GIS Workshop: Beware of Maps – a beginner’s guide to reading and making maps

Reading a map is trickier than you might expect. While maps casually present themselves as a visualization of reality, the truth is, they aren’t. All maps are imperfect models of natural and cultural features on the surface of the Earth. Reading a map involves understanding how a map maker has chosen to represent these features and, perhaps more importantly, what s(he) has left out. Join Data Visualization & GIS Librarian John Clark for a guided tour through a variety of different historical and contemporary maps as he explains some common principals used by cartographers. Participants will then have an opportunity to make a map themselves using Social Explorer, an on-line mapping tool available to the Lafayette community through Skillman Library.

There are two sessions available:

OR

Lunch provided.18 seats available for each session. Please RSVP and indicate if you would like to attend the Wednesday or Friday event to John Clark at clarkjh@lafayette.com.