Isotachs

http://jasonahsenmacher.wordpress.com/

Isotachs are lines showing areas of equal wind speed. the map above is showing wind speeds across the united states.

Isobars

http://www.mv.k12.wa.us/science/integrated/athena/curric/weather/hsweathr/isobar.html

Isobars are used to show areas of equal pressure. This is useful in meteorology for predicting storm paths and different seasonal fronts.

Index Value Plot

http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=89998

An index plot works like a line graph, except the values represented are indexed. Stock market graphs often show indexed values to compare their growths to previous rates, but still factor in a change in currency inflation.

DLG-Digital Line Graph

http://www.mapcruzin.com/free-geodata-shapefiles/usgs-geospatial-data-geodata-geographic-download.htm

Digital line graphs are a tool to show topographical information, and uses vectors to present data. DLG images are less memory intensive than digitizing an aerial image, and is equally, if not more effective, at drawing attention to geographic features.

DOQQ

http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/gis/gishydro00/Class/trmproj/Donnelly/termproject.htm

DOQQ, or digital orthoquarter quad, is an image that has been georectified to show the accurate placement of land features. The image above is a flood insurance rate DOQQ

Unclassed Choropleth Maps

http://www.esds.ac.uk/international/support/user_guides/gisoverview.asp

Unclassed choropleth maps are like other choropleth maps, using shades of color to represent data correlation. Instead of having variable ranges split into groups, like a classed choropleth map, there are as many intervals as there are areal spaces.

Continuously Variable Proportional Circle Map

http://geographyfieldwork.com/DataPresentationMappingTechniques.htm

Continuously variable proportional circle maps are useful in the same way regular proportional circle maps are, except that the former can present several different variables. Notice the example map above, the size of the circle indicates a high concentration of all variables, but sizes of the particular sections of each circle also indicate the concentration of the individual variables.

Histograms

http://openhighschoolcourses.org/mod/book/view.php?id=206&chapterid=352

Histograms are a type of graph used to show the distribution of a data set. The histogram above shows twenty individuals and their number of hours slept each night. It is easy to see very quickly from the graph that the most popular number of hours slept was 7. It is also easy to see that the same number of people sleep 8, 9, and 10 hours. Histograms are quick and efficient ways of presenting data distribution.

Star Plots

http://assessment.tki.org.nz/Assessment-tools-resources/Alignment-of-assessment-tools-with-National-Standards/Reading/Observation-Survey

Star plots are a way of presenting multivariate data, usually containing five or more variables. The correlation between each attribute is drawn from the center towards the variable label. Stronger correlations reach farther away from the center. Above is a star plot of showing scripts judged and rated poorly. Contestant scripts are shown with different colors. Below is a star plot showing a few highly rated scripts.

Windrose

http://www.enviroware.com/windrose-pro-for-airports-runway-design/

A windrose is usually used in meteorology to show the direction the wind is blowing from over a prolonged period of time. The example windrose above shows a high windspeed from the north west, and almost no wind from the north east or south west.

Parallel Coordinate Graphs

http://hci.stanford.edu/jheer/files/zoo/

Parallel coordinate graphs are a way of interpreting many sets of data and their correlation to each other. The graph is interpreted based on the pattern of lines produced. Computer software is essential to produce these types of graphs.

Triangular Plot

http://geographyfieldwork.com/DataPresentationTriangularGraphs.htm

Triangular plots are useful for representing exactly three variables. The points on the plot show specific compositions of the three variables combined. An easy example to think of would be soil type consisting of sand, silt, and clay. Different ratios of each soil type may drastically alter the composition of the final combination.

Accumulative Line Graph

http://vlab-resi.tamu.edu/simseg/overview/demog.htm

Accumulative line graphs are also known as Lorenz curves, named after Max O Lorenz, who used the model to show wealth inequality. The black straight line is the line of equality, or line of equal wealth distribution. The graph above has wealth separated based on race. Like any Lorenz curve, the graph shows a high percentage of wealth among a few individuals, and a low percentage of wealth among many individuals.

