| CODE | GEO1002 | ||||||
| TITLE | Applied Cartography: Design, Principles and Measurement Practicals | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 3 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Geography | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | In this study-unit, the students will have the opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge delivered in GEO1001, through a set of two-hour practicals. Students are given the opportunity to apply cartographic skills in non-digital practical sessions as a basic introduction. Students will be involved in several practical mapping exercises related to the wider dimension of thematic mapping using appropriate tools and cartographic mediums to manually create spatial information. Other exercises will involve a map viewing and review of original historical maps, using specific models of mapping evaluation. Other practicals relate to cartometry, which will focus on the various measurement techniques involved in the use of scale. The practical sessions will offer hands-on sessions in applying mathematical concepts and spatial mapping techniques covered in the theoretical part. Study-unit Aims: - To cover the key applications related to the field of cartography and cartometry; - To familiarise students with the key skills requirements related to transforming quantitative data into spatial information through simple mathematical and geometrical techniques; - To involve students in decisions processes related to mapping design and outcomes. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - explain how cartometry has developed over time with reference to specific examples and key literature sources; - interpret key mapping concepts of accuracy, orientation, scale, projections, data representation through use of colour, symbolization and design; - describe the main mapping methods used in order to perform correct measurements; - identify the key skills required to perform specific cartometric skills on selected thematic maps; - design maps by using appropriate tools and mediums. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: − describe basic features of scale maps; − list the basic elements of a scale map; − explain the objective of symbols and legends on scale maps; − develop various types of thematic maps, through data manipulation such as choropleth maps, dot maps, graduated circle maps; − specify the use of topographic maps; − describe the characteristics of contour lines and extract data from topographic maps; − work with scales; − explain the orientation or direction on a map and the effect of magnetic declination; − specify the meaning of projections and datums; − discuss strengths and limitations of scale maps. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Dent, B., Torguson, J. and Hodler, T. 2008. Cartography: Thematic Map Design, 6th edition, McGraw-Hill Science, New York. - Kimerling, A.J., Buckley, A.R., Muehrcke, P.C. and Muehrcke, J.O. 2009. Map Use: Reading and Analysis, 6th edition, ESRI Press, Redlands. - Ross, S. 2003. Basic Mapwork Skills, Nelson Thornes Ltd., Cheltenham. Supplementary Texts: - Kraak, M-J. and Ormeling, F. 2003. Cartography: Visualization of Geospatial Data, 2nd edition, Pearson Education, London. - Slocum, T.A. 1998. Thematic Cartography and Visualization, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite Study-unit: GEO1001 | ||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study & Practicum | ||||||
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| LECTURER/S | John A. Schembri |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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