Wind Rose

http://www.climate.washington.edu/climate.html

A wind rose is a type of circular plot and shows frequencies of different wind directions, and give an idea of how the wind direction and speed is distributed for a certain area. The above image is an example of a wind rose displaying the wind direction and speed of winds in Washington State. Using the coordinate system, the frequency of winds over a long time period is plotted by wind direction, with color bands displaying the wind ranges. The directions of the rose with the longest spoke show the wind direction that has the greatest frequency.

Triangular Plot

http://csmres.jmu.edu/geollab/fichter/SedRx/readternary.html

A triangular plot, also referred to as ternary graphs, are a triangularly-shaped representation of geographic information in which 3 variables are plotted on a 2-D graph. It graphically depicts the ratios of the three variables as positions on the triangle, in which the proportions of all three variables must sum to a constant. Triangular plots are used commonly in physical sciences to show the composition composed of three features or properties, such as rock type of shale, sandstone, and limestone for example. The above image is a simple model of a triangular plot of the mentioned example of the 3 apexes: shale, sandstone, and limestone, where shale is located at bottom left, limestone at bottom right, and sandstone at the top of the triangular plot.Any point that plots anywhere on one of the side lines or within the triangle itself represents a rock comprised of mixed types.

Stem and Leaf Plot

http://walshmath01056.wikispaces.com/Mean,+Median,+Mode,+and+Range+Line+Plot+%26+Stem-and-Leaf+Plots

A stem and Leaf Plot is way to display quantitative data in a graphical format, where it refers to plotting a matrix of y values onto an x-axis, identifying the common x value with a vertical line and the individual y values with symbols on the line. A basic display of a stem and leaf plot contains two columns separated by a vertical line. The left column contains the stems and the right column contains the leaves. Typically, the leaf contains the last digit of the number and the stem contains the rest of the digits. The above image is a stem and leaf plot of infant mortality rates in Western Africa. Here, you can clearly see how the plot is divided into two columns, with the stems on the left column and the leafs on the right column.

Similarity Matrix

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/8/353/figure/F5?highres=y

A similarity matrix is a graphical representation of similar sequences in a data series, and is a matrix of scores that represent the similarity between those data points. Each element or point of the similarity matric contains a measure of similarity between two of the data points. Similarity matrix's are often used to find clusters of data points or to align DNA/gene sequences. The above image is a similarity matrix of differential expression signatures in DNA. Dark red colors indicate high similarity between signatures associated with two contrasts, indicated by the row and column labels. The binary code indicates whether signatures associated with two variables possess a significant level of similarity.

Star Plot

http://www.datavis.ca/milestones/index.php?group=1950%2B

Star plots allow you to compare multiple variables for each observation, as variables are plotted on a radii, lines coming out of the center of the plot, with each star representing a single observation.The star plot consists of a sequence of equi-angular spokes, called the radii, with each spoke representing one of the variables. The data length of a spoke is proportional to the magnitude of the variable for the data point relative to the maximum magnitude of the variable across all the data points. A line is then drawn to connect the data values for each spoke, which gives the plot it's star-like appearance. The above image is a star plot of crime rates in US cities, and represents multivariate data with vertices at equally spaced intervals and distance from center proportional to the variable's value.

Parallel Coordinate Graph

http://andrewgelman.com/2007/10/15/parallel_coordi/

In a parallel coordinate plot, each variable is graphed on a vertical axis and each data
element is plotted as a connected set of points, one on each axis, as shown by the data element being highlighted in some either either by color, boldness, etc. In this way, parallel coordinate systems can be used to study relationships among many variables or other multivariate data. To show the set of points in a geographic space, a backdrop on the graph is drawn consisting of a number of parallel lines, typically vertical and equally spaced in nature. A point is then represented by a connected series of line segments with vertices on the parallel axis, in which the position of the vertex will relate to the coordinate of the point. The above image is an example of what a parallel coordinate graph looks like, in which each variable is graphed on a vertical axis separated by parallel lines. In this way, parallel coordinate graphs help understand the geometry of multidimensional issues using these visualization techniques.

Histogram

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histogram

A histogram is a graph that displays tabulated frequency, most commonly using a series of bar graphs, and is an estimate of the probability distribution of a continuous variable. The above image is a histogram which displays the tabulated frequency of the heights of black cherry trees.

