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1.

0 INTRODUCTION

Generally, map is a graphic drawn or made to show the geographical information about
certain place. Map has been made since centuries ago aimed to record the geographical
information obtained from survey methods or sometimes is based on explorers’ observation on
new places.

Map can also be defined as a graphical representation of geographical setting (Element


of Cartography). The oldest known maps are preserved on Babylon clay tablet from about 2300
BC and it shows that map have been played an important role in human life for centuries, either
for record purpose or being a reference to many travelers.

Map can be classified into two types, which are thematic map and topographic map.
Topographic map is a map that created in a large scale with information of landslide and
elevation. In some topographic map, it contains complete information covered from coordinate,
elevation, and geographical information. Thematic map is map or chart that is created to deliver
or views certain information regarding any topics.

Knowledge of making map is known as cartography, or to be specific, cartography can


be defined as art and science of representing a geographic area graphically, usually by means
of a map or chart (Britannica Encyclopedia). Those who are trained professionally to create map
is known as cartographer.

There are a lot of changes that occur since the first map have been made until now,
whether in term of technologies or the way or method of producing map. As been wrote before,
the first known map have been identified to be drawn on a clay tablet, but nowadays there so
many software and method that have make process of making and producing map become
easier and effective.
2.0 DISCUSSION

2.1 “Anyone can create map”

Basically, statement of “anyone can create map” can totally be agreed because
of the definition of map itself is a graphic that represents geographical information
and anyone can draw a picture or graphic to show or represent geographical
information.

In order to create an effective and good map, only those who studied cartography
know the technique and skills of making a good map so that the information
contained in a map can be delivered to user effectively and easily. Knowledge of
cartography is very important in map making, since a good map is created with very
careful and every single things regarding colour and arrangement of wording and
symbols are counted to ensure a map can be easily understood by user and the
information are well delivered. It means that only cartographer can came out with
good, user friendly map to satisfy user need.

But nowadays, software and applications that flooding in market have changed
the world of cartography because even someone who not studying cartography can
do a good map with help of the software or application and the information can still
be delivered well to user.

2.2 Technological innovation.

Since the first map created until now, there are a lot of changes occur in
technologies development that have been affected the development of world of
cartography. For example, in the ancient time, data collection for mapping purpose
may be obtained from survey method or upgraded from previous map that already
have been created.

Nowadays, term and character of map have been expanded because map is not
only a graphic material that formed in printed edition, but map also is created in
interactive form. This is all because the development of new software, equipment,
application and technologies has totally affected the world of cartography.
Furthermore, interactive or digital map have been used widely nowadays because of
its effectiveness and easy stored characteristic that have make user more likely to
use it compared to printed map.
The existence of new technologies such as Geographical Information System
(GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), remote sensing and photogrammetric have
made the use of map and method of making it become wider. GIS and GPS for
example, are technologies that have used map as its base before it is filled with such
information that related.

Because of the flooding of software and equipments that can be used in process
of map making, it is not possible for anyone to create a good map even he/she is not
studying any cartographic knowledge as long as he/she is good in computer and
certain software that being used for map making. For example, one of the
companies in Malaysia that provided map and spatial information, Ho Chin Soon
Research Ptd. Ltd. has been established by a man named Ho Chin Soon and he is
not even a cartographer at first but he can finally involved in world of map until his
company become one of the famous, well known company that provide many types
of map and spatial data in Malaysia.

3.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, statement of “anyone can create map” is definitely right because


map can be created by anyone, but maybe the standard and quality of map that created
by cartographer is much better, more effective, user friendly and can be sold for
commercial purpose. Nowadays, it is not possible for those who are not really a
cartographer to create a good, effective and sold able map with the development of
software, hardware and equipment that exist to be used in map making process.
4.0 REFERENCES

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cartography (22 January 2010, 2115H)

• http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/map/h_map/h_map.htm (22 January 2010,


2120H)

• http://www.answers.com/topic/cartography (22 January 2010, 2132H)

• Arthur H. Robinson, Joel L. Morrison, Phillip C. Muehrcke, A. Jon Kimerling, Stephen C.


Guptill, Elements of Cartography Sixth Edition, Canada, 1995, pp 9

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/topographic_map (24 January 2010, 2245H)

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/thematic_map (24 January 2010, 2250H)

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