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Introduction to Cartography

Code: 104235 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Geography, Environmental Management and Spatial Planning FB 1

Contact

Name:
Marc Pares Franzi
Email:
marc.pares@uab.cat

Teachers

Marc Castelló Bueno

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

To take this course, students must have a command of Catalan and/or Spanish at level B2 or higher.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The aim of the course is to provide sufficient tools for students to know how to produce maps and at the same time be able to understand them and also decide which map and which variables to include depending on the type of geographical information they need to represent.

The fundamental activity that will be required to the students is the observation of cartographic materials, their understanding and elaboration in accordance with the following guidelines:

  • as a material that facilitates the reconstruction of the current and past landscape,
  • as an evidence of social organization and of human life,
  • as an illustration of the knowledge of the Earth, and
  • as a product of methods and techniques of representation of geographical distributions of all kinds

Cartographic documents and images are of almost unavoidable use in today's geographical studies; they allow us to know the absolute location of geographical objects, that is, to know where they are on Earth; however, there is an even more specific field of study: the description and explanation of the relative location, or actual geographical distribution of those geographic objects. It is necessary to know how to draw conclusions of benefit to society and maps and images are essential both for analysis and for the presentation of research results. Any type of study of territorial planning or that has to do with the environment, to name a well-known sample of professional activity related to the degree, involves the analysis and interpretation of image documents (aerial photographs, images of satellite, etc.) and the creation of specific topographic and thematic maps.

The aim of the course is, therefore, to provide the basic and essential knowledge in both documentary aspects, maps and images, and in all its possible extension. This means that the course offers a general overview rather than an in-depth look at a particular aspect. In this sense, at the end of the course, the student willbe asked to decide what types of documents will need to be analyzed and carried out, in the context of a specific geographical study. In short, nothing more and nothing less than what needs to be done in a first year. It will be later, in other subjects of the Degree, when there will be the opportunity, and the obligation, to deepen the basic knowledge acquired in this subject, especially in the most technical and methodological aspects.

Finally, there are a few basic concepts that must be mastered at the end of the course, such as: "map", "scale", "coordinates", "symbolization", "SIG" and "data sources". Other more specific ones that will be seen as the subject develops are later derived from these.


Learning Outcomes

  1. CM07 (Competence) Interpret relevant data that include a reflection on social, scientific or ethical issues from cartographic data and spatial analysis.
  2. KM11 (Knowledge) List the main cartographic tools in relation to spatial analysis.
  3. KM12 (Knowledge) Illustrate geographical problems associated with cartographic information.
  4. SM11 (Skill) Describe a territory or natural phenomenon by means of data representation (visualisation and graphic, statistical and cartographic description).
  5. SM11 (Skill) Describe a territory or natural phenomenon by means of data representation (visualisation and graphic, statistical and cartographic description).

Content

A. INTRODUCTION.
1. Geographic documentation. 

  • Basic typology: maps and images.
  • The characteristics of the maps.
  • The contour lines: the implantation of the relief.
  • The basic topographic map.

B. THE PROPERTIES OF THE IMPLANTATIONS

2. The properties of the implantations: the dimensions. 

  • The scale: definitions and utility.
  • The expression of the scale.
  • Scale changes.
  • A classification of scales by magnitude.

3. The properties of the implantations: the absolute location. 

  • The position in the territory.
  • The basic concepts.
  • Idea of cartographic projection.
  • The geographic coordinate system.
  • The Universal Transversal Mercator UTM coordinate system.

C. ATTRIBUTES SYMBOLOGY. 

4. The application of visual variables.

  • The analysis of the attributes of cartographic objects.
  • Visual variables for quantitative attributes.
  • Visual variables for qualitative attributes.

5. Cartographic expression 

  • Maps production.
  • Maps layout.

Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Theory + GIS practices 47 1.88 CM07, KM11, KM12, SM11, CM07
Type: Supervised      
Practical exercices 20 0.8 CM07, KM12, SM11, CM07
Tutorships 5 0.2
Type: Autonomous      
Study 75 3 CM07, KM11, KM12, SM11, CM07

The subject's methodology is guided by the following types of activities:

  • Firstly, through the directed activities, that is to say, face-to-face sessions explaining the syllabus and reviewing in the classroom the exercises carried out throughout the course.
  • Secondly, with supervised activities, that is, through the review and study of the corresponding solutions to the exercises to be developed available in the subject's Moodle classroom, as well as the tutorials that are made for the development of the project course (see evaluation section).
  • Thirdly, with autonomous activities, that is to say, everything that would need to be done on behalf of the student in order to prepare the subject. This includes the consultation of various material (articles, examples of cartographic documents, etc.) available in the subject's Moodle classroom, as well as specialized bibliography, both the more general and the one that is cited incidentally. It is worth saying that it should be clear from the outset that, as you can see, teachers do not "follow" any specific cartography manual, although there are several excellent ones on the market.
  • Finally, and fourthly, with evaluation activities (which are specified in the corresponding section).

One session will be dedicated to completing the introductory activity to the mandatory UAB library service course, consisting of a virtual escape room and a face-to-face visit to the Humanities Library and the Card Library.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Class participation 10% 0 0 CM07, KM11, KM12, SM11
Exams (2) 40% 3 0.12 CM07, KM11
Project + tutorship 20% 0 0 CM07, KM12, SM11
Submit of practices 30% 0 0 CM07, KM12, SM11

Assessment of the Course

The course assessment is continuous, and students’ knowledge will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Two exams will be held during regular class hours (approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes each). These exams will consist of exercises similar to those practiced during the course and, in some cases, may include reasoning or argumentative questions. No definitions or theoretical topic developments will be required. Each exam will account for 20% of the final grade (total: 40%). At the time of writing this guide, the exact dates of the exams are not yet known, but the first is expected to take place around mid-semester and the second during the last week of classes.