Box Plot

http://sphaerula.com/legacy/R/boxplotTwoWay.html

A box plot provides a simple graphical summary of a set of data and shows a measure of central location (the median), the average,and measures of dispersion. Box plots are used through the use of quantiles to measure the 25th percentile range, the 50th percentile range or median range, and the 75th%, with 10% as the minimum range and 90% as the upper. The above image is a box plot comparing a guinea's tooth growth with the amount of vitamin C intake they get. You can see that the data is grouped into box plots, or quantiles, with a lower quantile(25%), the median(50%) depicted by the line through each box, and the upper quantile(75%) above the median to convey it's information.

Climograph Map

http://oldclimate.gi.alaska.edu/Climate/Climographs/ANC.html

A climograph is a graphic representation of the relation between temperature and precipitation as plotted at monthly intervals throughout the year. Lines show maximum and minimum temperatures in degrees on the left axis and bars show precipitation in inches on the right axis. The above image is a climograph of Anchorage, Alaska because it plots the relationship between temperature and precipitation as monthly intervals throughout the year, with lines showing the temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit on the Y-axis and bars showing the amounts of precipitation in inches on the X-axis.

Population Pyramid

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Angola_Population_Pyramid_2012.png

Population Pyramids display age and sex distributions for a given area, which forms the shape of a pyramid when the population is growing. The population pyramids are broken in half by two back-to-back bar graphs of the Male gender population shown on the left half and the female population on the right half. The vertical y-axis depicts all age groups for that region and the horizontal x-axis depicts the population in millions. The above image is a population pyramid for the Angola Population in 2012. Here you can clearly see the pyramid is split in to two bar graphs for the male population on the left and the females on the right. The Y-axis depicts their ages and the X-axis conveys the population in millions of people.

Scatterplot

http://www.stat.yale.edu/Courses/1997-98/101/scatter.htm

A scatterplot is a type of diagram/graph using the coordinate grid system to display values for two variables for a set of data. The data is displayed as a collection of points, where each observation is represented by a dot., each having the value of one variable determine the position on the horizontal axis and the value of the other variable determine the position of the vertical axis. A trend line can then be inferred based on the direction and concentration of data points. When both variables increase, the trend line is positive. When one variable increases while the other decreases, this conveys a negative relationship. The above image is a very simple example of a scatterplot, comparing the price of some gem in relation to its size in carats. Here you can see the data is plotted as a series of plots, with an increasing trend line here showing that as the size in carats increases so does the price, conveying that this trend is positive.

Index Value Plot

http://www.muhlenkamp.com/investment/principles/whats_the_new_normal_economics_rules_markets

In an index value plot, an index value is plotted on a line graph instead of an absolute number, and makes all plotted values relative to this index value. The above image is an index value plot for the expansion and downsizing of companies. Here, the index value is 50, and all other points are plotted in reference to this index value. So, when the index value is above 50, that means more companies are expanding than contracting and when the index value is below 50, more companies are contracting than expanding.

Accumulation Line Graph

http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/soc/courses/ih/globalization/lect02/quantitative_skills/eng/gini_coefficient_eng.htm

An accumulation line graph, also called a Lorenz curve, consists of a  line on the graph which shows how the data would be graphed if whatever property being measured was equally distributed. Then there is another  line, called the Lorenz curve, which represents the actual distribution of whatever feature under study. From viewing the distribution/accumulation of the graph a trend can then be found. In economics, a Lorenz curve is a graphical representation of the cumulative distribution of the empirical probability distribution of wealth, first developed by Max Lorenz in 1905 for representing inequality in wealth distribution. Accordingly, the accumulation line graph is often used to display income distribution. The above image is a clear example of a accumulation line graph or Lorenz curve of income distribution, in which the Lorenz curve is obtained by plotting the cumulative percentages of household income against the cumulative percentages of the number of household, starting from the homes with the lowest income. The Lorenz curve would be the line of equality if there was an absolutely equal distribution of income. However, since it is not equally distributed, the degree of income disparity is reflected by the amount that the Lorenz curve concaves against this line of equality. So, a trend could be made here that the closer the Lorenz curve is to the line of equality, the smaller the amount of income disparity there is.

