1. Qualitative & Quantitative Method of Mapping

Data classifications are useful for representing discrete and continuous data in logically
defined categories for use with mapping. Therefore attribute data can be classified into
two basic types: qualitative or quantitative.

Qualitative data: is a bit of a misnomer as it doesn’t relay relate to the quality of

the data but refers to a specific type of attribute such as a name or a category.e.g
universities in Ethiopia With these data you can make a map showing different
universities . Here we will use colors to differentiate the classes or groups of data but the
colors don’t show values. Qualitative thematic maps show the spatial distribution or
location of similar elements. Qualitative thematic maps visualize the spatial distribution of
nominal or categorical data, such as names, religious affiliations, languages, etc.

Quantitative data: Quantitative data is data that describes features in terms of a

quantitative value measuring some magnitude of the feature. Unlike categorical data,
whose features are described by a unique attribute value, such as a name quantitative data
generally describes counts or amounts, ratios, or ranked values. For example, data
representing precipitation, population, and habitat suitability can all be mapped
quantitatively. Map counts or amounts if you want to see actual measured values as well
as relative magnitude. Use care when mapping counts, because the values may be
influenced by other factors and could yield a misleading map. For example, when making
a map showing the total student figures of a university by region, the total students figure
is likely to reflect the differences in students among the regions .Map ratios if you want
to minimize differences based on the size of areas or number of features in each area.
Ratios are created by dividing two data values. Using ratios is also referred to as
normalizing the data. For example, dividing the 18- to 30-year-old population by the total
population yields the percentage of people aged 18–30. Similarly, dividing a value by the
area of the feature yields a value per unit area, or density. Map ranks if you are interested
in relative measures and actual values are not important. For example, you may know a
feature with a rank of 3 is higher than one ranked 2 and lower than one ranked 4, but you
can't tell how much higher or lower.

Should you map individual values or group them in classes?

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 1

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
When you map quantitative data, you can either assign each value its own symbol or you can
group values into classes using a different symbol for each class.If you are only mapping a
few values (less than 10), you can assign a unique symbol to each value. This may present a
more accurate picture of the data since you are not predetermining which features are grouped
together. More likely, your data values will be too numerous to map individually and you'll
want to group them in classes, or classify the data. A good example of classified data is a
temperature map in a newspaper. Instead of displaying individual temperatures, these maps
show temperature bands, where each band represents a given range in temperature.
Quantitative Thematic Data is mapped using cholopleth mapping techniques. A
choropleth map is a thematic map in which areas are shaded or patterned in proportion to the
measurement of the statistical variable being displayed on the map, such as population density
or per-capita income. The choropleth map provides an easy way to visualize patterns in the
data across a geographic area or it shows the level of variability within a region. Here, the
attribute is some type of quantity or number and the color is related to the value being
mapped. Quantitative thematic maps can answer the question: “How much can be found at
this location?” and can display one or more variables at the same time. A one-variable
thematic map displays one variable, a bi-variable map displays two variables and a multi-
variable map displays three or more variables at the same time. Quantitative thematic maps
display and visualize the spatial aspects of numerical data at the ordinal (less than / greater
than) or the interval/ratio (how much different) scale. An example for ordinal data would be
the ranking of large Ethiopia cities by quality of life. An example of interval/ratio data would
be population density per Ethiopia .Both examples are single variable maps. If more than one
variable, say “unemployment” and “% labor force in the manufacturing industries”, is
displayed in a quantitative map at the same time, then it is called a multi-variable map.
What is a thematic map?

A. A thematic map is designed to demonstrate particular features or concepts. In

conventional use this term excludes topographic maps (Meynen, 1973).

B. The purpose of all thematic maps is to illustrate the “structural characteristics of some
particular geographical distribution” (Robinson, 1975).

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 2

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
C. This involves the mapping of physical and cultural phenomena or abstract ideas about
them.

D. There are literally hundreds of different thematic maps, including thematic maps
related to climate, politics, health, tourism, just to mention a few.