  • Project + tutorials to be completed throughout the semester, sometimes during class hours (e.g., tutorials) and sometimes outside of them (e.g., online tutorials). The project will be related to the field trip usually organized as part of the “Foundations of Physical Geography” course (first-year, second semester). The project will be done in pairs and will account for 20% of the final grade. The final submission is expected before the Christmas break.

  • Practical assignments will be carried out during regular class hours. A total of 6 are planned, each worth 5% (total: 30%). These will be completed individually, with approximately 2–3 weeks between each.

  • Attendance and active participation will account for 10% of the final grade, provided the student attends at least 80% of the classes. Justified absences (e.g., medical, family emergencies, public transport strikes) will not be penalized. Please note that this is an in-person course.

  • Grade review: After each assessment activity, the instructor will inform students of the procedure and date for reviewing grades (e.g., via Moodle).

Additional Considerations

  • Exams: Both exams must be passed. However, if one is failed, it may still count toward the final grade if the score is at least 40% of the maximum. Otherwise, it must be retaken.

  • Practical assignments: These are optional. Students may choose how many to complete (none, some, or all). However, unsubmitted assignments will not count toward the final grade and cannot be submitted later. They must be completed during the semester.

  • Project: Completion of the project and its associated tutorials is mandatory, and the grade will be included in the final course grade.

  • A student will receive a “Not Assessable” grade if they submit less than 25% of the assessment activities.

  • Any assessment activity involving irregularities (e.g., cheating) is not recoverable.

Resits

To be eligible for resits, students must have been assessed in activities that account for at least two-thirds of the total grade.

  • Only the exam component can be retaken. Students must retake the failed exam(s); the rest of the grades will be retained.

  • Practical assignments and the project cannot be retaken, as they are not considered “failed” but rather “not submitted” if incomplete. Likewise, attendance cannot be compensated or recovered.

  • Any assessment activity involving irregularities is not eligible for resit.

Exam and Submission Schedule

Exam and submission dates will be communicated to students in advance and cannot be changed individually, except in exceptional and well-justified cases. Erasmus students requesting early exams must provide a written statement from their home university justifying the request.

The resit exam date will be set by the Faculty and is non-negotiable.

Grade Review

After each assessment activity, the instructor will inform students (via Moodle) of the procedure and date for grade review.

Plagiarism or Fraudulent Conduct

If a student commits any irregularity that significantly affects the grade of an assessment activity, that activity will receive a zero, regardless of any disciplinary action taken. If multiple irregularities occur, the final grade for the course will be zero.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage of this course. Any work containing AI-generated content will be considered academic dishonesty and may result in partial or total penalties on the activity grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.

Single Assessment

This course does not offer a single assessment option.


Bibliography

We must insist that the bibliographic readings are not of primary interest in this subject. Therefore, the list of books that follows is only a reminder of the works, and in this case the most general, in which the contents presented in the web of the materials of the subject can be reinforced.

  • Barber, Peter (2005): El gran libro de los mapas. Barcelona: Paidós.
  • Bosque Sendra, Joaquín i García, Rosa C. (2000): "El uso de los sistemas de información geográfica en la planificación territorial", Anales de Geografía de la Universidad Complutense, #20, pp. 49-67 (https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/AGUC/article/view/AGUC0000110049A/31281).
  • Clark, John O. E. (ed.) (2006): Joyas de la Cartografía.100 ejemplos de cómo la cartografía definió, modificó y aprehendió el mundo. Londres: The Chrysalis Building.
  • Dent, John B. (1996): Cartography: thematic map design. Dubuque IA: Wm C Brown Publishers, 4a ed.
  • Desclaux-Salachas, Jasmine (2017): The Art of Cartographics: Designing the Modern. Londres: Goodman Books.
  • Gutiérrez, Javier i Gould, Michael (1994): SIG: sistemas de información geográfica. Madrid: Síntesis.
  • Monmonier, Mark (2018): How to lie with maps (3ª edició). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Oyala, Víctor (2011): Sistemas de Información Geográfica (https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Libro_SIG).
  • Rabella, Josep Ma. (1986): “La proyección cartográfica de Arno Peters: valoración cartográfica y valoración didáctica”, Didáctica Geográfica, núm. 14, pp. 117-124.
  • Ramos, Noelia (2020): "L'aflorament del paper de les dones a la cartografia i la geologia: aportacions des de la Cartoteca de Catalunya", BiD: textos universitaris de biblioteconomia i documentació, núm. 44 (juny).
  • Robinson, Arthur H. et al. (1987): Elementos de cartografía. Omega. Barcelona.
  • Sánchez, Judith (2021): Cartógrafas, a lo largo de la historia. Instituto Geográfico Nacional. Madrid.
  • Vázquez, Francisco i Martín, José (1989): Lectura de mapas. Madrid: Instituto Geográfico Nacional.

Links:

  • Revista Catalana de Geografia(InstitutCartogràfic iGeològic de Catalunya) --> http://www.rcg.cat/hemeroteca.php
  • Mappemonde --> http://mappemonde.mgm.fr/
  • Geofocus. Revista Internacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Información Geográfica --> https://www.geofocus.org/index.php/geofocus
  • The Cartographic Journal --> https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ycaj20/current

Software

It would be good for the student to have a basic user level of commonly used program such as word processor, spreadsheets, presentations, etc. The subject will also use specific software for Geographic Information Systems (GIS): ArcGis Pro, MiraMon and / or QGIS.


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed