Answering Your Questions About Maps

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This is a very big world and it is very easy to get lost in it if you do not have precise directions on where you are going. Thousands of years ago people would look at the stars to guide them to their destination. They had no idea how long it would take if they had never been there before and they had no clue as to whether or not there would be certain landmarks along the way.

Cartographers changed the world for people everywhere by developing maps. The map is one of the most used tools humans use every single day of their lives. It may be the simple road map or it may be a complex map of the terrain and geography. This is a subject that everyone should know something about and in this article you can find out some of the basic information that you may need.

What are maps?

Maps are a representation of a certain space. The map is used to find geographical information about a certain area. While there are many different types of maps, the most heavily used map is the one marked with streets and highways. People will use this type of map to find out how to get to a certain destination. The map has changed considerably over the years. Whereas it was once mainly topographical and showed just large landmarks, the modern map is digital and spoken through a GPS unit.

When did maps become electronic?

For the way that most people think of electronic maps, it would be with the invention of mapping websites such as Google Maps or Mapquest. These websites allowed people to come in, type in their destination, and provided them with exact turn-by-turn directions in order to get to where they needed to go. At first the directions were entirely reliant upon paper maps that have been inputted into the systems but these changed as satellite images and details became more readily available. In fact you could actually say that it was satellite images and satellites that were the first electronic maps. They helped the military extraordinarily by showing them the layout of the land.

How often are maps updated?

Unfortunately there is not a set answer for this question. Obviously a paper map is updated far less than a digital map or one found on the internet. A paper map may be updated every one or two years as new subdivisions are added and new streets are formed. This is especially true of a local city map. The map you find on the internet through Google, Mapquest or any other mapping site usually take less time but it can still be up to a year or more before the information is put in.

The problem is that all addresses have to be confirmed and verified. This takes time. GPS maps are updated usually the most frequently because there are more users inputting data that helps the GPS provider increase their coverage areas. If you are trying to find a location and cannot locate it on a map, you may want to find out the closest town and call the City Hall for directions. They can at least point you in the right way. You may even have to stop at a gas station for directions.

What is Google Earth?

Google Earth is a brand new feature provided by Google. It is an entirely new way of viewing a destination or a location. It gives you the versatility and freedom of actually seeing real time data on locations that you type in. You can explore the entire world with Google Earth. It is the ultimate in maps because you can see things as they happen and even visit places that would be impossible typically. To get Google Earth all you have to do is download the software from the Google website and you will be off exploring the world.

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Finding the Best Atlas of the World

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Every home needs a good world atlas. While MapQuest, Yahoo Maps and Google Maps may have edged out traditional street maps for our directional needs, there will always be a place for a nice hard-cover, full-colored atlas. You can read at-a-glance profiles of different countries or cities, gain travel tips, reference information, teach the kids about other places and cultures or simply explore the world right from your sofa. But which one of the world reigns supreme? This question is a difficult one to answer, but here are some classic selections, as well as some new options to unearth.

One of the most frequently used atlases is Goode's World Atlas, edited by Edward B. Espenshade, Jr. This pocket-sized book contains a number of high-quality maps from a cache of professional geographers. Another great selection is the National Geographic Road Atlas of the United States, Canada and Mexico, which features, hands-down, the best street maps of North America. The 10th Edition Times map of the World boasts 125 color maps and a quarter of a million place names.

The DK World Atlas is full of entertaining facts, while also providing geographic information about every country in the world. You will also want to add the DK Atlas of World History, which includes maps, timelines, photographs and historical notes, and the DK World Reference Atlas, which has 1 to 6 pages about each country, discussing politics, climate, world affairs, economics, crime, health, media, education and communications.

Sometimes you can find a map the world that reveals the current state of our planet. The State of the World Atlas does just that, displaying the most current statistics, profiles and realities about world politics, economics, food supplies, military power, energy resources, pollution levels and biodiversity. In a nutshell, what a hardcopy atlas of the world delivers, which online mapping lacks, is that historical, worldview of mapmakers and cartographers who take the great time and effort to color code our world and combine data with maps in a sensible way, thus painting the larger picture.

If you are looking for an atlas of American history to inspire the kids, then consider Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley's "Places in Time: A New Atlas of American History" (for 7-14 year olds), which teaches kids about fascinating stories behind 20 little-known American places using oral narratives, old maps, drawings and contemporary accounts. Don't forget to get Lynn Kuntz's "Celebrate the USA: Hands-On History Activities for Kids" (for 8-10 year olds), which will have you playing musical inventions like Ben Franklin or creating liberty wind socks from oatmeal boxes, glues, yarn and paper.

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Google Maps - A How to Guide

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Satellite maps are a great resource to use when advertising a location, or to determine what the neighborhood and street of a location will look like. Is it an address you have never been to before? Do you want customers to know what the front of your building looks like? Is there nearby parking? This is the way to use Google Maps to your advantage.

The first step is to open a web browser and go to Google, then click on the link at the top of the page labeled Maps. Next, type either the name of a business or an address into the search bar at the top of the webpage. Be sure to include a city and state if possible, to help narrow your results. You can also type a business name and an address at the same time to find a business close to that location.

Once you have pulled up a map of a business, address, or place of interest you will have the options of reading and writing a review, learning more information about the location, getting directions, searching for a nearby location, zooming in, saving the location to My Maps, and sending the information. There will also be information such as the address, phone number, and website of the location you searched for.

Google Maps also allows users to view traffic, a simple map, a satellite map, and a terrain map. While viewing a satellite map, it's possible to view the map from a street view by dragging and dropping the little stick figure at the top of the zoom-in/zoom-out bar, or by clicking on a specific direction to see road at that stage of your trip. Feel free to drag the street view photo, as this will cause the photo to rotate so you can look down the street and behind you! It is also possible to move up and down the street to see what the neighborhood looks like, simply click on the arrows in the center of the photo (on the white line where the street name is provided). From the street view, you may also zoom-in by double clicking on the photo.

At the top right of your map you will always see three options: Print, Send, and Link. Print will allow you to print a basic map of the location you entered. Send will allow you to email or send to a phone, car, or GPS. You will be able to send to multiple destinations and include a personal message. Link will provide you with a link that can be used in an email or instant message, or with HTML that can be used for a website.

Using the Print, Send, and Link features as well as the zoom-in and street view features is a powerful tool for both marketing and your own personal use. Google Maps (http://maps.google.com) is an easy to use tool that is both free and useful.

Amanda Messick
Administrative Assistant
Zaran Sayre and Associates, Inc
http://www.zaran.com/