Transit Maps of the World Available from Ball State University Libraries

What’s New in the GRMC: Transit Maps of the World

The GIS Research and Map Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library continually acquires new resources for research and learning. One of the newest acquisitions to the Collection is the book, Transit Maps of the World: The World’s First Collection of Every Urban Train Map on Earth. The book by Mark Ovenden was published in 2007.

The book cover describes Transit Maps of the World as “the first, and only, comprehensive collection of every rapid-transit system map on earth. Using glorious graphics, Mark Ovenden traces the history of mass transit—including rare and historic maps, diagrams, and photographs, some available for the first time since their original publication.”

The author includes a short history of urban rail transportation around the world and narratives on the history of the nearly 200 cities in the book. For some cities, the book includes up to 20 transit maps, some dating back to the 19th century. Six zones divide the cities in the book, including Berlin, Tokyo, New York, Boston, St. Petersburg, Guangzhou, Santiago, Manila, and Tunis.

Graphic designers, city and environmental planners, transportation enthusiasts, history buffs, and travelers will find this collection of maps invaluable. Transit Maps of the World is available as a reference item in the GIS Research and Map Collection.

National Geographic Bee Finals Air on May 20

National Geographic Bee Finals Air on May 20

The National Geographic Society prepares materials for thousands of schools participating in the National Geographic Bee. Students in grades four through eight are eligible for this challenging test of geographic skill and knowledge. The national finals will air at 5:00 P.M. on May 20, 2009, on the National Geographic Channel. Public television stations will air the finals at a later date.

GIS Research and Map Collection Summer Hours

Summer Hours in the GRMC Begin May 11

The GIS Research and Map Collection in Bracken Library will begin summer hours on Monday, May 11. The GRMC will be open from 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday until August.

Happy Friday In Ball State University Libraries

Happy Friday at Ball State University Libraries

A fairly new tradition at Ball State University is waving hello to Happy Friday Guy. Happy Friday Guy rides through campus on his scooter donning a cape, helmet, and goggles and wishing everyone a “happy Friday.” Recently Happy Friday Guy drove his scooter into the GIS Research and Map Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library. After stopping to review some maps of the world, Happy Friday Guy wished everyone a happy Friday and continued on his way around the campus.

Ball State University Students Learning the Art of Cartography

Ball State University Students Learning the Art of Cartography

Ball State University students in Geography 340, Cartography and Visualization of Spatial Data, have been working on final map projects for the class. Geography 340 offers an “introduction to cartographic methods for the visualization and analysis of geographic phenomena,” according to the undergraduate course catalog. In the class “principles of design are stressed with particular emphasis on methods for symbolizing point, line, and area elements and the principles and use of color in cartography.” Students are expected to produce publication-quality maps for completion of the course.

Students are required to take Geography 240, Map Reading and Graphics, as a prerequisite for the cartography course. This class offers an introduction to map design, construction, and analysis. Both courses are taught by Dr. Elizabeth Vaughan, Assistant Professor of Geography. Dr. Vaughan has been teaching at Ball State University since 2005.

Students created their map projects using Adobe Illustrator software. Some of the maps produced described tornado activity in Oklahoma, nationally, and globally. The use of public transportation across the United States, tourism and traffic in China, U.S. energy use, obesity and related illnesses, and past Heisman trophy winners were all mapped by the student cartographers.

Maps shown include maps comparing the location of Super Fund projects and cancer rates, U.S. wildfires, hurricane activity, Supreme Court Justices home states and political affiliations, the economic decline of Muncie, Indiana, and tracking the popularity of tennis worldwide as related to French colonialism.

For more information about these maps or the geography courses, please contact the Department of Geography at 765/285-1776.