Curiosity is a mobile application for Android users where one can read educational content on interesting topics in order to satiate a general sense of curiosity about the world we live in. The application's homepage features five-seven new articles which are updated on a daily basis and it has become my routine to read them before I go to sleep.
Curiosity occasionally features articles on Mapping too, an area which I am particularly interested about as it is my profession. Here are five interesting ones-
2023 Update: The Curiosity App has been shut down and hence, the hyperlinks initially embedded in the post have stopped working. As a result, I've replaced it with links to similar content.
Yes, you've read it right! To rephrase it better, I'd say that a completely accurate 2D World Map hasn't been created till date (read this to know why the rectangular-shaped AuthaGraph World Map is the unlikely contender for the most accurate World Map created thus far). This is because casting a (near-)spherical globe on a 2D map distorts the size of the geographic features at one end of the spectrum and the directionality of navigation on the other. Thus, there always exists a trade-off - how much to distort which aspect. Technically known as Map Projection, one chooses from the several available types based on the demands of what one wishes to convey through the map. Most 2D maps use the Mercator Projection which preserves the directionality but compromise on the size of geographic features especially as one moves away from the equator. As a result, Greenland appears much larger than India on this type of map when in reality, it is much smaller.
This is the Mapping equivalent of Trap/Trick questions that are used in Surveys - a clever technique to know whether the candidate's response is authentic or not. Cartographers - the creators of maps - insert fake locations in their creation in order to entrap those resorting to plagiarism. Trivia - the creator of Google Map Maker (a popular, collaborative Map editing tool) is an Indian - who launched Google Maps in India later. Read more about Lalitesh Katragadda's story here.
In any coloured political World Map, you would have observed that two adjacent administrative regions are always colored differently. This symbology rule helps distinguish features that share the same border. Here's the question - What is the minimum number of colours required to make such a World Map? Fair to say that the solution baffled me.
Front contains sweetness receptors, Back contains bitter ones...remember? I used to suck at candies based on their flavour accordingly😮! This article changed that long-held belief. The rationale is applicable to other scenarios as well - for example, why we must always take research findings published in news with a pinch of salt. It is because research is based on assumptions, degrees of confidence and sample sizes and the findings fit within those test parameters and are not necessarily, an accurate indicator of real-world outcomes. Similarly, it was only last year did I figure that the commonly-used Map of India is not an accurate depiction of ground-conditions: the area under sovereign governance is actually less - for example, the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state is nowhere close to being crown-shaped. This is because, as a matter of national policy, we visualize disputed territories such as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir & Aksai Chin as our own despite the fact it is actually governed by Pakistan and China respectively.
Woah! 😁 while the article will give you an overview of what was mapped out, this webpage contains the actual demonstration of the audio map- you'll love exploring it!
Hope you enjoyed this compilation. Stay curious!
ABOUT US
Intelloc Mapping Services, Kolkata | Mapmyops.com offers Mapping services that can be integrated with Operations Planning, Design and Audit workflows. These include but are not limited to Drone Services, Subsurface Mapping Services, Location Analytics & App Development, Supply Chain Services, Remote Sensing Services and Wastewater Treatment. The services can be rendered pan-India and will aid your organization to meet its stated objectives pertaining to Operational Excellence, Sustainability and Growth.
Broadly, the firm's area of expertise can be split into two categories - Geographic Mapping and Operations Mapping. The Infographic below highlights our capabilities-
Our Mapping for Operations-themed workflow demonstrations can be accessed from the firm's Website / YouTube Channel and an overview can be obtained from this brochure. Happy to address queries and respond to documented requirements. Custom Demonstration, Training & Trials are facilitated only on a paid-basis. Looking forward to being of service.
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