Elements of Cartography [Hardcover]

Arthur H. Robinson (Author), Joel L. Morrison (Author), Phillip C. Muehrcke (Author), A. Jon Kimerling (Author), Stephen C. Guptill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 1995 | ISBN-10: 0471555797 | ISBN-13: 978-0471555797 | Edition: 6

Recognized as the classic resource in cartography, this text continues to integrate the latest modern technology with traditional cartographic principles. The balanced author team provides a solid conceptual foundation in the basic principles of cartography while introducing the newest technological advances which have greatly altered modern cartographic techniques. New features include a complete updating of topical data and a shift in emphasis from ``small-scale to all-scale maps.'' Systematic coverage is given to both theory and applications with all basic mapmaking tools presented including formulas, tables and constants.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

About the Cover: The cover illustration was made by combining three different U.S. Geological Survey digital data sets: a black and white digital orthophotograph, a digital elevation model, and a digital raster image of a topographic map. The observer viewpoint is at an altitude of 1200’ above the surface, in the vicinity of Massanutten Mountain, just east of Harrisonburg, VA. The colored lines and areas from the topographic map are transparent so that when combined, the underlying imagery is visible. These data sets are then draped over a surface generated from the digital elevation data. The cover illustrates the flexibility available to the cartographer in creating graphics using computer technology and digital data sets.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 688 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 6 edition (March 3, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471555797
• ISBN-13: 978-0471555797
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 1.1 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #261,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Cartography
  • #58 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Chemistry > Analytic

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 69 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars This book is pricey and uneven. March 16, 2000

By Peter G. Cook

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This title is billed as the Sixth Edition, and reflects the coming and going of co-authors. It is too bad that the editor had so little influence. Sections of this book that stick to their cartographic knitting are excellent. Historical information is very intersting. Basic explanations, such as the evolution of ellipsoids is very well done. Some of the writing is so bad it could have been extracted from a sophmore term paper, sprinkled with such inept phrases as "such as", "similarly", "however" and "in fact". The most glaring deficiency is in the area of computer technology. Either this material has not been updated since some earlier edition, or the author(s) are very uncomfortable with the subject matter. As examples: "Most common procedures used by cartographers have been translated into software programs written in special computer languages such as FORTRAN and C." "Today's well-rounded cartographer is routinely involved with these 'canned' (prewritten) mapping programs..." "The professionsal cartographer should, therefor, have a working knowledge of at least one computer language." We are regaled with three pages of detailed obselescent material on computer structure, but only 23 lines of overview on current instrument technology. There is a whole chapter on fonts and lettering, but no algorithm for conversion from Lat-Long to UTM. The central meridians for the UTM zones are not provided, nor is the DoD lettering scheme. One of the responsibilities of a text book is to arrange the subject matter in a structure where it can be easily referenced. This book reads like a series of articles of varying quality published under one cover, with overlap resolution left as an exercise for the reader.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Still recognized as an important text August 6, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

The sixth edition of "Elements" was published in 1995, and reviewers familiar with the advances in cartographic technology would be familiar with the great upheaval the field was going through at that time. Work on a seventh edition of this seminal text is currently underway, which should bring the content of the book up to par with recent changes. The book remains an important source of information for both the novice and seasoned cartographer.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A Little Surprised... August 24, 2006

By L. Rich

Format:Hardcover

I am currently reading/studying this book and have found it be a bit choppy and not very well written. For a book of this magnitude I would have expected that a outline of the book to be written in chapter one. This book is about cartography but no definition is given until chapter two (it is assumed in the intro and panels). I just expected more and am currently looking for a supplimentary book to this one.