101: Maps

2 weeks ago

One mightiness presume maps are conscionable recreations of roads connected insubstantial – a benignant of cosmic tracing.

But maps aren’t conscionable astir wherever things are. They’re astir wherever we deliberation things should be. Which is somewhat concerning erstwhile you request 1 to show you where you are.

Maps are built from observations, guesses, nan mixed brainpower of subject and a surprising magnitude of politics.

MERGING … WITH SCIENCE

Maps are made by a car afloat of disciplines each travelling to nan aforesaid destination: cartography. And each wondering wherever nan hellhole are we?

Geography’s driving. Deciding wherever things go, really cities are named, what boundaries matter. It turns abstraction into place.

Geology rides shotgun, reminding america that onshore has opinions. There’s a logic your GPS says you can’t spell that way. That logic mightiness beryllium nan ocean. Or a volcano.

Mathematics navigates, uncovering nan champion way from 3D to 2D. There’s nary cleanable measurement to flatten a planet, and each representation distorts something: size, shape, direction, distance. But maths makes it possible-ish.

Sociology and authorities reason from nan backseat complete what gets included aliases erased. Borders, spot names, disputed territories – these are governmental decisions dressed up arsenic geography.

Computer science is nan backseat driver moving your GPS – promising that goat way is simply a shortcut while silently judging your missed turn.

TURN LEFT … DESPITE THE EVIDENCE

Modern maps aren’t conscionable descriptive, they’re predictive. GPS predicts nan champion way based connected velocity limits, postulation aliases really agelong it takes to move correct crossed Stirling Highway.

It mightiness consciousness for illustration sometimes your GPS is testing your loyalty, but it doesn’t cognize you’re driving a campervan alternatively than a 4WD. It sees a track, calculates nan likelihood and sends you connected your way.

Maps are built connected algorithms and assumptions. And sometimes, they get it wrong.

RECALCULATING – WHERE MAPS MEET MEMORY

In Aboriginal cultures crossed Australia, songlines person been utilized for hundreds of years to picture Country done stories, euphony and dance.

These verbal ‘maps’ aren’t written and they’re not conscionable astir guidance – they’re astir connection.

While your GPS doesn’t talk you done your journey, nan onshore – and nan songs still sung crossed it – do.

YOU HAVE ARRIVED … NOW WHAT?

Maps aren’t perfect. They’re interpretations astir nan world and really we move done it. Built by a bunch of clever people, crammed into a comedian car called cartography.

Sometimes they get it incorrect and you extremity up staring down a very amazed cow.

But successful nan end, each roads lead to science.

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