[TZGISUG] Fwd: Tanzania Cartography Rules / Guideline?
Mike Shand
Mike.Shand at glasgow.ac.uk
Tue Aug 9 14:36:00 EAT 2016
Hi Elisante,
I think your question and the answers by Aloyce and Simon cover _three_
separate but interrelated aspects to mapping:
Cartographic Design; Map Specification; and Spatial Data Standards.
*Cartographic Design*
There are existing guidelines, rules and conventions for good map design
to ensure a map is "designed for the purpose(s) it is intended to be used".
This aspect of mapping can only be mastered through training in the
principles of cartography (formal courses or informal through books or
online) and experience gained adopting these principles. Feedback from
colleagues and map users is also vital if you wish to understand if a
map you create is fit for purpose.
A number of standard and classic cartography text books (Cynthia Brewer
<https://www.amazon.co.uk/Designing-Better-Maps-Guide-Users/dp/1589480899>;
A H Robinson
<https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Cartography-Arthur-H-Robinson/dp/0471555797>;
John Keates
<https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cartographic-Design-Production-Keates-J/dp/0470210710>;
Jacques Bertin <http://www.esri.com/news/releases/10_4qtr/bertin.html>;
Erwin Raisz
<https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2zYIAQAAIAAJ&source=gbs_similarbooks>
) can be purchased or viewed online and there are many free online
courses of modules can be sourced from the internet. A useful guide to
cartography sources can be found here
http://www.cartography.org.uk/considering-cartography/
*Map Specification*
This is really the responsibility of any organisation or NGO to create
its own unique set of precise specifications for point, line, area
symbols and lettering on their maps. It should also cover templates for
map layouts at various scales or for differing map themes. Once
created your symbols and templates can be saved in QGIS and accessed by
any cartographer in the Honeyguide to ensure standardisation in design
when desired. These specifications should follow basic cartographic
design rules but customised to meet the specific needs of the end user.
In Tanzania the Surveys & Mapping Division have a set of design
specifications for their 1:50,000 maps, but their design will differ
(slightly or significantly depending on symbol) from a 1:50,000 map
specification for say UK, France, South Africa, Egypt, China etc., as
each is designed to meet a different user in differing environments. So
"one design fits all" is mostly not possible in mapping.
*Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI)* /or Data and Metadata Standards/
Unfortunately this issue has been kick-stated several times in Tanzania
(and other countries) and has generally any initiative has stalled
through lack of long term interest, leadership or finance.
A quick look at the Honeyguide website and reports indicate that your
maps are generally well designed at present but could benefit from some
final 'polishing' to improve their design and usability. If you wish I
could comment on specific examples offline. You may recall the courses
I conducted at TZCRC <http://www.tzcrc.org/wp/>, Arusha in 2015, in
particular the course "Cartographic Design and Map Publication with QGIS
<http://www.tzcrc.org/wp/cartographic-design-and-map-publication-with-qgis/>",
if you can check the resources I supplied to each student, it included
illustrated presentations on Cartographic Communication; Map Design; Map
Layout; Lettering; Colour in Maps etc, revisiting these may be a useful
starting point.
Regards,
Mike
(University of Glasgow)
On 09/08/2016 09:40, Elisante Japhet via TZGISUG wrote:
> Hi TZGISUG Team,
>
> I've been looking for Mapping rules / guidelines that could be used
> with Cartographers while working on Tanzania maps. So I'm wondering if
> you might have come across rules used by TANAPA, TAWIRI, or by
> Government and Non - Government Organization that are allowed to share?
>
> ps: /The guidelines can be in such a way that, Maps created can also
> be accepted in various institutes and organization./
> /
> /
> Thank you,
> Elisante.
>
>
>
> GIS & Mapping Officer.
>
>
> P O Box 8271
>
> Arusha. Tanzania.
>
> Mobile contact: +255 (0) 756 629362 <tel:%2B255%20%280%29%20756%20629362>
>
> Office line: _+255 677 175117 <tel:%2B255%20677%20175117>_
>
> Email: elisante at honeyguide.org <mailto:elisante at honeyguide.org>
>
> Website:www.honeyguide.org <http://www.honeyguide.org/>
>
> Skype address:elisante.japhet
>
>
> /Dedicated to the long term support of communities and their
> conservation of wildlife and natural resources//./
>
>
>
>
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