Bilateral Graph

http://www.swfinstitute.org/swf-article/sovereign-wealth-funds-and-faith-in-the-usd/

A bilateral graph is a graph of two related variables, in which areas/lines sometimes overlap where variables share some feature or characteristic in common. The above image is a bilateral graph because it's displaying two related variables, both China and Russia denouncing the US dollar in terms of using their own currencies. Here you can see these relationships are graphed in terms of bilateral trade between Russia and China denouncing the US dollar.

DLG Map

http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc00/professional/papers/pap691/p691.htm

DLG maps are another computer-generated and cartographic map feature distributed by the USGS. DLG stands for Digital Line Graph that represents digital vector data, depicting a variety of information using contour lines. Because DLG's are in vector format, geographic information displayed on these maps are coded in points, lines, and polygons most often. The above image is an example of  DLG, because it is a digital vector representation of features of a place on a standard USGS map, and is clearly displayed using lines to represent its data.

DOQQ Map

http://www.geomart.com/products/geodata/digital.htm

A DOQQ map is a third type of USGS topoquad, and stands for Digital Orthoquarter Quads. DOQQ are georectified (have latitude and longitude coordinates) raster images developed from aerial photos. By using different types of film in cameras operating in the planes taking the photographs, DOQQ's can be produced and displayed as color-infrared photos or in true color. The above image is a DOQQ because it is a computer generated image of an aerial photography, and is displayed using color-infrared film.

DEM Map

http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/student/alvarez1/551proj.html

DEM maps are another type of USGS topographic map, and stands for Digital Elevation Model. A DEM map is simply a digital model or 3-D representation of a terrain's surface, taken from terrain elevation data. The above image is  DEM map because it's a Digital Elevation Model of the Sacramento, CA Valley region, in which the elevation is measured in meters and show elevation changes using the colored legend at the right.

DRG Map

http://www.pasda.psu.edu/tutorials/arcgis/drg.asp

DRG stands for Digital Raster Graphic, and DRG maps, along with DEM and DOQQ maps as well, are a type of topoquad, or topographic map, of the United States Geologic Survey(USGS). Technically, a DRG map is a scanned and georectified USGS topoquad. That means that since it's a topoquad, it's a map that displays elevation, topography, and other surface features. The same applies for DEM and DOQQ maps. Being that it is georectified, means that its map features have acquired latitude and longitude coordinates or UTM coordinates, tied to the real world coordinate system. The geographical information displayed by this map type is then conveyed in raster format, meaning the information is coded and presented in pixels. The above image is a DRG, because it is a raster image(pixels) of a scanned USGS topographic map, but is also referenced to a coordinate or UTM grid, which is made clear by the visible grid created on the map.

Cartographic Animation Map

http://www.siggraph.org/~rhyne/carto/course04/

Cartographic animation maps, also called data visualizations, refer to the very numerical and computer driven animations(computer simulations) of complex earth processes. For example, a cartographic animation map could be a computer simulation of water mixing processes in the deep ocean using computational visualizations. In this way, cartographic animations allow people to "see" earth phenomena and processes not readily visible in the real world. The above image is another example of a cartographic animation map, which was clearly created using computer driven animations. Here, this simulation is depicting a relief map of the natural terrain.

Statistical Map

http://jeffreydonenfeld.com/blog/2009/01/the-facebook-reconnection-project-calling-everyone/

Statistical maps are maps that communicate relative distance scaling properties, or more simply that represent distances that are relative to properties other than physical distance. For example, the distance displayed in this map could be referring to the closeness/proximity of some belief, custom, idea, etc for nearby countries or cities. So then, an example map would be the closeness of countries displayed on the statistical map would be representative of the closeness/similarity the countries share in their values and beliefs of something. The above image is a statistical map of the distance/similarity of the social media network of Facebook. This is a statistical map because distance/closeness between objects which in this case is Facebook users, is being measured, but the distance that's being measured is not physical distance, but closeness in interaction on this social network.