E. Any thematic map consists of a geographic or base map and a thematic overlay

3.2. Techniques of Designing Thematic Maps

When you want your map to communicate how much of something there is, you need to draw
features using a quantitative measure. This measure might be a count; a ratio, such as a
percentage; or a rank, such as high, medium, or low. There are several methods with which you
can represent quantity on a map colors, graduated symbols, proportional symbols, dot densities,
and charts.

Thematic mapping is the process of using graphical properties and values, such as size or
color, to represent data on a map. You use thematic maps to show the distribution of data over a
physical area, for example, the distribution of population across a country or the distribution of
property values across a city. Thematic maps are maps that tell a story. As opposed to reference
maps, whose focus is on the representation of the location of earth features, thematic maps
represent the shapes and extents of thematic distributions. There are many kinds of thematic
maps. But here we concentrate on producing thematic maps as a choropleth, graduated or
proportional symbol, dot density, cartogram, or density surface. Each map that you produce
should be able to stand-alone and tell a story of its own. Using the thematic design capabilities of
adobe illustrator or other cartographic software you can define the data you want to display,
change the properties of the queried data, assign display parameters, and create a legend. A
thematic map is clearer and easier to understand than a map showing all the information it
contains because the thematic map shows only the data relevant to a current presentation. Data
compiled in one or a series of thematic maps is also easier to manage.
Thematic mapping is the process of displaying the characteristics and data properties of
objects using graphic elements. You can select objects on the basis of location, layers, and
block names. You can select data values using object data, external database values, or object
properties, such as color, area, and length. You can then display these values in a thematic map
by using:
 Color (either outline, hatched, or filled)
 Line format (line width and line type)
 Annotation
 Symbols (blocks already in the current or attached drawings)

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 3

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
A thematic map is designed to demonstrate particular features or concepts. The purpose
of all thematic maps is to illustrate the “structural characteristics of some particular
geographical distribution”. This involves the mapping of physical and cultural phenomena or
abstract ideas about them. There are literally hundreds of different thematic maps, including
thematic maps related to climate, politics, health, tourism, just to mention a few. Any thematic
map consists of a geographic or base map and a thematic overlay. The base map provides
location information and is usually a simple reference map. The thematic overlay includes the
main theme of the map.

Thematic map design is a decision - making process requiring expertise for the
representation, the classification and the selection of symbols, legends, colors and typefaces.
Thematic mapping or thematic map production is a productive process including design,
drawing, color separating, plates - making, pre - press proofs and printing. So it has a very long
production period for producing an atlas. Some characteristics of thematic maps:
 They display limited themes of information.
 The primary aims are communication of specific topics.
 The graphics marks (that is, symbolized points, lines or polygons; text; or raster pixels)
are designed to draw the reader’s attention to important aspects of the distribution being
mapped. The goal of a thematic map is to draw the reader's attention to the significance
in the distribution of one or few geographic phenomena or to provide information the
map reader with geographic context. E.g. weather maps, population density maps, voting
maps, soils maps etc.There are so many thematic mapping techniques to design thematic
map but the most commonly used techniques are the following:
 Choropleth thematic mapping techniques
 Dasymetric mapping
 Proportional or graduated symbols mapping
 Isarithmic mapping/contour/volume mapping
 Flow mapping
 Dot mapping

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 4

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016

a).Choropleth mapping
What is a choropleth map?

This is the most commonly thematic mapping techniques Used to Shows quantitative data as a
color and can show density, percent, average value or quantity of an event within a geographic
area. Normally, each color also represents a range of values. Choropleth maps are probably the
most widely used type of thematic map. They are constructed by dividing the total study area
into a number of smaller areas for which data are available on the topic of interest (e.g.
unemployment). Each area is then shaded according to its data value for the topic of interest (e.g.
low values might be represented by light tones, and high values by dark tones). Once all the
areas have been ‘coloured’ in the pattern of light and dark coloured areas provide a visual
impression of the spatial variations in the topic of interest. Although the basic principles are
fairly straightforward, there are a number of decisions which must be made which can have a
significant impact upon the appearance of the map and hence upon the conclusions that might be
drawn from it.
A.The International Cartographic Association (ICA) defines the choropleth map as “a
method of cartographic representation, which employs distinctive color or shading to areas
other than those bounded by isolines. These are usually statistical or administrative areas.”

