Comments on: It’s August.. time for a “people can’t read a map” story

By: Saurav

Saurav — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:09:01 +0000

Number 2 is a motorway…number 5 is public convenience…number 7 is a church and number 9 is a church with a spire. I am not sure about the rest.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:08:03 +0000

Lauren, i know what u mean lol. im young and they r just common sense if u think about it!

By: Lauren

Lauren — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:23:16 +0000

seriously… im only young n i cud tell u wot all ov those OS symobloz mean.. grow up!

By: edparsons.com » Blog Archive » Cartography is dead, long live the map makers

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:33:34 +0000

[...] like only last year, ah yes it was last year, that the bored press hits upon it annual “shock horror – nobody can read maps” story. [...]

By: Tony Battle

Tony Battle — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:52:07 +0000

This is all about language; nothing more and nothing less.
An individual’s knowledge and experience of a language will define to what degree they can communicate.
The cartographic symbology used on a map is a form of language; however simplistic or complex. The cartographer defines the symbology as a method for representing the real world. The map iteslf is a form of communiction model. A communication model, in order to be effective to the max, requires all participants to be agreement on the language and context. In the case of an OS map, the communication model is a one way affair: telling the reader / user about the world through the language of carto symbology. Like all languages, if you cherry pick only certain areas to use, then ultimately you will develop a lesser vocab. Great debate. Ultimately, it comes down to how much value we want to extract from the map and how much effort we are prepared to expend in doing so.

By: Duncan Garratt

Duncan Garratt — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:42:42 +0000

I don’t dispute that there are good map-readers from both sexes; the big question here is basic map reading skills which is an acquired skill, and is it being taught in schools or simply picked up in life as and when required? Whilst the issue in the article relates to specific symbology as a test, symbols do change depending on the maps used and country of origin. What should be at issue is the map itself, and factors such as the grid system used, projection, how to calculate distance, how to set a course or route, how to orientate a map, magnetic variation etc. GPS gadgets/plotters etc are great and make life easy, but when they fail what then! In my own experience as a qualified cartographer and someone qualified to participate in expeditions anywhere in the world including the Polar Regions, I am constantly surprised how poor map reading skills are. Yes these gadgets are great, but should not be a substitute for basic map reading skills, a compass and a paper map. As Google Earth and Virtual Earth use Latitude/Longitude perhaps a more relevant question might include.

What is Latitude and Longitude?
What does 1 minute of Latitude or Longitude represent?
What are Eastings and Northings?
How do you calculate distance using Easting and Northings?
What does a scale represent?
What is magnetic variation?
What can affect the reading of a compass bearing?
How can you tell what direction you are travelling in using the sun only?
If your GPS fails in an emergency, what grid reference do you give the emergency services in the UK or abroad?
With only a watch how could you navigate a course?

With more and more people experiencing the great outdoors how equipped are they if they get into difficulties, or are they totally reliant on gadgets? It’s an important question!

Duncan Garratt
http://www.gis-logic.co.uk

By: bob dunne

bob dunne — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:57:05 +0000

I like maps, but dont know how to read them. Any pointers to learning how?

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:01:35 +0000

The real story here, I think — and which I also think most will overlook, and unfortunately so… Is what appears to be yet-another occurence of how the insurance industry often takes discussions from any industry that relates to their ‘product’, and turns that discussion into negligible ‘evidence’ as to why they need to be charging more.

Look. Is it any wonder that our own industry doesn’t often cannibalize itself in this way? The majority of the discussions I’ve seen are coming exclusively from an academic front — when, in their own lack of understanding the cause and effect, they do the industry and everyday people a disservice.

Perhaps if people got over themselves long enough, they’d realize that this is what generally plays out [in regards to insurance carriers]. It’s not unlike AP talking to a desk-jockey up at USGS about the mine disaster in Utah, and having misleading information become ‘sensationalized’ in the public. I shudder to think what ignorance would become of the result when that company’s insurance carriers drop the existing coverage, even though it’s on the top list of the safest operations in the country — and what would be the outcome? What would the miners and their families come away with?

The insurance industry will find a wedge, even from the simplist of things… And by the time you’re aware, you’ve forgotten about the root cause.