Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
whether it is climatic, vegetational, or hydrological, or involves
population migrations or retail provision, can be expressed
graphically as maps, charts, or other forms of visual-spatial
representation.
The central role of the map has encouraged some instruction
in the science of map projections, the ways in which they are
constructed and the properties that they possess. At one time
in geography there was a 'great debate' over the relative merits
of different types of map projections, or ways of portraying
the curved surface of the Earth on a fl at surface. Mercator's
map projection had the quality of preserving angles exactly
and showing compass directions as straight lines; it became
a valuable navigational tool, but areas away from the Equator
were severely distorted. The Hammond Optimal Conformal
Projection minimized inaccurate representations of angles and
shapes yielding a near-perfect map of a given area up to a whole
hemisphere before distortions began to appear.
Graphical skills are important in both research and education
and have great value in portraying the discipline of geography
and its qualities. The emergence of mental maps introduced
a qualitative dimension to what had always been a scientifi c
technique. Humanistic geographers were interested in the maps
that people carried in their heads. These were often lacking in
precision, detail, and technical accuracy but were nevertheless
important reference points for behaviour. An elderly person's
mental map of the neighbourhood in which he or she lives,
for example, may appear very restricted compared to that
of someone younger and more mobile. Figure 22 shows two
examples of mental maps derived from interviews with residents
of an inner-city, terraced-row area of Cardiff, South Wales. For
example A, the residents were given a list of locations (shown
as dots on the diagram) and asked if they were inside or outside
their neighbourhood. Three isopleths showing 90%, 60%,
and 30% agreement are shown. For example B, residents were