Cartogram Map

http://politicalmaps.org/2004-presidential-election-maps/

Cartograms are maps where geographic units have its size and shape altered and distorted to reflect the magnitude of the variable being looked at, at a relative scale. Algoirthms create cartograms and are designed to maintain scale and position of geographic units as best as possible, given the inherent distortion this map type causes. The above map is a cartogram map of the 2004 presidential election results, using the colors to depict the magnitude of the Republican's success(in red) and where the Democrats held most of their power(in blue). We can represent the effects of the electoral college here by scaling down the sizes of the states to be proportional to the number of electoral results they received, which creates this cartogram and the distortion seen here as well.

Isohyet Map

http://rainfall.geography.hawaii.edu/downloads.html

Isohyet maps are maps with lines, called isohyets, connecting areas/points of equal rainfall and displaying those recordings on said map.In this way, isohyet maps simply display rainfall amounts for regions using continuous lines or isohyets to convey this information. The above map is an isohyet map of the rainfall concentrations of an island of Hawaii in 2011. Here you can see the connecting lines, or isohyets, numbered by the amount of rainfall those areas produce and is measured in mm, according to the scale at the bottom of the map.

Isopach Map

http://all-geo.org/volcan01010/2011/08/a-taste-of-hekla/

Isopach maps are maps in which depict rock and sediment thickness recordings. They do this by illustrating thickness variations within a tabular unit, stratum, or layer and in this case, features and sediments on the earth's surface. More simply, isopachs can be thought of as contour lines connecting areas of equal thickness. The above map is a isopach map of the Hekla 4 eruption. The contour lines shown give thickness of tephra in centimeters(see legend at the right). Using this information, we can see that most of the tephra was blown to the north of the eruption and over half the country received more than one cm thick of ashfall.

Isotach Map

http://stresscretegroup.com/technical-resources/wind-maps/american-isotach-wind-map.asp

Isotachs are maps in which show wind speed systems on a map, where lines are connecting points of equal wind speed throughout a given region, measured either in miles per hour or meters per second. The above map is considered an isotach map because it contains lines connecting points of equal wind speed throughout the United States, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, etc, made clear and visible in the legend to the right, which records the wind speed of these countries in mph and m/s.

Isobar Map

http://facweb.bhc.edu/academics/science/harwoodr/GEOL101/Labs/Wind/index.htm

Isobars, or isobaric maps, are maps of which display air pressure and the movement of air currents throughout the atmosphere. Technically, an isobar is a line connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure. The above map is an isobar map type because it matches all the criteria, it is a map with lines connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure, depicted by the continuous lines all numbered the amount of pressure those air currents are giving off in the regions they're located. Here you can also see a low atmospheric pressure system moving into Florida and a high pressure system up in the Rockies.

Lidar Map

http://www.lidarbasemaps.org/

Lidar is a type of remote sensing map, which involves the detection and measurement of radiation of different wavelengths reflected or emitted from distant objects or surfaces. Lidar stands for light detection and ranging and uses a lasar, the light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, instead of using radio or microwave radiation. The above image is a lidar image of vegetation in Blue Ride, Washington and it distinguished by the fact that it uses lasars, light amplification by stimulated emulsions of radiation instead of radar or sonar to produce its results. 

Sonar Map

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090401/full/458557a.html

Sonar  is a type of remote sensing map, which involves the detection and measurement of radiation of different wavelengths reflected or emitted from distant objects or surfaces. Sonar stands for sound navigation and ranging and is based on the transmission of sound waves through water. Sonar sensors record the amount of energy back-scattered from the bottom of the ocean or from objects in the ocean. The above image is a sonar image depicting oceanic mountains and sea mounts, which use sonar senses to record the amount of energy back-scattered from the oceanic mountains based on the transmission of the sound waves through water. 

Doppler Radar Map

                                 http://www.tendenarium.com/trend/1072/National-Weather-Service
Doppler Radar is a type of remote sensing map, which involves the detection and measurement of radiation of different wavelengths reflected or emitted from distant objects or surfaces. Radar stands for radio detection and ranging and uses a transmitter to emit either radio or microwave radiation, which is called Doppler. A directional antenna then receives and measures the time of arrival of reflected pulses from distant objects. The above image is a doppler radar image from the National Weather Service of a hurricane forming, and constitutes as such because it transmits either radio or microwave radiation to measure the time of arrival of reflected pulses from the storm to thus create this image. 

