Portolan Chart

The Library of Congress has an extensive collection of historical maps. One type of map is referred to as a Portolan Chart. These maps were used almost exclusively by mariners. They were the most detailed maps of the coast for their time period. Mariners were more interested in the coast line and potential harbors than any information that would be inland. That fact is represented by the lack of any detail and addition of artwork within areas that represent land. Notice the crisscrossing lines that dominate the background of this map. Mariners needed maps with lines that indicated compass directions to make sailing more accurate. 

Infrared Aerial Photograph

The National Parks website provides a stunning example of an infrared aerial photograph. The benefit to using infrared is the level of detail that can be obtained. This type of film is best used when photographing vegetation. As you can see, this photograph of the Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch shows a wide variety of plants and trees. It is important to remember that the colors seen on an infrared photograph are really "false" colors because the human eye can not see infrared. 

Black and White Aerial Photography

Remote sensing is very useful to mapmakers and geographers. This website from Montana State University shows an example of a black and white aerial photograph taken of San Ysidro, New Mexico. A camera is mounted on an airplane as it flies over an area the camera collects data. The human eye catches on the varying shades of grey and our minds automatically equate darker shades with depth and lighter shades with elevation. Those with the right training can analyze a black and white aerial photograph to determine what objects might be on the ground.  

Dopplar Radar

This image found at The National Weather Forecast Office is a doppler radar image of Tropical Storm Alberto. Weather stations around the country send microwave radiation out into the atmosphere and collect the returning information in order to tell a meteorologist the amount or precipitation, what kind of precipitation, and what direction the weather system is moving among other things. With this doppler radar image of the tropical storm even the untrained observer can see that the heaviest rain is in the center of the storm and that it appears to be moving in a counter clockwise pattern. Doppler Radar is very useful for predicting weather movements and developments. 

Propaganda Maps

Governments are infamous for using propaganda maps in order to influence the ways people think. In this instance, the point is to persuade those who argue they are expansionist, radical, and aggressive that it would be impossible with so many powerful arab nations surrounding them. In fact, I believe this propaganda map also attempts to elicit support by portraying them as the underdog. This map emphasizes a threat to Israel by showing how small and "helpless" it is. More information, along with this map, can be found here. 

LIDAR

LIDAR is a type of of remote sensing. Unlike radar and and sonar, LIDAR uses a laser to create images. This particular image is of Kansas City. LIDAR is often used mounted to an airplane. 

This image was provided by Rod Franklin in a newsletter for Imagenotes.com.

Star Plot

Niklas Elmqvist, John Stasko, Philippas Tsigas wrote an article that was published on Palgrave Macmillan . A start plot compares  multiple variables for one observation. This star plot compares variables about homes in Vermont such as the year built, number of rooms, and value.