Why do we draw maps?

Earlier today I spoke to a group of 9th graders.  Their teacher had asked me to talk to her Earth Sciences class about maps, map making and what surveyors do. 

They had talked about Map Projections.  When I goggled Map Projections I found  there are way more than I ever heard of.

Then I got to asking myself "Why Do We Draw Maps"?

The best answer I could come up with (for a 9th grade audience) is that maps are a very compact way to convey a tremendous amount of information.  Maps are efficient at telling our clients what they need to know.

What do you think?  Why do we draw maps?

Larry P

Maps communicate to our brains in a different way from text.

Larry,

A picture is worth a thousand words. Ashton has a good point also. a map helps you visualize what you are trying to explain.

I hope you are doing well. I haven't seen much of you on the board lately, but then again, I go through spurts of online activity.

Take care my friend,
Jimmy

We present pictorial information to help lawyers understand land law.

Richard Schaut

Ashton:

Maps communicate to our brains in a different way from text.

Enough said.

Ashton,

Agreed.

Jimmy,

I used your "picture is worth a thousand words" line yesterday.  In fact I told them that if a picture was worth 1000 then a map is worth at least 5,000.  Also, I've not been on the board as much lately as this is the busy season for traveling and teaching. 

Mr. Schaut,

As happens so often we disagree again. Surveyors and Cartographers were drawing maps long long before we had to try and educate lawyers about land law.  When I prepare a map for most clients it has little or nothing at all to do with educating lawyers.  Instead it has everything to do with communicating important information to the client.
 

Mr. McGrath,

I agree that maps communicate in a way that is different than plain text.  In fact I will go so far as to assert that maps communicate with a different part of the brain.

Larry P

A visual impression of a good map is imprinted far easier into our brain than trying to recall the pages of text that would be required to explain every detail so easily  symbolically depicted on a map.

Just like  maths we symbolise functions!


RADU

The map drawn by a surveyor accurately and precisely diagrams the conclusion of a determination for the boundary of land.

The map is drawn showing precisely calculated accurate lines and corners marked and described in such a way that the information provided will relate to the location of those lines on the ground by the surveyor or by others. 

The map is in violation of minimum technical standards set by a board of licensing who oversee the practice of land surveying if the map is not precise. If the land is not marked precisely as drawn on the map then it is also in violation of those same minimum technical standards.

The map must be accurately determined, precisely calculated and congruently marked on the ground. The reason why the map is drawn is to demonstrate the surveyor’s intention to fulfill that purpose.