This course provides students with an introduction to the theoretical and practical aspects of map design and production.

Classes will be on one day of the week in the second ½ of semester 1.

GEOG5081 Cartographic Design, visualisation & map use

GEOG4064 Geovisualisation

GEOG4098 Cartographic Design

Continuous Assessment - portfolio of small exercises and reflective analysis 60%;

Practical Skills Assessment (in-class test), 40%

It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.

[No exceptions]

To examine theoretical and practical aspects of map design and the visualisation of geographic information;
To describe modern map production processes;
To develop skills in processing and presenting geospatial data.

On completing this unit students will be able to:

■ Describe the map design process;

■ Explain the classification of, and relationship between, phenomena, data and representation methods;

■ Critically analyse methods of portraying different types of geospatial data;

■ Explain the characteristics of colour, its measurement, description and use in cartography;

■ Describe the elements of map generalisation and discuss the development of automated methods;

■ Describe the particular problems of geographic names, typography and name arrangement in relation to maps;

■ Assess and apply relief depiction methods;

■ Describe materials and processes of modern map production & reproduction;

■ Design and produce maps using appropriate techniques.