B. Making a choropleth map starts with the collection of data by statistical or

administrative areas. An aerial symbolization scheme is then devised for these
values, and the symbols are applied to those areas on the map whose data fall into the
symbol classes. The selection of symbol classes is based on a classification method.

C. It is important that choropleth maps should only map relative but not absolute data.
Relative data include densities (e.g., population density - people per square mile),
percentages (e.g., % of people 65 years and older), rates (e.g., number of homicides
per 100,000 people).

D. The following three decisions have to be made when compiling any choropleth map:

1. Number of classes

2. Type of classification method

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 5
 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
3. Color or areal symbolization scheme

Selecting the number of classes

A. A trade-off exists between too many and too few classes. Too many classes make the
choropleth map to complex and difficult to perceive and to understand by the map-
reader. Too few classes results in too much information loss.

B. Different rule-of-thumbs have been developed to help in the selection of the number
of classes:

1. The number of classes is calculated with the square root of n, where n is the
number of observations. This means that the number of classes increases with
an increase in the number of observations and vice versa.

2. The number of classes is between 5 and 9 (7 +/- 2 classes), independent on the

number of observations.

3. Squares-rule-of-thumb: The number of classes is either x or y calculated from

the following formula: 2x < n < 2y, where n is the number of observations.
Again, as the number of observations increases, so does the number of classes.

Example: How many classes do you need when making a choropleth map for the 50 Oromia
woreds ?
1. Square root of 50: Seven classes
2. 5-9 classes
3. 2x < 50 < 2y  25 < 50 < 26, so either use 5 or 6 classes. Since 26 (= 64) is closer to 50 than 25
(= 32) choose six classes.

Selecting an appropriate classification method

A. Equal steps: The equal-steps method creates classes with constant class intervals (0-
10, >10-20, >20-30, etc.). It is easy to understand and to interpret, but not a good
classification method. It is only useful when histogram of data array has a
rectangular shape and when enumeration units are equal in size. This is rare for
geographic phenomena.

B. Natural breaks: It is a good classification method. Numerical differences within

groups are less than the differences between groups. It uses a graphic array to find
class boundaries. It is a simple optimization method.

1. Finding class boundaries for the natural breaks method, requires the data to be
DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 6
 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
sorted from the lowest to highest value.
2. The sorted data are then graphed in a Cartesian coordinate system with the
rank order of the spatial units (e.g., census tracts, counties, etc.) on the x- and
the data values on the y-axis.
3. Class boundaries are drawn where the largest absolute differences between
adjacent values exist.
4. An example of finding class boundaries in an ordered graphic data array. In
this example, identifying the five largest absolute differences between
adjacent data values create six classes.
C. Quintiles: This classification method creates an equal number of observations in each
class. It is misleading if enumeration units vary greatly in size.

D. Standard deviations: A standard deviation is defined as the average deviation of the

data values from the mean (average) of the data set.

1. It is a measure of variability in the data. The more the data are spread out, i.e.,
the larger the variability in the data, the higher the value for the standard
deviation and vice versa.

2. It is a relative measurement.
3. In most cases the class width is one standard deviation and the number of
classes is even (four or six classes).

4. This is a good classification method when different data sets for the same
study area are compared with each other (e.g., population, crime,
unemployment, etc.).
E. Many more classification methods exist, including arithmetic and geometric
progression, optimal classification methods, etc.

