GIS Cartography A Guide 4E – Gretchen N Peterson

There are exceptions to every rule, but for the most part transit features must be separated into feature-type classes and symbolized accordingly. Once a symbol is chosen for each transit class—such as a thinner line for minor roads, a thicker line for major roads, a dashed line for subways and ferries, and a checkered line for railroads—the drawing order must be addressed. A map is more comprehensible with smaller roads drawn underneath larger roads, tunnels drawn underneath surface roads, and surface roads underneath bridges.

Furthermore, at major intersections with various on and off ramps (sometimes called links), the drawing order should reflect reality. For instance, if one ramp goes under another in real life, it should be depicted as such on the map. Your road data may have a “layer” field that indicates the layer order for overlapping segments of roads that you can use for ordering. It’s especially important to get this right at the largest scales and in 3D maps.

Once thicknesses and drawing order are sorted out, you can focus on style. If the road is symbolized with a line edge, otherwise known as a cased line, the software you use should automatically merge them at intersections such that the casing doesn’t cross, so do a quick check to make sure that happens. Cased lines are typically drawn in a darker color than the road interior. Think dark gray if the road is light gray.

If it were reversed, the road may appear as if it were highlighted, which is typically not what you’re after. At large scales (e.g., city maps), road labels are placed on top of wide roads with casings because they should fit inside. Casing is not recommended for scales smaller than 1:100,000, such as regional or country level maps, because at these scales, the road lines become too thin for casing to be effective and legible. For these scales, use a regular thin line for major arterials.

The new edition of this well-established introductory cartography textbook is updated to respond to the demand for critical engagement with new technologies, the passion for inclusive design, and for preparing students to build competence in fundamental skills. Written in a friendly style, it is enjoyable to read and includes over 200 figures and maps, explaining everything from layout design to dynamic cartography issues.

A new chapter discusses the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cartography, and a significant expansion to 3D cartography has been incorporated into existing chapters. A new chapter on accessibility provides a thorough understanding of universal design. Additional updates include placements and best practices for digital map elements, global labeling techniques including language support, hybrid map styling, multiscale map testing, and information on 4D mapping.

New in the Fourth Edition: • Exploration of geospatial AI and generative AI in cartography and how they can already make an impact on workflows. • New material on vision, motor, and cognitive accessibility techniques in map design. • Expanded discussion on 3D cartography. • All chapters are updated with new data and important new developments in cartography, including the importance of accessible design to ensure inclusivity for all users. • Updated study questions and exercises to enhance student engagement and comprehension. • New discussions of techniques such as aquarium cutaways, integrated north arrows, joy plots, hybrid satellite maps, and crafted hachuring, as well as updated information on resolution and file types.

This book is written as a go-to guide for learning the art and science of mapmaking. It is for undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in GIS and cartography and studying fields such as geography, geophysics, environmental engineering, urban planning, and so on. It is also a valuable resource for professionals interested in learning techniques and technologies for creating maps and visualizing geospatial datasets. GIS Cartography A Guide to Effective Map Design Fourth Edition Gretchen N.

Peterson Designed cover image: Cover map by Evan Applegate, using data from the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Census Bureau, and OpenStreetMap, with illustrations by Ezra Butt. See more of Evan’s maps at https://evanapplegate.com. Fourth edition published 2025 by CRC Press 2385 NW Executive Center Drive, Suite 320, Boca Raton FL 33431 and by CRC Press 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, LLC © 2025 Gretchen N.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

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