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Principles of Cartography: Generalization

1) Generalization is the process of simplifying data for maps due to scale or purpose. It reduces complexity while maintaining spatial accuracy and attribute information. 2) There are four main generalization operators: selection, simplification, exaggeration, and classification. Selection determines what features to include. Simplification reduces detail while maintaining characteristics. Exaggeration enhances important features. Classification groups similar attributes. 3) Factors that control generalization are map purpose, scale, data quality/quantity, and graphic limits of the medium. Purpose and scale determine needed details. Data quality and amount affect output. Graphic limits are physical, physiological, and psychological constraints.

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147 views

Principles of Cartography: Generalization

1) Generalization is the process of simplifying data for maps due to scale or purpose. It reduces complexity while maintaining spatial accuracy and attribute information. 2) There are four main generalization operators: selection, simplification, exaggeration, and classification. Selection determines what features to include. Simplification reduces detail while maintaining characteristics. Exaggeration enhances important features. Classification groups similar attributes. 3) Factors that control generalization are map purpose, scale, data quality/quantity, and graphic limits of the medium. Purpose and scale determine needed details. Data quality and amount affect output. Graphic limits are physical, physiological, and psychological constraints.

Uploaded by

GIS student
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Principles of

Cartography (SUG242)

Lecture 8 :
Generalization

Department of Surveying Science and Geomatics


Faculty of Architecture, Planning, and Surveying
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perlis
Lecture Outline & Strategy for SUG 242
Knowledge & Theory of Cartography

History

Principles on Geometry Aspect of Cartography


Cartography Cartography information sources
Generalization Process
Map Compilation and Design
Map Symbolization
Map Color and Typography

Map & Data Capture and Preparation


Cartographic Map Making and Production
Process Map Making Management
Outline For Today’s Lecture….

1. Generalization Concept
2. Elements of Generalization
3. Controls of Generalization
What is generalization?
Generalization is the process of reducing the information
content of maps due to scale change, map purpose,
intended audience, and/or technical constraints.

Why we need generalization in mapping?


Real world is too complex, maps cannot retail all the
information in the real world, therefore we need to
simplify the reality.
Why we need generalization in mapping?
1) reduce complexity
2) retain hierarchy
3) maintain spatial accuracy (e.g. shifting)
4) maintain attribute accuracy (e.g. aggregation)
5) maintain aesthetic quality
Real world

Maps
What is the purpose of generalization?
1. the reduction in scope, amount, type and
cartographic portrayal of mapped or encoded data
2. maintenance of graphical clarity at the target scale
3. basic principle of map generalization is to
emphasis salient object AND omit less important
ones
4. ensure readability AND preserve geographical
meaning of the map as faithfully as possible.
How we perform generalization?
• There is four main generalization operators , we used
the four operators to achieve maximum and adequate
level of generalization.

• The four operators (elements) were :-


i. Selection
ii. Simplification
iii. Exaggeration
iv. Classification
Intellectual process of deciding which
SELECTION classes of features will be necessary
to serve the map purpose.

1. To limit our concern to those classes of features .


2. Which elements remain depends on the purpose of
the map.
3. No modifications take place
SIMPLIFICATION
Determine important characteristics of features
attributes and eliminates unwanted details.

Two main objectives:-


1. We must reduce the amount of information
to the map’s ability to portray it legibly at
the chosen scale. That is we must decide
how much information to portray.

2. We must maintain as far as possible the


essential geographical characteristic of the
mapped phenomena
CLASSIFICATION
Classification is ordering, scaling and grouping of features
by their attributes and attributes values

• The goal of classification is to exoress the


salient character of distribution.

• Grouped the classes for comprehension and


ease of representation.
Green
Residential Area
Area

Academic
Technology Area
Park

Commercial
Area
EXAGGERATION
Enhancement of exaggeration of feature due to
importance and legibility requirements.

The main objectives:-


1. We deliberately enlarge or alter a feature in
order to capture its real world essence.

2. It doesn’t mean it should be as accurate as


the real one, but the portrayal should
possess real meaning or shape.
Map of Peninsula Malaysia
Map of Malaysia
Map of Southeast Asia
Map of Asia
World Map
What factors that effect generalization?

There is main four forces or factors which control


the process of generalization :-

1) Map Purpose & Conditions in Use


2) Map Scale
3) Quality and Quantity of Data
4) Graphic Limits
1) Map Purpose & Conditions in Use
Before we construct a map, several basic question
should be addressed;

What is the map for?


Is the map is studied or would be used for a long
period?
Is the map designed to provide a great deal of
geographic information?
Is the map to portray particular distribution?
Will the display will be manipulated by the user?
2) Map Scale
• There is a practical level of detail associated with any
scale.
• Data captured at one scale are not transferrable to widely
different scales.
• Data captured at a larger scale are too detailed for
smaller scales, and data captured at a small scale are too
generalised for larger scales.

DIRECT RELATION TO SCALE: the smaller scale,


more generalization needed to be done to the
features selected.
1 : 50 000

1 : 12 500
3) Quality & Quantity of Data
Data quality and quantity also greatly affect the
generalization in various ways:-

1. Quality of data affect the quality of the map produced


2. Accuracy of data sources also need to be consider
3. Lack or abundance of data (quantity matters) also can
affect maps performance
4. Cartographer should also determined the accuracy of the
data used for the maps construction
4) Graphic Limits
• Another factors which affect the generalization process is
graphic limits. We can break these factors into two
groups:-
a) Technical limits by the cartographer’s tools
b) Perceptual limits of the human eye

• Our ability to form symbols from those elements is subject to three


types of limitations : a) pyhsical, b) physiological, and c)
psychological limits.

• In digital cartography, graphic limits refer to the capacity of the


monitor and software to perform the generalization

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