Cartographic representation of data in the National Atlas of India

Summary

This study examines the cartographic techniques employed in the preparation of socio-economic maps at a scale of 1:6,000,000 for the National Atlas of India. It finds that traditional dot symbols of varying sizes and colors remain effective for depicting agricultural product distribution, while proportional circles were replaced by proportional squares, as seen in urban population maps. The combination of circles and squares proved effective for representing two related types of information, such as on livestock markets and fairs. For manufacturing production concentrated in specific belts, proportional sectors of circles with distinctive colors were used to depict multiple industrial commodities. When production data were available in multiple units, proportional squares and circles were used concurrently with sectors. If the variety of production at a location did not exceed two, semicircles with suitable colors were more effective. For maps depicting occurrence rather than production, pictorial symbols resembling the represented articles were adopted, arranged in a line when multiple were needed. A critical analysis of the overall effectiveness of these techniques in information representation is also attempted.