Cartography as a Career

Cartography is the commercial practice of drawing quality maps by combining science, aesthetics, and technologies such as GIS (Geographical Information System) and map making softwares like CAD. Professionals who are academically qualified in cartography are known as cartographers. Cartography is best suited for the candidates who have a genuine interest in geography and who like to have creative challenges.

There are several academic institutions that are providing Diploma and Degree courses in Cartography. Various specializations in cartography are Critical Cartography, Cybercartography, Web mapping, animated mapping, Planetary Cartography and so on.

Critical Cartography: Critical cartographers are responsible for the careful analysis of existing maps in order to identify the key attributes so that further improvement of the map making practice can be achieved.

Cybercartography is the map making practice by using cyber based interfaces.

Animated mapping is the application of animation features in the map making practice.

Web mapping is the practice of producing maps on the World Wide Web.

Planetary Cartography refers to the cartography produced for planets outside the Earth.

There are various types of maps available such as cartogram, contour maps, dymaxion map , electronic maps, fantasy map, geologic map, nautical chart, pictorial maps, planform, plat, reversed maps, thematic maps, topographic maps, world maps, road atlas, and street maps

Cartogram: is a map in which a theme is substituted for geographical area. Thematic maps are best examples.

Contour map : uses contour lines to describe a territory and topological maps are best examples.

Dymaxion map or Fuller map: is a projection of a World map onto the surface of a polyhedron

Electronic map : is a map created by using Geographic Information Systems

Fantasy map : is a graphical representation of a fictional geography.

Geologic map : is a map showing geological features of a territory.

Nautical chart : is a graphic representation of maritime regions.

Pictorial maps: display a given territory in an artistic manner

Planform : is a vertical  projection of a place on a horizontal plane.

Plat : is a map, drawn to scale, displaying all major divisions of a piece of land.

Reversed map : shows the Southern Hemisphere at the top of the map instead of the bottom.

Road atlas : displays roads and transport links in detail.

Street map : displays roads and streets of a district or a city in detail

World map: is a detailed map of the surface of the Earth

Career opportunities are available for cartographers with mapping agencies, survey organizations and commercial map publishers.