6.1: Introduction

Mark Monmonnier’s book, How to Lie with Maps, exposed how people and organizations overtly and intentionally misshaped map features to deceive. The concept that underlies his entire book is that all maps lie—to some extent. That statement is true. As you read in Chapter 3, projections introduce shape, area, distance, and directional distortions. In addition, all maps simplify the real world and thus lie by omission. Map symbols exaggerate and minimize the extent of features. These can all be considered lies. Now, before you stop reading and discard maps as fiction, remember that all models of reality (paintings, literature, statistics, and photographs) are abstractions and thus lie to some degree and that omission and abstraction can lead to greater communication and understanding. Simply put, maps aid in communication by emphasizing the location of features (and omitting many other features) to depict patterns across space. As Monmonnier states, “A good map tells a multitude of little white lies; it suppresses truth to help the user see what needs to be seen” (1996, p. 25).

Some mapmakers radically distort features to enhance communication, and they can do this legitimately. Perhaps the best example of manipulating the size and location of features is the London Underground map, which distorts subway line length and terminal location, but, in doing so, it enhances our spatial understanding of the subway system (see Figure 6.1). Harry Beck, the map’s creator, devoted his life to this user-friendly map. He designed the map using only horizontal, vertical, and 45-degree lines that emphasized the relative position of terminals (connections) rather than adhering to strict spatial accuracy. The distances from suburban terminals were shortened to give more map room for central city terminals. He clearly understood that the traveling public perceived the network in terms of stops and transit line connections, not distance. The map communicated these principals clearly, and it has been copied by transit lines across the world.

Figure 6.1: London's Underground Map. Courtesy of London Regional Transport, 1991.

This chapter broadly focuses on GIS output and more narrowly on maps and their design. If accurate and clear communication is your goal, as it should be, you need to consider topics already discussed like projections and scale (Chapters 2 and 3) as well as subjects described in this chapter including symbolization, classification, generalization, and color.