Nominal Area Choropleth Maps

http://krygier.owu.edu/krygier_html/geog_222/geog_222_lo/geog_222_lo04.html

Like other choropleth maps, nominal area choropleth maps use a range of colors or shades to show a range of data values. In a nominal area choropleth map, nominal data is shown, which is pretty explanatory of itself. Above, the choropleth map shows collegiate basketball players with darker areas showing higher numbers of players.

DRG-Digital Raster Graphics

http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/factsheets/fs08801.html

Digital raster graphics are useful tools for locating geographic features. A topographic raster image is georectified to known longitudinal and latitudinal points or features, thus giving an accurate overhead image. The image above is a DRG of the Patomac River and a section of Washington D.C. that surrounds it.

Unstandardized Choropleth Maps

http://andrewhomaps.blogspot.com/2011/04/unstandardized-choropleth-map.html

Unstandardized choropleth maps present data in its raw form, without averaging into percentages or decimals. The example map shows unemployment levels in 2008 with raw number values, indicating a higher level of unemployment in the western states as well as in states like Michigan and Ohio.

Standardized Choropleth Maps

http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/content/3/1/18/figure/F6?highres=y

When a choropleth map is standardized, its data values have been areally averaged. This presents the data as a rate, percentage, decimal, etc. A single color is used to show the range of, in the example above, Bayesian smoothed prevalences in Lower Saxony.

Cartographic Animations

http://www.mthurricane.com/Hurricane_Charley.htm

Catrographic animations are most recognizable from the fields of meteorology. Cartographic animations simply show a change in a variable over a period of time. This is done by showing images of progressing data, such as a storm moving from an ocean onto a land surface.

Hypsometric Map

http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/509439

Hypsometric maps are used to show altitude. Instead of using contour lines, which is common when dealing with vertical data, altitude is shown with a change in color. In the example map above, the dark colors show the areas of lowest altitude, while the warm colors show higher regions.

Cadastral Maps

http://www.irlandeses.org/sanpedrophoto.htm

Cadastral maps show land and property ownership. They may be used both for residential areas, or urban areas with business buildings. Above, a cadastral map shows plots of land with the land owner's name written in the middle.

Univariate Choropleth Maps

http://www.geog.le.ac.uk/russianheartland/DemographicMaps/Raions.html

Univariate choropleth maps only show one set of data. Like other choropleth maps the range of, in this case, just one variable, is shown by a spectrum of color. In this example map, dark brown regions indicate areas of high population, while pale yellow areas have a low population.

Isohyets

http://www.info.bw/~mettest/bulletins/data/bulletin_0210/bulletin_0210.html

Isohyets are a type of isoline map. The lines in an isohyet map show average rainfall over an area.

Isolines

https://sites.google.com/site/castleansahhsss/

Isolines are a visual tool applied over a geographic area to indicate equal amounts of a variable across that region. isolines are generally dictated with another name such as isobars, isopleths, isotachs, etc. In the example map above, isolines show areas that experience equal amounts of snowfall.

PLSS Public Land Surveying Systems

http://forum.delorme.com/viewtopic.php?p=81273

PLSS maps are used by surveyors to diplay land ownership as well as topographical features. It follows planimetric map rules in that it does not offer anything other than horizontal information. Mountains and other features that require a vertical variable are omitted. Land is broken up into parcels, that may be sold or divided to possible land owners.

Range Graded Proportional Circle Map

https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog486/book/export/html/1796

The difference between normal proportional circle maps and range graded proportional circle maps is that the latter has a set of intervals that dictate circle size on the map. Above is an example showing numerous data points of varying size that correspond to the data intervals in the key.

Similarity Matrix

http://mikesmaps.blogspot.com/2008/07/similarity-matrix.html

Similarity Matrices are like correlation matrices, except they only compare two variables instead of more. Highly correlating data is noticeable with warm colors, and uncorrelated data are colder shades of blue. 

