Map generalisation
Also called: Generalisation · Topic: Maps and Map Scale · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 1 "Introduction to Maps"
Meaning
Map generalisation means keeping only the information that the map's purpose needs. That information is then simplified to suit the scale, without spoiling the map's look. The smaller the scale, the more generalisation is needed. A general-purpose map shows many things: relief, drainage, vegetation, settlements and transport. A special-purpose map shows only one theme, such as population density.
Example
On a large-scale map of a village near Nagpur, each house and field can be drawn. On a small-scale atlas map of Maharashtra, all those houses merge into one dot for the settlement. A winding stream is also drawn as a smoother line.
Don't confuse with
- Map design: design is about how features look (symbols, colours, lettering). Generalisation is about which features are kept and how much they are simplified.