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The graphical representation of quantitative data or qualitative data for a given geographic area (e.g., regional unemployment rate or type of crops grown).
The many different methods that cartographers apply to create thematic maps are used to define a thematic map more precisely. The following five are found most often.
- 1.
Coropleth maps. In coropleth maps the areas of the map are shaded or patterned in proportion to the value of the data to be displayed for a particular area.
- 2.
Dot maps. These maps use equal sized dots to show the presence of a feature at a particular geographic location and thus display spatial distributions. A dot need not be restricted to a single occurrence; it may indicate any number of entities.
- 3.
Proportional symbol maps.When drawing proportional symbol maps, a cartographer selects a symbol (e.g., a circle or a bar), places it at the spot on the map to which the data apply and varies the symbol’s size from...
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Recommended Reading
Bertin J. Graphics and Graphic Information-Processing. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, 1981.
Slocum T.A., McMaster R.B., Kessler F.C., and Howard H.H., 2005.Thematic Cartography and Geographic Visualization, 2Pearson-Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, nd edn.
Tufte E.R., The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Graphics Press, Cheshire, CT, 1983.
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Hinterberger, H. (2009). Thematic Map. In: LIU, L., ÖZSU, M.T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Database Systems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-39940-9_1377
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-39940-9_1377
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