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Researched by Aaron A. |
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Project Report
Introduction
Have you ever been
lost? Well I have and it isn’t very easy to get back in the right
direction. It took us a long time to get back in the right
direction without a map. Maps are really important while on the
road.
Research Summary
The history of Cartography
Since
the 2,000 B.C., maps have been a big part of our lives. The
Greeks were the first people to discover maps. They were the
people that made the first map in the world. It was carved into a
very sturdy piece of clay and it showed waterways, hills, and
settlements. The maps that followed were believed to be
descriptions of heaven because the maps were of no known place in the
world. Since then the Greeks have developed extremely good
map-making skills. The Greeks’ map-making skills didn’t spread to
Europe until 1500 A.D. Even then they were very simple.
Maps Today
Maps
today are even better and more detailed. Computers now make them
so they can get them done better. The main types of computer
programs are CAD and GIS. The maps today are made by computers
because they can’t make the handmade maps to meet the standards of our
needs. Today we usually use globes because there are more of
them. There are more of them because globes are easier to make
because all that cartographers need to do is copy the exact details
from the earth’s surface.
There are projections so maps of the
world can show the whole world at once. In order to show the
whole world at once they have to tweak the map to get the whole world
on it. That means that if you get a map of the whole world it
might not be entirely correct. It is pretty hard. One
projection is called the Goode projection. It is a really well
known map.
How Cartographers Make a Map
The first thing
cartographers do when they get a map request is figure out what type of
map they want and what amount of detail they want. Then according
to all of the information on the map that they want the cartographers
start to check out all of the information that they have to make sure
it is all correct. Then they have to start by getting the basic
outline of the area that they want to map. Then they have to
start putting the layers of the map together. After each layer of
the map they have to check to see if that layer of the map is what the
customer wants. If each one is correct they put another
layer of the map on. But if it isn’t right they have to
take that layer of and replace it with another layer until it is
correct then they can put another layer on and check it again.
Once they have the layers on they have to check it again. After
they make sure it is correct they save it and print it out. After
they save it and print it out they have to get together with the person
that wants it. When they get together they check it over with the
customer(s). If they like it they can keep it but if they don’t
like it the cartographer has to take it back and change it to the way
the customers want it.
How to make a 3-D Map
When
cartographers make a 3-d map they have to order a satellite to take two
different pictures of the Earths surface at two slightly different
angles. Then the satellite that has the pictures sends the
pictures down to the company that wants them. Then the company
that wants them takes the pictures and put them under a special piece
of equipment called the stereoscope and copy the picture onto a really
big piece of paper. Then after that they check it and then they
copy it onto the computer and save it. And then they have a
finished product.
What Maps Have To Have
All maps
have to have some things but others don’t have to have a lot of
things. Most maps need to have symbols, a scale, a key, a
purpose, colors, boundaries, information on the topic, etc. Maps
always need a scale and a key.
Almas’unda
Almas’unda
was a really famous mapmaker. He made a really, really famous map
with the Atlantic and the Indian oceans meeting in the
south. He was a really good mapmaker. It was one of
the most famous maps ever. It was published in the
1900’s. It was a weird map at first and then it became more
popular.
Stuart Mcarther
Stuart Mcarther was yet
another famous map maker. He made a really famous upside-down
map. At first no one really cared about it but people soon
recognized it. Stuart Mcarther was just one person in the
world that believed that there was no right side up for the world on
maps. He was the first one to ever do something about it.
Facts
• Maps can be made of any place in the world.
• Maps can be made on any surface in the world.
• Maps can even be made of the ocean floor.
• One map can be used for about a thousand years.
• Maps are one of the most used things in the world.
• Beaver maps are the most favorite maps in the United States of America.
Cartography
is a really interesting subject. There are many different things
to understand about cartography. I have really enjoyed learning
about cartography. I hope you have to.
Who Helped Me With My Project
I
would like to thank my mom for all of the good help and supporting me
on whatever I did. I would like to thank my teacher Mrs.
Hietman for all of her help on showing me of the some sources that
really helped me to get some things figured out.
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