Selecting a color or areal symbolization scheme

In general, classes with lower data values are visualized with lighter colors and
classes with higher values with darker colors.
b).Dasymetric mapping
This map is a complex variation of the choropleth map. It Uses statistics and extra information to
combine areas with similar values instead of using the administrative boundaries common in a
simple choropleth map.
c).Proportional or graduated symbols mapping
You can represent quantities on a map by varying the symbol size you use to draw features.
For example, you might use larger circles to represent cities with larger populations.When
you draw features with graduated symbols, the quantitative values are grouped into
classes. Within a class, all features are drawn with the same symbol. You can't discern the

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 7

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
value of individual features; you can only tell that its value is within a certain
range.Proportional symbols represent data values more precisely. The size of a
proportional symbol reflects the actual data value. For example, you might map
earthquakes using proportional circles, where the radius of the circle is proportional to the
magnitude of the quake. The difficulty with proportional symbols arises when you have
too many values; the differences between symbols may become indistinguishable. In
addition, the symbols for high values can become so large as to obscure other symbols.
The image below shows an example of how proportional symbols appear on your map
when the background is yellow with a black outline and the symbol is blue with a black
outline. Like graduated color maps, graduated symbol maps are most useful for showing
the rank or progression of values. However, instead of using color to represent the
differences in values, the size of the symbol varies.
This map uses a larger symbol to represent earthquakes of larger magnitude.
A.In proportional point symbol mapping the cartographer selects a symbol form (circle,
square, or triangle) and varies its size from place to place, in proportion to the quantities it
represents.
B. Map readers can form a picture of the quantitative distribution by examining the
pattern of differently sized symbols

C. The circle is the most popular symbol form.

D. Proportional point symbol mapping is selected when data occur at points or when
data is aggregated at points within areas.

The selection of symbol sizes

A. The selection of different symbol sizes for proportional point symbol mapping has
been studied for several decades.

B. Studies researched the mechanisms whereby map-readers perceptually scale

quantitative symbols.

C. Recent studies suggest using range grading for the selection of symbol sizes.

1. With range grading, the data array is divided into groups;

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 8
 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
2. Each group is represented by a proportional symbol that is clearly
distinguishable from other symbols in the series;

3. With range grading, symbol-size discrimination is the design goal, rather than
magnitude estimation.

d).Isarithmic mapping or contour map

A. Isarithmic mapping involves mapping a real or conceptual three-dimensional

geographical volume with quantitative line symbols.

B. The two forms of isarithmic mapping include the isometric map and the isoplethic
map.

1. Isometric maps are generated from data that occur at points;

2. Isoplethic maps are generated from data that occur over geographic areas.
Isometric mapping
Both actual and derived values can be mapped isometrically.
1. Actual values include temperature, precipitation, elevation, etc.

2. Derived values include ratios, proportions, means, standard deviation, etc.

In isoplethic mapping, data can be represented as ratios, proportions, or averages that directly or
indirectly involve areas.

a. Ratios: Infant mortality rate in Dire Dawa;

b.

Proportions: 20% of total area is wetland;

c.

Average: Crop yield per acre averaged for all counties in the Ethiopia.

Interpolation methods in isarithmic mapping

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 9

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016

A. Interpolation is a procedure for the careful positioning of isolines - an isoline

connects points with the same quantitative values - in relation to the values of the data
points.

B.

Many interpolation methods exist, including linear interpolation, triangulation, kriging or

kernel density interpolation.

C. In

linear interpolation, for example, an isoline with a certain value is positioned between
adjacent points at proportionate distances from each other.

D. Isolines are named after the data being mapped.

Design elements in isarithmic mapping

A. Isolines should appear dominant on the map, as figures in perception.

B. Isolines should be rendered as solid color and much or all of the remaining map
information should be screened.

C.

Isolines should be labeled periodically.

D.

The map legend needs to describe

1. the units of the isolines (e.g., persons per square mile) and

2. the isoline interval.

e).Flow Map

A.Flow maps are maps that show linear movement between places.

B.Symbols on quantitative flow maps are lines, usually with arrows to show direction
that vary in width .

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 10

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
C. Three different types of flow maps can be distinguished, including radial, network,
and distributive type.

D.

Shipping routes, airline service, ocean currents, migration or traffic flows, and other
similar presentations are all examples that can be shown with flow maps.

Classification of flow maps

A. Radial flow maps possess a radial or spoke like pattern; an example is a traffic flow
map.

B.

Network flow maps reveal the interconnectivity of places; an example is an airline route
map.

C. Examples of

distributive flow maps are trade flows or diffusion of ideas or things.

