The Map Reader

WINNER OF THE CANTEMIR PRIZE 2012 awarded by the Berendel Foundation The Map Reader brings together, for the first time, classic and hard-to-find articles on mapping. This book provides a wide-ranging and coherent edited compendium of key scholarly writing about the changing nature of cartography over the last half century. The editorial selection of fifty-four theoretical and thought provoking texts demonstrates how cartography works as a powerful representational form and explores how different mapping practices have been conceptualised in particular scholarly contexts. Themes covered include paradigms, politics, people, aesthetics and technology. Original interpretative essays set the literature into intellectual context within these themes. Excerpts are drawn from leading scholars and researchers in a range of cognate fields including: Cartography, Geography, Anthropology, Architecture, Engineering, Computer Science and Graphic Design. The Map Reader provides a new unique single source reference to the essential literature in the cartographic field: more than fifty specially edited excerpts from key, classic articles and monographs critical introductions by experienced experts in the field focused coverage of key mapping practices, techniques and ideas a valuable resource suited to a broad spectrum of researchers and students working in cartography and GIScience, geography, the social sciences, media studies, and visual arts full page colour illustrations of significant maps as provocative visual ‘think-pieces’ fully indexed, clearly structured and accessible ways into a fast changing field of cartographic research

The U.S. Army’s official guide to map reading, determining location, and navigating For a soldier, knowing where you are is a matter of life and death, and so it comes as no surprise that the Army has produced the most complete, clear, and thorough guide to map reading and navigation available. The book starts with a comprehensive explanation of the meaning and uses of maps, whether photographic, planimetric (standard-style), or topographic, then proceeds to the use of those maps, discussing compass techniques, celestial navigation, and determination of distance. There is a detailed section on interpreting topographic maps, with notes on tactical considerations for differing terrain, as well as determining the ease of movement through an area. The book’s crucial, well-illustrated chapters have invaluable information on: Training Strategy Maps Marginal Information and Symbols Grids Scale and Distance Direction Overlays Aerial Photographs Navigation Equipment and Methods Elevation Relief Terrain Association Mounted Land Navigation Navigation in Different Types of Terrain Unit Sustainment There is also information on field sketching, the tricky art of map folding, units of measure and conversion factors, map symbols, orienteering, and the global positioning system (GPS).

Originally published in 1928, this book contains a general introduction to the science of map reading. Laborde builds on the materials he used to teach the subject at Harrow School to create a thoroughly illustrated and practical guide to maps, their creation and their decipherment. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of cartography or the history of education.

This is a fantastic vintage guide to exploring, with chapters on required equipment, preparation, navigation, history and notable explorers, and much more. "Exploring" is highly recommended those with an interest in the subject, and it is not to be missed by collectors of vintage literature of this ilk. Contents include: "The Scouts as Explorers", "The Explorer's Training", "Use of the Compass", "Map-reading", "Map-making", "Reporting", "The Explorer in Action", "Equipment", "The Country-side", "Highways and Waterways", "Man and His Work", "Things of the Past", "Epilogue", "Index-I. Subjects", "II. Persons and Places", etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction. This book was first published in 1930.