Choices in How We Make Representations - A Primer of GIS: Fundamental Geographic and Cartographic Concepts - page 32

COMMUNICATION AND GEOGRAPHIC UNDERSTANDING Choices in How We Make Representations

Chapter 2

Choices in How We Make
Representations

Any representation of the world is always an abstraction. It reduces complex-
ity, simplifies, and highlights essential things, events, and relationships. An
artist's painting, Hollywood movies, and a child's drawing of home are obvi-
ously abstractions. Geographic information and maps are also abstract rep-
resentations, but they may be less obviously so, for a multitude of reasons.
Most people believe maps are more accurate than paintings, for instance,
and they wouldn't question a map's representation the way they would a
painting's. One reason for this is that maps generally follow unstated rules
and notions, or conventions. The established conventions for geographic
information and maps explicitly and implicitly guide people in making
choices and reinforcing ideas that geographic information and maps are
more accurate. Geographic information and maps follow many conventions
to ease understanding in order to facilitate communication. In other words,
abstraction isn't “bad”—it's necessary for the sharing of knowledge and infor-
mation. However, even with conventions that implicitly inf luence many
aspects of cartography and geographic information, many map and geo-
graphic information abstractions remain difficult to understand until we
have specific contextual information—for example, a electrical utility's
power-line map may come with explanations, but most of us would not
understand the map or the explanations.
It is certainly true that a great deal of the ease of “reading” maps comes
from an individual's familiarity with conventions. Once you have understood
the conventions, understanding maps is much easier and it even becomes
hard to imagine how one could go without the insight they offer. An infinite
number of choices are possible when creating geographic information and
maps, so conventions play a key role in limiting choices to make understand-
ing easier. You can find out about the specifics of geographic information

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