Design elements in flow mapping

A. Flow lines must be dominant figures in perception, with strong edge gradients and
clear continuity.

B.

Smaller flow lines should appear on top of larger flow lines.

C.

Arrows are necessary if direction of flow is critical to map meaning.

D. Various legend designs for flow maps

f). Dot Mapping

Another method of representing quantities is with a dot density map. You can use a dot
density map to show the amount of an attribute within an area. Each dot represents a
specified number of features, for example, 1,000 people or 10 burglaries within an area.
Dot density maps show density graphically rather than showing density value. The dots are

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 11

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
distributed randomly within each area; they don't represent actual feature locations. The
closer together the dots are, the higher the density of features in that area. Using a dot
density map is similar to symbolizing with graduated colors, but instead of the quantity
being shown with color, it is shown by the density of dots within an area.
When creating a dot density map, you specify how many features each dot represents and
how big the dots are. You may need to try several combinations of dot value and dot size to
see which one best shows the pattern. In general, you should choose value and size
combinations that ensure the dots are not so close as to form solid areas that obscure the
patterns or so far apart as to make the variations in density hard to see.
In most cases, you'll only map one field using dot density maps. In special cases, you may
want to compare distributions of different types and may choose to map two or three fields.
When you do this, you should use different colors to distinguish between the attributes.
You have two options for placing dots within an area. Non-fixed Placement, the default
option, indicates that the dots will be placed randomly each time the map is refreshed, while
Fixed Placement freezes the placement of dots, even if the map is refreshed.
The image below shows how a dot density map appears if the dots are black and the
background has a gray county boundary outline and a sand background.
A. Common dot mapping involves the selection of an appropriate point symbol to represent
each discrete element of a geographically distributed phenomenon.
B. The symbol form does not change, but its number changes from place to place in
proportion to the number of objects being represented.
C. Design decisions involve the placement of dots and the selection of dot value and dot
size.
D. Dot density maps use a dot to indicate one or more occurrences of phenomena.

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 12

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016

Figure 3.1. Dot map

3.3. Processing Thematic Geographic Data

Geographic data processing begins with data material and uses a vast array of
Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to transform data into various products.
Quality is always an important aspect for considering processing and evaluating materials
and tools. We need to remember that materials vary in terms of quality, quality stands in
a relationship to expense and tools, and quality considerations circumscribe processing. A
GIS analyst assesses data quality in terms of lineage, currency, positional accuracy, and
attributes accuracy.
1).Lineage – This is a description of the source material from which the data were
derived, and the methods of derivation, including all transformations involved in
producing the final digital files.  This should include all dates of the source material and
updates and changes made to it.
2).Positional Accuracy – This is the closeness of an entity in an appropriate coordinate
system to that entity’s true position in the system.  The positional accuracy includes
measures of the horizontal and vertical accuracy of the features in the data set.
3).Attribute Accuracy – An attribute is a fact about some location, set of locations, or
features on the surface of the earth.  This information often includes measurements of
some sort, such as temperature or elevation or a label of a place name.  The source of

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 13

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
error usually lies within the collection of these facts.  It is vital to the analysis aspects of a
GIS that this information be accurate.
4).Logical Consistency - Deals with the logical rules of structure and attribute rules for
spatial data and describes the compatibility of a datum with other data in a data set. 
There are several different mathematical theories and models used to test logical
consistency such as metric and incidence tests, topological and order related tests.  These
consistency checks should be run at different stages in the handling of spatial data.
5).Completeness – This is a check to see if relevant data is missing with regards to the
features and the attributes.  This could deal with either omission errors or spatial rules
such as minimum width or area that may limit the information.

