CLASS CANCELLED TODAY

Thursday, January 29, 2009
The 11:30-12:20 Cartography class is cancelled today: please send me an e-mail if you have any questions on anything related to the course: your Map Project Proposals can be submitted to me via e-mail at cconrad@smu.ca

Green Mapping

Although this is not a topic specifically mentioned in the course syllabus, we have the time to review what is meant by so-called "Green Mapping" and it is something that I work on in my own research. If you get a chance, it is worthwhile to take a quick look through the green mapping web site.

A Google Mashup of the Cold

A meteorologist at Environment Canada put a map together with the low temps posted across this region: notice that Google Maps was used for this. Take a look at it here.

Weather Maps

Given that we are getting some bad weather tonight (although I don't think it will be as bad as initially thought, but only tomorrow will tell), I thought I would post a map of the forecast for snowfall accumulation from one of the weather models. Based on this model, the Halifax area would only receive approximately 5 cm, although these models often underestimate the total accumulation. If you were to critique this map, you might find it confusing, ineffective in providing a quick interpretation and poor graphic display. The audience for this map must be kept in mind and that would primarily include meteorologists, who are not looking for the generalized map: these cluttered details will provide them with the tools to assist in a more accurate forecast. So even if the map appearance may be flawed to the cartographer's eye, that alone doesn't necessarily warrant a critique of the product.

21st Century Directions

Is society slowly losing it's spatial orientation capacity? Are we becoming too reliant on computers, GPS units and other technical devices to tell us where to go and how to get there? Do we run the risk of things like this becoming increasingly frequent? Obviously I am being facetious, but one does wonder what is happening to our map reading skills and the role of the cartographer in society is evolving rapidly.

Cartography Class Map

Where are you from?(in red push-pins)
Where would you rather be? (in green push-pins).
View the map here.

Cartography Winter 2009

Welcome to a new year of Cartography: GEOG 2336.2

I will periodically use this blog to post relevant articles and items related to the course content. Sometimes I will draw your attention to this in class and sometimes I won't. You might want to get in the habit of periodically checking this space.

While we begin the first weeks of the course, you might want to start using Google Maps. In order to create your own maps, you will need to create a user name and password.

We will be using Adobe Illustrator in the labs, which begin the week of January 12. Some students prefer to purchase the software (particularly since there isn't a cost for a course textbook). You can access the Adobe web site for educational software discounts here. Before you go ahead and purchase it, you might want to shop around a bit to see if it can be found cheaper elsewhere. If you plan to solely work in the Geography Department computer lab there is no need to purchase the software: it is on all of the lab computers. It is not on any other campus computers, however. You may also prefer to spend more time working on the labs from home or on your personal laptop computer. There are many online tutorials that you might want to make use of: here is one. The first lab will quide you through one such tutorial.