Infrared Aerial Photo

http://www.aerialarchives.com/Infrared-Aerial-Photography.htm

Infrared aerial photos are a type of remote sensing map type, which involves the detection and measurement of radiation of different wavelengths reflected or emitted from distant objects or surfaces. Aerial photographs can be divided based on the film type, and photographic film can be coated with different light-sensitive emulsions, each sensitive to specific wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. Infrared emulsion is sensitive to wavelengths that fall outside the range of human vision. IR film is used most often to produce color-infrared photos, and uses false color since we can't really see the wavelengths recorded on the infrared film. The above photo is an infrared aerial photo because the IR imagery here uses false color to produce the color-infrared photo. This is due to the fact that the infrared emulsion is sensitive to wavelengths that the human eye can't see. 

Black and White Aerial Photo

https://lta.cr.usgs.gov/NAPP

Black and white aerial photos are a type of remote sensing map type, which involves the detection and measurement of radiation of different wavelengths reflected or emitted from distant objects or surfaces. Aerial photographs can be divided based on the film type, and photographic film can be coated with different light-sensitive emulsions, each sensitive to specific wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. Black and white aerial photos are a type of remote sensing aerial photo in which the black and while emulsion proves sensitive to the same wavelengths as the human eye. The above picture is an aerial photo/map type of remote sensing clearly using black and white light-sensitive emulsions, sensitive to the same wavelengths as the range that human vision allows and is why we can observe the wavelengths recorded on the film.

Multivariate Choropleth Map

http://www.geovista.psu.edu/grants/dg-qg/feature_old2.htm

A multivariate choropleth map is yet another choropleth map that instead of displays just one or two variables, displays and combines two or more variables on the same map. The above map is a multivariate choropleth map of the United States from 1988-1992. It is multivariate because it combines and displays three variables under study, lung cancer mortality rates of white males aged 65-74, annual precipitation rates of the country, and the percent of people living below the poverty rate.

Bivariate Choropleth Map

http://rkpjrhist615.wordpress.com/page/6/

A bivariate choropleth map is another type of choropleth map that portrays two separate phenomena or processes simultaneously on the same map by combining two different sets of graphic symbols or colors to distinguish between the two variables under study. The above map is a bivariate choropleth map because it portrays two separate variables, the number of orchards and the land area, simultaneously together on the same map using both colors for land area and tree symbols to distinguish them apart from each other.

Univariate Choropleth Map

http://rkpjrhist615.wordpress.com/page/6/

A univariate choropleth map is choropleth map that displays data from only one variable. The above map is a univariate choropleth map because it still follows the criteria to be a choropleth map but only displays one variable, the percentage of people 25 years and over who have a bachelor's degree.

Unstandardized Choropleth Map

http://www.osbm.state.nc.us/ncosbm/facts_and_figures/census/maps/tot_pop.html

Unlike a standardized choropleth map, an unstandardized choropleth map is a type of choropleth map that displays areal data, but is not areally averaged by population density, percentages, or any other areal averaging measures. The above map is an unstandardized choropleth map because it displays the total population of NC in 2000, but is not areally averaged in any way.

Standardized Choropleth Map

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choropleth_map

A standardized choropleth map are a type of choropleth map is which the numerical values for an areal unit are areally averaged, either by density or percentages. The above map(one furthest to the right) is a standardized choropleth map because the data is areally averaged by the population density of the area.

Unclassed Choropleth Map

http://go.owu.edu/~jbkrygie/krygier_html/geog_353/geog_353_lo/geog_353_lo07.html

An unclassed choropleth map is another choropleth map that portrays areal data using points, and lines, and areal symbols to depict topographic features. What distinguishes an unclassed choropleth map from a classed map is that an unclassed map isn't divided into a designated number of smaller groups and portrayed in intervals, but rather displays data using a continuous grey scale, where there can be as many intervals as areal units. The above image is an unclassed choropleth map because it uses the grey scale and the number of categories is equal to the number of data values used, not grouped into smaller numbers.