Spatial data is intangible and the possible modifications are limitless. Data, however, are
infinitely malleable and can be copied an unlimited amount of times. In most cases, processing
produces copies. The original is usually available. In other ways, data is much more flexible. If
the available data misses part of the area you are working in, you can obtain more. Data has other
constraints that limit the types of processing related to projections, scale, and accuracy. Learning
these limits is a critical component of working with spatial data. All GIS tools perform
transformations. Transformations are processing operations that convert data to other forms of
data, combine and integrate data, and classify data to make spatial data products, usually maps or
images. Spatial data varies in a thousand ways, and there are ways to transform it in almost every
way imaginable. When it uses different attribute measures, you can rescale the measures, when it
includes a bigger area, you can remove the unnecessary part. You can also add more data;
change raster data to vector data; and change vector data to raster data. While the possibilities are
endless, there are vexing problems related to projections, scale, and accuracy that effectively
limit transformations In spatial data processing transformations are the fundamental activities.
The material, data, comes in various forms and must be considered first. Tools are considered
according to the material available and the processing required making the product. Knowing
data, tools, and operations is key to the successful spatial data processing. Since all processing of
geographic information involves transformations, it seems logical that processing is thought of in
those terms. Transformations can also involve converting a particular geographic

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 14

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
conceptualization to a cartographic representation. The key to the processing of spatial data is
transforming data.
3.4. Summary
 Data classifications are useful for representing discrete and continuous data in logically
defined categories for use with mapping.
 Therefore attribute data can be classified into two basic types: qualitative or
quantitative. Qualitative thematic maps can answer the question: “Where is something
located?”and show the spatial distribution or location of similar elements where as
Quantitative thematic maps can answer the question: “How much can be found at this
location?
 Both qualitative and quantitative thematic mapping is the process of displaying the
characteristics and data properties of objects using graphic elements. You can select
objects on the basis of location, layers, and block names.
 By using the thematic design capabilities of adobe illustrator or other cartographic
software you can define the data you want to display, change the properties of the
queried data, assign display parameters, and create a legend.
 A thematic map is clearer and easier to understand than a map showing all the
information it contains because the thematic map shows only the data relevant to a
current presentation.
 The purpose of all thematic maps is to illustrate the “structural characteristics of some
particular geographical distribution”. This involves the mapping of physical and
cultural phenomena or abstract ideas about them.
 Thematic mapping or thematic map production is a productive process including
design, drawing, color separating, plates - making, pre - press proofs and printing.
 Thematic map design is a decision - making process requiring expertise for the
representation, the classification and the selection of symbols, legends, colors and
typefaces. A GIS analyst assesses data quality in terms of lineage, currency, positional
accuracy, and attributes accuracy.
3.5. Exercise
1. Mapping Natural and Socio-Economic Data Using Cartographic Software?
2. Compare discrete Vs continuous thematic maps.

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 15

 DIRE DAWA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING ENGINEERING

CHAPTER III MAPPING NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA USING CARTOGRAPHICSOFTWARE 2015/2016
3. Assume that you had given raw data to produce trade flow map of Dire Dawa and
Djibuti.briefly explain what you will do to produce the required map.
4. By using the appropriate thematic map design techniques try to produce a map that show ratio
of instructor and student in DDIT.
5. Brifly explains the relationship and difference in between all techniques of thematic map
design.

Reference
1.Dent, B.D. (1999) Cartography: Thematic Map Design (5th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

2.Madej, E. (2001) Cartographic Design. Using ArcView GIS. Albany: OnWord Press.

3.Monmonier, M.S. (1997) Cartographies of Danger: Mapping Hazards in America. Chicago:

University of Chicago Press.

4.Brewer, C.A. and T.A. Suchan (2001) Mapping Census 2000: The Geography of U.S.
Diversity. Redlands: ESRI.

5.MacEachren, A.M. (1995) How Maps Work. Representation, Visualization, and Design. New
York: Guilford.

6.MacEachren, A.M. and D.R.F. Taylor (1994) Visualization in Modern Cartography, Oxford,
England: Pergamon.

7.Monmonier, M.S. (1996) How to Lie with Maps (2nd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.
8.Robinson, A.H., Morrison, J.L., Muehrcke P.C., Kimerling, A.J. and S.C. Guptill (1995)
Elements of Cartography (6th ed.). New York: Wiley.

9.Slocum, T.A., McMaster, R.B., Kessler, F.C. and H.H. Howard (2005) Thematic Cartography
and Geographic Visualization (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PREPARED BY ENYEW A. 16