A cartographer to the world: "I am a scientist seeking truth and an artist seeking to communica

I love visuals. A single visual can reveal a thousand words. A single visual can evoke all kinds of emotions.

Of course, there are tons of different kinds of visuals - from photographs to paintings, from children's picture books to the first drawings on caves. Visuals are everywhere.

One of my favorite types of visuals are maps. Maps, or cartography, can reveal so much about where you've been, where you are, and where you are going.

Whether you are using a map to showcase Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days (see map above) or just browsing your GPS to get to your next destination, maps are used to reveal the history of the world (and space!).

When creating maps not only do you have to be a scientist to understand the dynamics of the mapping process, but you must also be somewhat of an artist. Maps reveal history, and to tell history you must know how to tell a story - you must be an artist.

As an artist, you might want to teach an audience the story of cheese in France through the visual art of map making. To create such a visual, you must harbor the use of your creativity.

As Dr. Keith Harries wrote in his research report, Mapping Crime: Principle and Practice, for the Department of Justice, "in cartography, as in medicine, art and science are inseparable. The perfect map blends art and science into an effective tool of visual communication."

Since the beginning of time, man has sought out to map the world. Today, with the advancement of technology and GIS (Geographic Information System) software, the possibilities of mapping are endless. And that means the possibilities for storytelling are expanding.

Whether you are interested in mapping environmental management strategies (click here), finding solutions for urban and regional planning (click here), or crafting the story of an old town (click here), mapping has become a powerful tool for all sectors to communicate vast amounts of information through the use of images.

How do you think you can use the art of map making to enhance your profession? Your passions? Your hobbies? Your life?

I am excited to see where map making will take us in the next couple of years!

What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from you. Let's connect!

Trust the process, Live the commitment