On this page
In the boxes on this page, you will find additional resources on understanding and reading maps, the history of cartography, and other online mapping tools and resources.
Creating Your Own Map
Interested in creating or adapting your own map? There are tools and software in the UBC Data/GIS Lab in Room 218A Level 2 of Koerner Library. Computers are equipped with Esri ArcGIS Suite, SAFE FME, R Statistics and Data Analysis, SPSS, Stata Data Analysis and Statistical Software, StatTransfer Data Conversion, and Google Earth Pro. The computer lab in Room 217 also has some of this software available.
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Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Research GuideThis guide can help you understand GIS and GIS resources, locate and acquire appropriate geospatial datasets, and find out about GIS software.
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SimplyMapRequires UBC log-in. This Internet-based mapping application that enables users to develop interactive thematic maps and reports for Canada and the US using demographic, business, and marketing data variables.
Resources for Understanding Maps and Cartography
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Fundamentals of MappingProduced by the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM), this resource offers a comprehensive overview of mapping, including history, types of maps, scale, projections, and surveying.
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Glossary of Cartographic TermsComprehensive glossary produced by the Perry-Castañeda Library at the University of Texas at Austin.
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History of CartographyThe University of Chicago has Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of their History of Cartography freely available online. The volumes detail worldwide cartography up to the end of the European Renaissance.
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Latitude and LongitudeAn explanation from NASA on latitude, longitude, and date/time zones.
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Maps, Remote Sensing, and GISThis chapter of the online textbook Fundamentals of Physical Geography by Dr. Michael Pidwirny provides an introduction to maps, as well as information on reading maps, map projection, map scale, topographic maps, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
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Map Scale: Maps as a Summary of the WorldA basic explanation of map scale, with examples, from the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM)
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The UTM Grid - Map ProjectionsExplanation from Natural Resources Canada on map projections and the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) Projection.
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XKCD: What Your Favorite Map Projection Says About YouThe popular web comic XKCD's panel on map projections also explains the history and types of map projections
Outline or Location Maps
Outline or location maps have very basic content (or sometimes none at all), and can be useful for projects, reports, or websites. Make sure you check the copyright statement on the website to make sure your purpose is permitted by the map creator(s).
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ReliefWeb Location MapsA collection of world location maps, showing basic information about a country such as its capital city and surrounding area, which may be useful in reports and projects.
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List of Outline Map SitesThorough list of links to outline maps by geographical area from the Perry-Castañeda Library at the University of Texas at Austin.
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Outline Maps from Houghton MifflinOutline maps of areas around the world available for classroom or personal use.
