Posted in 09 Map Symbolization, Map History, tagged Cartographic Design, History of Cartography, Map Design, map symbols, Map Symbols - Boats, Map Symbols - Bridges, Map Symbols - Fords, Map Symbols - Historical, symbols on January 18, 2011| 3 Comments »
Francois de Dainville, in his Le Language des Geographes (1964, p. 162), compiled map symbols for various water crossings from historical European maps (1543-1777).
The symbols include boats (Bac, above), fords (Gué, below)…
…and bridges (Pont, below).
The entire set of symbols in one image:
Posted in 09 Map Symbolization, Cartominutiae, tagged map symbols, Map Symbols - Combined, Map Symbols - Guides, symbols on June 12, 2009| 7 Comments »
The construction of symbols on maps requires the interaction of many elements. How these elements come together – literally the intersection of bits of points, lines, and areas – is the subject of a series of illustrations entitled “The Drawing of Combined Symbols.” The majority of these guidelines focus on peculiar details that when done well, the typical map user won’t even notice. They are among the fascinating hyper-minutiae of cartography.
Faces indicate the quality of the choices illustrated – good, ok, and poor.
Examples are illustrated by Prof. Kei Kanazawa (heading the Working Group of the Japan Cartographers Association) in a chapter entitled “Techniques of Map Drawing and Lettering” in the out-of-print book Basic Cartography, Vol. 1 (International Cartographic Association, 1984, p. 45). These guidelines were developed for the pen and ink era of cartography, yet most are applicable to contemporary digital mapping.
Illustrations are for educational purposes only. Click on an illustration for a larger version.
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Railway Symbols: Note arrangement of tics and black and white parts.
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Manner of connecting line symbols corresponding to broken lines.
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Several examples of crossing line symbols.
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Drawing of double broken line symbols.
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Drawing of double line road symbols in connection with other symbols.
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Position of individual point symbols: (1) Place of explanation symbol, (2) Point symbols corresponding to the exact place on the ground.
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Drawing of contours.
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Relation of contours and road symbols.
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Boundary along linear objects. Parts of a boundary along linear objects such as a river, road, and so on which are clearly recognized are usually omitted.
Posted in 09 Map Symbolization, Map History, tagged Cartographic Design, Cartographic symbols, Map Design, map symbols, springs, symbols, wells on March 6, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Wells
Springs
Successful, Unsuccessful
Nonmineral, Mineral
Nonmineral, Mineral, Artesian, Gravity, Artesian, Gravity
Rise, No Rise, Rise, No rise, Cold, Warm, Cold, Cold, Warm, Cold
Flowing, Nonflowing, Flowing, Nonflowing
Those are all the wells and springs…
In general there has been no attempt at uniformity of practice in the delineation on maps of underground water features or of wells or springs… …it now appears desirable that a concerted movement be made to develop a uniform system of symbols for use on maps.
The number of symbols devised should be sufficient for the representation of all features which it is desirable to show. If wholly arbitrary devices are used, confusion will result whenever a considerable number are used simultaneously, but this difficulty will be largely avoided if the system adopted is based on a few suggestive forms grouped according to easily remembered principles.
The principles to be considered in devising a system of well and spring symbols for underground water maps are (1) simplicity, (2) clearness, (3) ease of making, and (4) suggestiveness. Failure to answer these various requirements ruled out many of the arbitrary systems used in the past…
It is believed that a system of symbols can be most logically developed if a single arbitrary device is taken as a base. In common practice a circle is most often used for a well, while more or less closely allied devices are used for springs. Inasmuch as both wells and springs are ordinarily approximately circular, this device, which seems to have both the required simplicity and suggestiveness, is proposed.
Words of map symbolization wisdom from “Representation of Wells and Springs on Maps” by Myron Fuller in Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 160, U.S. Geological Survey (1906).
Making Maps: DIY Cartography 