Correlation matrix

http://aronhotalen.blogspot.com/2010/04/correlation-matrix.html

A correlation matrix compares many variables and shows their similarities by number and color. Higher numbers and warmer colors indicate a higher correlation in this matrix. The variables that are compared with themselves are listed as black squares, because their correlation is always 1.

Doppler Radar

http://kwilklab.wordpress.com/author/kwilk1984/

Doppler radar images are mostly seen related to meteorology, and are able to predict possible storm paths. Doppler radar is capable of estimating reflectivity as well as rotational velocity. Doppler radar is also used by police officers in radar guns to detect individuals who may be speeding.

Dot Distribution Maps

http://flatrock.org.nz/topics/new_jersey/where_do_they_live_and_what_do_they_do.htm

Dot distribution maps are useful for showing concentrations of a certain variable across a region. They help the user to visualize how a large number of isolated cases can make an area altogether crowded with data. The example map shows population distribution in New Jersey, where each dot accounts for 500 people.

Thematic Maps

http://antiqueprintsblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/thematic-maps.html

Thematic Maps are defined by a single data theme displayed over a geographic area. Thematic maps can be about land use, political favor, or the spread of disease. Above is an early map showing lines of magnetic variation in the Atlantic ocean.

Bilateral Graph

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article22616.html

Bilateral Graphs show two related variables, and their growth/decline over time. The graph above shows an increase in the United Kingdom population and a decrease in completed housing projects over a span of forty years.

Planimetric Map

http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/guide/gmillgen.html

Planimetric maps can be presented in many different ways, but the only stipulation is that it does not define vertical space. The map above shows a large area, with perhaps an urban developed area to the south. However there is no definition of buildings or depressions in the land.

Black and White Aerial Photography

http://wodumedia.com/britain-from-space/another-aerial-view-of-london-in-black-and-white/

Black and white aerial photos are able to capture a large section of landscape and define objects such as buildings roads, and bridges. The black and white resolution can become a bit muddled at times, and vegetation is not very distinguishable, but shadowed objects and particularly urban areas are fairly well defined.

Infrared Aerial Photography

http://californiamapsociety.org/mapping/remote.php

Infrared aerial photos are useful in creating an image that easily differentiates between physical features such as rivers, oceans, mountains, and vegetation. They are less useful for urban areas. A special film produces colors the human eye is able to see, otherwise infrared light is invisible.

Proportional Circle Map

http://personal.frostburg.edu/krtopping0/maps.htm

Proportional circles are used in these maps to show the amount of a variable, and then to compare it to the size of other circles across a geographic region. The map above from 2000 shows the amount of people killed in road accidents was much less in Sweden and Finland, while Spain, France, and Germany had much higher death rates. 

Flow Map

http://geographer-at-large.blogspot.com/2011/11/map-of-week-11-28-2011the-spread-of.html

Flow maps are maps used to show a reallocation of resources. The resource moved can be food, money, people or perhaps immigrants, and even the flow of water in the ocean. The above map shows the flow of smallpox across the globe. Maps like these are useful to examine the flow of a variable across a large geographical area.

Population Profile

http://citiwire.net/columns/japans-full-and-perplexing-recovery-needs/

Population profile is a tool often used in economics. It shows a great range of age groups and the approximate number of individuals in each group. Typically a population profile looks a bit like a pyramid, where there are a large amount of young people, and a relatively small number of elderly. However, as technoology continues to lengthen the lifespan of the average human, many nations are beginning to have a disproportionate amount of elderly. The above populatin profile is an extrapolation of Japans population in 2050. This merely exaggerates the current problem in Japan, and that is there are too few young people being produced to support the old. In primitive cultures, where vaccinations and clean water are unavailable, the population pyramid shows a much greater number of young people. Below is a population profile of Kenya, which serves as a good example of a third world population.

http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/kenya-population.html

Climograph

http://www.oocities.org/sg/c_pling/climates.html

Climographs are common tools in meteorology to show a regions annual precipitation and temperature. The months of the year are listed on the X-axis while temperature and precipitation are on the two Y-axes on either side. It is easy to see in the example climograph that India experiences a slightly warmer season from January until March, and then heavy precipitation begins in June and continues through part of April. During the rainy season the temperature falls slightly, but it is mostly warm year round.

