摘要：Mapmaking must always be viewed in the context of communication. Maps are graphic
representations of the cultural and physical environment. Thematic maps came late in the development of
cartography, but the last 30 years have been referred to as .the era of thematic mapping¡±, also because of the
benefits of computer technology. The design of the thematic map shows the spatial distribution of a particular
geographical phenomenon, where the amount of reduction of the real world is critical and determines the
selection and generalization process. Generally, the cartographic process involves the abstraction of
nonmapped data into mapped form and the deduction of spatial information from the map¡¯s symbols. Maps
are used to storage information that can affect human behavior, for the communication of ideas to others, and
can also be seen as tools for the researcher in finding patterns and relationships among mapped data.
