By Valrie Grant
Managing Director GeoTechVision
Have you ever used a map? Most likely you have. There are very few persons who have never used a map. We use maps in our personal or business travels to get directions from one place to the next. If we get lost, we may use maps to determine where on the map we are, and then navigate towards our intended destination. The visual picture we create in our minds when someone gives us direction is actually the process of map creation to help us find our way. In this week’s article we will talk about the power of maps – what do they do? Whose interests do they serve? And how can they be used in more innovative ways?
The process of mapping or creation of maps can be much become much more involved and complex than the simple task drawing to give directions. Adding non-directional information (layers or features) to maps is what gives rise to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) which then provides us with the ability to do analysis and to discover details about our relationship with the environment. Depending on the focus of the additional layers of information we add, be it cultural, historical or demographical, we then become more aware of our connections and the nature of our connections with other people who live in our communities or country.
Beyond the perspectives of that which I just mentioned, maps also give us the ability and opportunity to:
- Create a snapshot of a place in time
- Create a visual display of specific data and abstract ideas
- Develop a broader perspective of the relationships between layers of information or in in an area of specific interest
- Understand community dynamics and plan for sustainable change
- Engage in sustainable development planning informed with knowledge and sensitivity to local habitat, culture and other community values
- Identify and delineate protected areas.
The past decade has seen an explosion of new mechanisms for presenting maps. There has been the development of consumer GPS tools, interactive web maps, location-aware mobile devices and mobile application using location information. These advances have made it possible for people from all walks of life to use, collect, represent and understand spatial information presented on maps like never before.
Online maps have become one of the most universally used of all modern digital reports. Most of us are familiar with Google Earth or Google Map. Many websites embed google maps and then overlay other information to present informational content with a particular perspective. Still, many other software platforms exist for creating and working with online maps and map-based applications.
Online or digital maps are now presented in some very interesting ways and are used to tell stories (story-maps http:// maps. geotechvision.com /foodieja/ index.html); perform location analysis; collect and compile data; provide critical monitoring information; provide contextual information of events; track and manage the status of various operations and activities; present a historical view of the past and also a presents a modelled view of the future.
In the earliest documented case of GIS in action, Dr John Snow, in 1854 provided the classic example of how mapping can be used in epidemiological research. By mapping the locations of those afflicted with cholera, he was able to identify the water source responsible for the outbreak of cholera. Over 160 years later, maps are being used in the fight against the Zika virus, helping health officers get answers to questions such as:
- Where did the outbreak take place?
- What was the pattern in which the diseases spread across the country?
- What segment of the population was most affected and where were they located?
- What were the environmental determinants?
- What were the number of cases at the various clinics and were there casualties at these clinics?
Maps are very critical to the planning of any activities or interventions in which geographical coverage is an important component.
Geologists depend on topographic maps for superimposing rock types upon the land. Maps can be used to illustrate physiographic features such as forests,
grassland, ocean floors and sediments. Meteorological maps show climate, weather and wind information. Other environmental maps can record human impacts on the environment. A vast array of uses can be found for maps and many professionals depend greatly on maps in carrying out their daily jobs. These professionals include meteorologists, geographers, city planners, pilots, geologists, and many others. Maps are also used for recreational purposes such as hiking and treasure hunts. Maps can benefit individuals and
organisations of all sizes in every sector of a country’s economy. Maps have been used by nearly all cultures in the world and are one of the oldest methods of nonverbal communication. Their power resides in their widespread use by the media, in government, in businesses and for education. Maps influence the way we view and understand the world, and also how we create and maintain particular discourses about the world and international relations. Decision makers should therefore develop a critical awareness of the power of maps and mapping techniques; recognising that maps are the most powerful of visual interpretations. Maps illustrate spatial relationships between entities and allow us to construct meaningful understanding of the world and influence how we view our environment and the communities in which we operate.
