Several specialized areas have evolved to make maps for specific uses, and although they may use the same information, their requirements are different.
For instance, cadastral mapping is the branch of the field that deals with recording and delineating legal property lines. Cadastral maps are critical to the operation of local governments. They also provide a basis for planning, emergency response efforts, and real estate activities. Topographic mapping is concerned with the representation of all important features on the landscape which, in addition to elevation contours, includes vegetation, buildings, transportation lines, boundary lines, water bodies, and place names. Nautical and aeronautical charting provides critical information about the elevation of terrain and the depth of water bodies. These maps are designed specifically for sea and air navigation. Image-based mapping involves the enhancement of remotely sensed imagery and combination with other data, such as reference grids or roads derived from conventional geometric map sources. Thematic cartography is concerned with creating maps that portray the geographical distribution of specific geographic features such as soils, vegetation, or geology. Statistical mapping involves the manipulation and portrayal of quantitative data such as population density, tax rates, or air quality. Maps are also the best way to display the results of computer models that are used to forecast changes in weather, sea temperature (El Niño), global warming, or greenhouse gases. These displays, often in three dimensions, represent an exciting new category of maps made possible through elaborate mathematical computations performed on supercomputers.
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