The World of Maps Map Reading and Interpretation for the 21st Century

Maps have power--they can instruct, make life easier, mislead, or even lie. This engaging text provides the tools to read, analyze, and use any kind of map and assess its strengths and weaknesses. Requiring no advanced math skills, the book presents basic concepts of symbolization, scale, coordinate systems, and projections. It gives students a deeper understanding of the types of maps they encounter every day, from turn-by-turn driving directions to the TV weather report. Readers also learn how to use multiple maps and imagery to analyze an area or region. The book includes 168 figures, among them 22 color plates; most of the figures can be downloaded as PowerPoint slides from the companion website. Appendices contain a glossary, recommended resources, a table of commonly used projections, and more.

Judith A. Tyner, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Geography at California State University, Long Beach. She taught in the Geography Department for over 35 years, where she served as Department Chair for 6 years and as Director of the Cartography/GIS Certificate Program from its inception (1980) until her retirement. While at California State Dr. Tyner taught beginning and advanced cartography, map reading and interpretation, history of cartography, and remote sensing. She is a member of the Association of American Geographers, the North American Cartographic Information Society, the Cartography and Geographic Information Society, and the California Map Society. She is the author of several textbooks, including Principles of Map Design, and over 30 articles.

I. Map Reading Basics
1. Introduction: The Importance of Map Reading
2. Landmarks of Mapmaking
3. Map Basics
4. The Figure of the Earth and Coordinate Systems
5. Map Projections: The Round Earth on Flat Paper
6. The Earth from Above: Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
II. Map Types and Their Analysis
7. Virtual Maps and GPS
8. Topographic Maps
9. Thematic Maps
10. Maps for Navigation
11. Maps for Special Purposes
III. Putting It All Together
12. Map Interpretation
13. Epilogue: The Future of Maps and Map Reading
Appendix A. Glossary
Appendix B. Abbreviations
Appendix C. Useful Figures
Appendix D. Resources
Appendix E. Commonly Used Projections
Bibliography