MFA Maps

5. What is a Map?

Maps are visual presentations of  information that communicate various ideas and designs. Maps provide are useful for modelling and organizing geographic information and data as a series of  layers. You could for example find a local street map that highlights a new walking or bike path or equally a map depicting the age distribution of populations across parts of New York State.

A web map is usually an interactive display of geographic information that you can use to answer queries and questions. For example, you could find or create a map like the one mentioned below that addresses the question, How many people in the UK  live within a reasonable walking distance of a supermarket? This map would probably have layers showing which neighbourhoods are within a 10-minute drive or 1-mile walk to a supermarket, and for added context, the map has a topographic (shows land height) base that includes cities, roads, and buildings overlaid on land cover and shaded relief imagery.

To help answer questions and make what you see meaningful, web maps can include descriptions, legends, and informational pop-up windows as well as tools to select different basemaps, pan, scroll and zoom, find places, and add layers. Once you have created a map, you can share it as a link or through the website, embed it in another site, and/or publish your own web mapping application.
Some web maps contain collections of annotated slides that show specific views relating to the map with associated text and graphics. This type of web map is sometimes known as a presentation. The slides can help communicate the importance of the map's content such as its basemap, features, and layers. You often play a presentation with various control buttons to start, go forward, go back, stop, and so on. We can assist you to create these maps at Digital Map (Mfatech Limited).