Classed Choropleth Map

http://www.directionsmag.com/articles/choropleth-mapping-with-exploratory-data-analysis/123579

Choropleth Maps are area maps that display areal data of some feature or phenomena under study. These areal divisions are often boundaries such as census tracts, counties, states, etc. Points, lines, and areal symbols represent features such as towns, roads, forests, etc and can also be aggregated, or averaged, by a spatial unit. The area of the spatial unit is then assumed to have a uniform value. In a classed choropleth map, areal units are combined into a smaller number of groups and portrayed in intervals. Typically, 4 to 7 intervals are used and can be divided up based on four different classification techniques: equal steps, quantiles, natural break, and minimum variance. The above map is a classed choropleth map of the unemployment rate of some area. It is classed because it is broken up into six distinct intervals designated by the legend at the right, and is divided by the classification technique of quantiles.

Isoline Map

http://www.oas.org/cdmp/document/apua/apu.htm

Isoline maps, also called contour line or isopleth maps, are a type of map with continuous lines joining points of the same value and for contour lines, those lines distinguishes points of equal altitude. These continuous lines, or isolines, are typically used in topographic maps to represent a 3-D surface of the world on a flat map, like hills or mountains. Isolines are then defined by a contour interval, which tells you the amout of elevational change between isolines, or contour lines. The above map is an isoline map of the different elevations of features around South America and the countries of Barbados, Trinidad, etc. Isolines or contour lines are visible throughout the map and consist of continuous lines joining points of equal elevation of certain features on the map. The elevation of said features are shown through the number given to the specific contour line. For example, the 100 ft contour line marks all areas on the map that are 100 ft in elevation.

Flow Map

.http://evansullivan.wikispaces.com/Chapter+1+Maps

Flow maps, also called line maps, are maps that show the actual path of entities across a surface and their intensity. Flow maps can also show idealized paths called desire lines and only show general direction, not the actual path. Common flow maps depict traffic flows, social networks flows, and processes of the exchange of goods and services. The above map is a flow map that show the actual paths/flow of refugee migration to Canada between 1990-1999 and their intensity, depicted by the thickness of the migration paths.

Range Graded Proportional Circle Map

https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog160/c3_p14.html

Range Graded Proportional Circle Maps are another type of Proportional Circle map, which conveys its point data with circles. What distinguishes this map from others is that it's range graded, meaning only a set number of circles are designated to be used in the map. The above map is a range graded proportional circle map that conveys the unemployment percentages in 2000 in the United States. It is range graded because there is a set number, 5, of circles used, specified in the legend on the right, with each circle representing a interval of percentages for that circle's size.

Continuously Variable Proportional Circle Map

http://personal.frostburg.edu/jaelder0/maps.htm

Proportional Circle Maps are another example of dot density maps(using circles to show the presence of some feature), where the point data is mapped with a circle instead of a dot. The size of the circle relates to the measured variable and not necessarily the area over which that variable is measured. Continuously Variable Proportional Circle Maps are accordingly, proportional circle maps that have circles that come in all sizes. The above map is a continuously variable proportional circle map because it conveys information about aggravated assault arrests by state in 2009 using circles to convey its point data, and is continuously variable because the circles on the map come in different sizes.

Dot Distribution Maps

https://rkpjrhist615.wordpress.com/category/geography-310/

Dot Distribution Maps, also referred to as Dot Density maps, are a type of map that uses a dot symbol to show the presence of a feature or phenomenon using nonproportional point symbols, such as population density for example. Each dot equals 10,000 people and do not vary in size, but can be differentiated by varying the shapes or colors of the point symbols. The above map is a dot density map and uses dots to measure the acreage of croplands harvested in the United States in 1949.

Propaganda Map

http://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2014/jun/03/war-ww1-propaganda-maps-in-pictures

Propaganda maps are maps designed to be particularly persuasive and try to mobilize viewers to a certain purpose or perception/opinion of some feature, person, or place. Often times these propaganda maps can be used to magnify or instigate certain feelings or beliefs, for example maps that perpetuated fear and threat in times of global conflict. Propaganda maps are in this way an example of how people shape maps and their content based on subjectivity, and how those maps in return shape how people interact and conceptualize the world. The above map is a propaganda map of Eastern Europe. It's propaganda because it depicts the Prussian and Austro-Hungarian empire as two octopuses spreading their tentacles across Europe, intended to create the idea and perception that this empire is feeding off or eating or devouring Europe.

