Light Detection and Ranging, LIDAR, is an optical remote sensing technology that measures light to find range or information about distant objects. The idea is similar to radar where sound is bounced off an object. LIDAR bounces light off an object and measures the time delay between the transmissions. LIDAR can be used to develop a 3-dimensional model like the one in the photo above. LIDAR created this 3-D model of the area around the
Doppler Radars send microwave signals and records the frequency of the returns and can be used among other things to track the speed of things cars (police speed guns). Doppler Radar is more known today for its use in weather maps. Those maps use a variation on the true Doppler technique tracking the speed of precipitation. Oftentimes, the public will confuse Doppler Radar as interchangeable with weather radar. This Doppler Radar effect image is of Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 28, 2005.
Black and white aerial photos were used as part of a low-cost survey to cover the
An infrared aerial photo depicts changes to the environment, the health of forests, wetlands, bays and oceans, monitors damage to roofs, tracks dairy farm out flows, and pinpoints and monitors infestations and pollution. The photo above shows changes in weather patterns similar to cartographic animations. This is Hurricane Felix in September 2007.
Cartographic animations depict visual changes like weather movement. For example the map above, when set in motion, shows the development and movement of Hurricane Katrina over a specific time range.
Cartograms are thematic maps that tell a geographic story about a location. Cartograms are not drawn to scale, but drawn in proportion to the particular information they are trying to depict. For example, the map above shows county by county population in the 
Isoline maps are another type of thematic map. Isoline maps use line symbols to portray a continuous distribution such as temperature or elevation. Isolines are lines that connect points of equal numeric value. A contour map showing elevation above sea level is a type of isoline map. The map above shows the surface dew point temperature in the
Choropleth show measures of geographic variables like population density, race or per-capita income using shades or patterns. Choropleth maps are similar to thematic and statistical maps. Choropleths are the preferred maps for depicting electoral statistics. For example, the map above depicts voter percentage difference in 2004 US presidential election as related to voter turnout. States are shaded to not only show which candidate won the state, but by how high a percentage.
Dot-distribution maps show representations of various quantitative data found within the boundaries of a certain area. Dot-distribution is a form of a thematic map representing usually one specific geographical attribute about an area like population. The map above represents the number of farms in each state in the
Propaganda maps are used to target a specific audience and influence their beliefs and emotions usually for political purposes. The message can be logical, but is often laced with rhetoric to arouse emotion or prejudice in the targeted audience. The Nazi’s created many propaganda maps to further their goal of eliminating Jews from their country and the world. This map is a Japanese propaganda caricature map from around 1941, depicting a
Hypsometric maps are a form of topographical maps that represent relief with the use of color. The USGS (United States Geological Survey) produced limited numbers of topographic maps with shaded relief. The map of
A topographic map represents features of the landscape, both man-made and natural, through relief, contour lines and other forms of graphic renderings. I have included a topographic view of the planet Mars’ surface. Through the use of a variety of graphic techniques the map shows craters, low and high points and flat surfaces.
A planimetric map is a flat or horizontal representation of an area. It is different from a topographical map because it does not show relief in any detail. Rivers, lakes, mountains, forests, prairies, cities and political or other boundaries are just some of things you might find on a planimetric map. The map I have included is from the Carboniferous geological period during the Pennsylvanian Epoch when the glaciers were high, the sea low and the mountains just starting to build.
A mental map is an individual’s perception of their world. Every person has an internal view of the world around them. A mental map can be the way each person orders the space around them. Think of the last time you asked directions. Did you understand the directions the person gave you, or did they add a lot of useless knowledge to their directions? A mental map can be a list of things in a person’s world they feel are important, like their favorite musicians. I’ve included a mental map I painted recently of some of my favorite musicians. The musicians, from top left, are: Elton John, Stevie Nicks, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin, Elvis, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Michael Stipe, Alanis Morrisette, Jim Morrison, AC/DC, Billy Joel, Chuck Berry, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, Mick Jagger, The Eagles, Bob Seger, Sheryl Crow, Neil Young, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton Tom Petty, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson and Lucinda Williams.
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