Going Old-School: Paper Maps from National Geographic
All photos by Lola Akinmade.
Nat Geo might really good have the lockdown upon cartographic eye candyThe email we got from National Geographics Maps Division began similar to this, so in new conversations with Julie as good as Michelle during Matador, we assimilate we know the thing or dual about maps! 
They now scored dual points for drumming right in to my soft mark beautifully crafted, glorious peculiarity cartographic maps. Before diving head initial in to the universe of travel essay as good as photography, we built, designed, developed, as good as integrated maps for 14+ years, initial as the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) programmer, as good as finally as the GIS System Architect before resigning last year.
Photo by author
I lived as good as breathed maps for years. Geography had always been my favorite subject as good as still is.
So when we received the nominal stack of pretty National Geographic maps to review, we now morphed in to the kid during the sweets store, wondering which pack of gummy bears or Smarties to puncture in to first.
I remember running small fingers over nation boundaries, subconsciously surveying my destiny trail as good as vowing to step those lands in my lifetime, God willing.
Could we indeed write an unprejudiced examination of the association Ive so admired since my childhood days in Nigeria?
The Booty
The following set of maps arrived:
- U. S. Scenic Drives highway map as good as travel guide, part of their GuideMap series
- Washington, D.C. DestinationMap city map ! as good as travel guide
- Southeastern United States GuideMap highway map as good as travel guide
- Shenandoah National Park , VA Trails Illustrated Map
- TOPO! 4 Outdoor Recreation Mapping Software for the Mid-Atlantic states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, as good as West Virginia
I immediately went true for the DC city map, which included all the obvious details such as points of seductiveness as good as their descriptions, the map of the transit system, the anxiety legend, as good as stretch scale. An added reward were the map of Alexandria, Virginia, illustrations of both airports Dulles as good as Reagan National as good as 3D renditions of the tourist attractions so we essentially knew what the buildings looked similar to as good as if we were approaching them from the right direction.
Photo by author
With normal paper maps, my pet peeves had been overlapping text as good as easy-rip element (they were done from paper after all) which seemed to tear during inappropriate times.
The cartographic peculiarity of these maps in conditions of text rendering, solution text overlap, symbology, feature layering, as good as labeling have been upon point. Theyre also done from the little permanent glossy elastic paper element which seemed damn near impossible to ripand hold me, we tried.
If anything, the maps kept stretching creepily as we attempted pulling them apart; which seems to behind up their waterproof claims too.
TOPO! Outdoor Recreation Mapping Software
The program was easy to implement in 4 steps. we only clicked Next->Next->Install->Finish, as good as which was it. After entering the nominal sequence number, the shade requesting we come in my mapXchange comment information popped up. This comment allows we to download all types of maps USG! S Topo Q uads as good as GDT Street maps to use inside of the software. You can also select to pointer up for an comment after as the program comes with 6 disks value of map data to use.
Photo by author
Similar to the approach an accountant knows his approach around the spreadsheet, we felt utterly during home inside of TOPO! The program comes with the slew of GIS collection from finding locations as good as coordinates to importing GPS points as good as creating 3D flyovers of landscapes. You can use the program to tract out your own personal recreational hiking as good as camping maps, as good as (I suspect) the whole lot more.
The initial map activating sequences competence be treacherous for the casual map user, as good as the little of the panning collection such as Centering Tool as good as Traveling Tool could be joined in to one successive Move Around palm tool which would be some-more natural to navigate.
While we really dont see our regular Matador readers quite regulating TOPO! (Unless we really puncture drilling down in to the nitty-gritty yourself), this program is some-more utilitarian for those with the small bit of GIS experience as good as have been good capable with navigating as good as deciphering outside maps.
Photo by author
The Practical Stuff
Theres the reason because book publishers keep churning out paperbacks as good as hardcovers by the hundreds each month. Physically flipping through pages of the book still feels some-more natural than scrolling down an e-book or Amazon Reader.
Plain as good as simple.
The same goes for paper maps. Sure, GPS units have been extremely popular as good as locati! on apps upon intelligent phones have been being downloaded by the second (statistics not verified), theres zero similar to unfurling the paper map in the new city as good as plotting out your next route; really much feeling similar to an path-finder in your own way; tourist-in-the-street look aside.
A major as well as if youre also unfurling your map underneath the pouring rain.
While we might not sway we from your reliable iPhone apps, in-car Garmin unit, or Blackberry maps, if anything, buy these NG maps as collectors items. Think vintage in the couple years. Plus, check out National Geographics World Atlas iPhone App which Michelle reviewed, as good as download the little candy-sweet cartographic integrity to your iPhone.
Price: $7.95 $11.95 | BUY online during National Geographic Maps
Comments