PLSS Map

http://www.city-data.com/city/Legend-Lake-Wisconsin.html

A PLSS, Public Land Survey System, map is a type of systematic land partitioning system, or cadastral map, that shows land ownership. These maps use the State Plane Coordinate system and contain a base line, principal meridian, and initial point. The base line is the east-west line, the principal meridian is the north-south line, and the initial point provides the basis of this grid pattern. It is organized additionally into townships, which are horizontal lines at 6-mile intervals that parallel the base line. The vertical lines at 6-mile intervals are called ranges and parallel the principal meridian. The above map is a PLSS map of Legend Lake in Wisconsin, and qualifies as a PLSS because the region is broken up in townships and ranges. 

Cadastral Map

http://www.seos-project.eu/modules/agriculture/agriculture-c03-p01.html

A cadastral map is a type of land partitioning map that shows land ownership of an area. These maps use the State Plane Coordinate system to convey locational information or for land partitioning measures. Present in cadastral maps are the base line, principal meridian, and initial point. The base line is the east-west line, the principal meridian is the north-south line, and the initial point provides the basis of this grid pattern. Cadastral maps also use the metes(units of distance) and bounds(names of markers) method of dividing up lands according to ownership. The above map is a cadastral map using the metes and bounds method to divide land up based on land ownership. This specific cadastral map is dividing the land parcels by the boundaries of different fields of crops and ownership of these different fields.

Thematic Map

https://www.e-education.psu.edu/natureofgeoinfo/book/export/html/1553

Thematic maps is a type of map designed to show a particular theme of  interest,for instance population or density,within a given geographic space. These maps can communicate social, economic, cultural, etc themes through differences in the use of coloring, shading, or placing of symbols on map. The map above is a thematic map that conveys the theme of the population density of Hispanics in the United States. It conveys this information through the use of colors and breaking the map of the United States into squares of the different states.

Topographic Map

http://www.nyroute30.com/mappages/spectopo.php

Topographic maps are maps that represent the physical landscape or terrain of an area, often showing lakes, rivers, mountains, valleys, and any other relief features, and are depicted through raised relief features, contour lines, and other characteristics. These maps can also depict man-made features as well, such as roads or canals. The above image is a topographic map of the Adirondack Trail in New York. It's classified as topographic because it displays the physical landscape of the area, showing lakes  and other waterways, and using contour lines to depict hills and other relief features.

Hypsometric Map

http://www.earthexplorer.com/2009-03/subsurface_geology_challenges_goiania_metro.asp

Unlike planimetric maps, a hypsometric map is a surface map, generally of topography(land/terrain surfaces) that conveys three-dimensional information about a place and has relief features shown on the map. The third-dimension property can be relief(topography) or any other variable that describes the process or location on the map's surface. This third dimension can be represented by color and shaping, raised relief features, or contour lines. The map above is a hypsometric map of the topography of the Goiania Metropolitan Region, and conveys 3-D information with it's relief features. The third dimension of this topography is shown through using different colors to highlight different attributes of the topography, shaping to depict what land forms are being shown, raised relief to show elevation and shape, and contour lines to show elevation.

Planimetric Map

http://what-when-how.com/gps/discovering-the-types-of-maps-gps/

A planimetric map is a surface map(not a contour map) that displays two-dimensional information with no relief features, or landscape features, on the map. Often times planimetric maps are street maps or road atlases. The above map is a planimetric map of streets and roads in a certain city. It displays 2-D information and shows no information about the terrain of this area.

Mental Map

http://www.yproductions.com/writing/archives/mapping_the_urban_homunculus.html

Mental maps, also referred to as abstract or cognitive maps, are highly abstracted representations of real world locations, that still convey information or interpretations of earth's surface or features on earth's surface. Mental maps are often subjective in nature, and refer to a person's point-of-view perception of a real-world location. This spatial perception of how we view people/places around us can be a necessary skill when studying geography as humans are instinctual mappers and have learned to read and use map-like models since early childhood in nearly all cultures. This ability is an essential part of our ecological adaption and evolution, as this behavior leads to invention in tool use. The above map is an hand-drawn, abstract mental map of world drawn by a student in Thailand. This mental map greatly exaggerates the size of areas where these students do not live, and conveys their perception/point-of-view that other parts of the world, like Russia for example, are larger than in reality.