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Thematic Maps - Choropleth - Isopleth - Eng

The document discusses advanced cartography techniques, focusing on thematic maps such as choropleth and isopleth maps. Choropleth maps use shading to represent the density of elements across administrative units, while isopleth maps use lines to indicate equal values of quantities. The document outlines the construction processes and advantages of these mapping methods, emphasizing their significance in geography.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
40 views3 pages

Thematic Maps - Choropleth - Isopleth - Eng

The document discusses advanced cartography techniques, focusing on thematic maps such as choropleth and isopleth maps. Choropleth maps use shading to represent the density of elements across administrative units, while isopleth maps use lines to indicate equal values of quantities. The document outlines the construction processes and advantages of these mapping methods, emphasizing their significance in geography.

Uploaded by

piyush telang
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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M.A.

Geography, Sem III - Advanced Cartography

Practical N0. -------

Thematic Maps : Choropleth or shading method, Isopleth Maps

Choropleth or shading method

Choropleth maps are technically quantitative areal maps that show the spatial distribution of the
intensity or density of an element with the help of a system of graded shading or colour, drawn
following the boundaries of the administrative units. The administrative unit is the base and basis
of representation.

The basic principle is that the intensity of shading is directly proportional to the density of
elements. These density maps, related as they are to the administrative units, display only
average distribution. The shades of colour or line are used to represent the various categories of
density; therefore it is called as shading method. The shades of line or colour increase with
increasing the densities.

The construction of a choropleth map is a 3 step process as follows.

1. Calculate the density by applying the formula, density = Total Population / Total area
2. Consider the maximum and minimum density to classify the density into low density,
moderate density and high density. Density interval should be wisely chosen.
3. Use the shades of either line or colour to represent the density into the administrative
boundaries.
Choropleth maps are the basic tools of human geographers.

Choroschematic or symbol Method :

This method is also known as symbol method where one or more elements may be shown by
conventionally selected symbols of equal size or varying sizes as the case may be. One or more
elements may be shown by conventionally selected symbols of equal size or varying sizes as the
case may be. Initial letter of an element may be adopted as a symbol to represent that; for
instance , W for wheat, C for cotton etc., in the case of crop distribution maps; S for sheep, C for
cattle in stock maps; G for gold, C for coal etc. in mineral maps. When only one element is
shown on themap, the letter of uniform size may be used as a unit and the number of letters may
be found out with reference to the quantity to be represented. The chief advantage of this method
is that many elements may be shown together on one map.

The general defects of the method are (i) the map may not be easily measurable ii) though
represented with the same height, some of the letters may appear smaller than others.

Symbols are particular ways of representing on topographic features and objects such as roads,
railways, factories, temples, churches etc.

Isopleth Maps :

The common method for showing quantitative distribution is by means of isopleths. The term
isopleths is derived from the words Iso and plethorn; where iso means equal and plethron means
measure. Isopleths are lines of equal value in the form of quantity, intensity and density. They
are drawn at some selected interval which depends upon the scale and accuracy of the map.
These are quantitative areal maps where quantities are indicated by lines of equal value known
by multiplicity of such terms isopleth, isarithm, isoline, isogram, isontic lines and isometric lines.

Isopleth maps are principally trend surface maps with three dimensions. The spatial trends are
indicated by the spacing of isopleths. This method has been commonly used for isotherm, isobar,
contours, isohytes, isometric lines, isoseismic lines, isosaline etc. maps because these elements
are uniformly distributed over wide areas. This method is also used in ratio or percentage maps.

The spacing of lines expresses the rate of spatial variation. If the lines appear much apart, spatial
variation is gentle and when they are closely set, spatial variation is sharp. Each line is labeled
according to the quantity or number of indicates.

Such lines are of great significance to the student of geography because they divide the map into
clear-cut regions. Isopleths relate to the concept of regionalism in geography. It is the
quantitative distribution which is more important.

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