Choropleth Map

http://politicalmaps.org/

Choropleth maps are shaded or proportioned to show a statistic. In the map above, states are shaded based on their popular vote for the 2012 presidential election. Choropleth maps are a quick tool to asses and present a measured variable across a large span of geography. Some choropleth maps have only 2 colors, like the example above, but other choropleth maps may be shaded from dark to light or even distort land figures to present data.

Scatter Plot

http://www.netmba.com/statistics/plot/scatter/

Scatter plots are useful diagrams that show the relation of two variables. The explanatory variable, or independent variable, is labeled on the X axis. The Y axis denotes the response, or dependent variable. A good example of data that may be effectively expressed in a scatter plot is a weight vs height plot. Height would be the independent variable, and it makes sense to think that taller people are generally heavier. Therefore height dictates wight to some extent. However, not everyone who is exactly six feet tall is not also exactly 170 pounds. By plotting the intersecting points of our data set, in this example the height and weight of several individuals, we can begin to see a trend in the data.

Boxplot

http://pirate.shu.edu/~wachsmut/Teaching/MATH1101/Descriptives/box.html

Boxplots are efficient tools to depict a data set's minimum, 25th percentile, median, 75th percentile, and maximum values. The red dots on either end designate the min and max values, minimum on the left, and maximum on the right. The first verticle line on the left is the 25th percentile, while the first verticle line on the right is the 75th percentile. The verticle line in between the 25th and 75th percentiles is obviously the median. Boxplots are very quick and easy to use, and are effective rough visual aids.

Topographic Map

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

Topographic maps are designed to depict an areas topography (imagine that!) Topographic maps include details for any feature that could be found in an areas topography. In the example image, it is clear there is a lake with an island, a small river, some steep mountainous regions and also a bay. Contour lines are included to denote elevation (see more on Countour Maps). 

Stem and Leaf Plot

http://www.webquest.hawaii.edu/kahihi/mathdictionary/S/stemleaf.php

Stem and Leaf plots are a quick and efficient method of organizing data into groups, and then quickly assessing which group as the most data. In the example above, the data is simply numbers, and the groups are dictated by the number in the tens place. It is easy to see without the highlight that the 4 group has the most numbers.

Propaganda Map

http://mudman890.blogspot.com/2012/04/propaganda-map.html

Propaganda maps are made to accompany propaganda and persuade individuals towards a certain opinion. Data is skewed intentionally to make a certain option seem more appealing. In the propaganda map depicted, Ronald Reagan sees the USSR as a looming threat, while South America and and Mexico are barely worth showing. Propaganda maps play off ignorance of an individual and claim to educate, except the education received is full of bias and half-truths.

Cartogram

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2010/04/15/cartograms/

Cartograms are maps that are distorted to show different variables, replacing distance or land area with a theme such as population or national interest. Above is a cartogram showing population of continents and their respective nations. Places such as India, China, and the United States are quickly seen to be places of overcrowding, while areas like Canada and Australia are extremely underpopulated for their nation size. Cartograms are best used as models to compare issues between states, and are not designed to accurately depict land forms.

Contour Map

http://www.compassdude.com/contour-quiz.shtml

A contour map shows elevation with lines that represent levels of equal height. The picture above is a well defined and depicted contour map showing a plateau. Typically a contour map has a darker or bolder line every 5 or 10 lines. In this map the bolded line is present every 5th line which also denotes 100 units of measurement.Locations that show lines more closely spaced together represent areas with a steep incline. Contour lines farther apart show more gentle slopes. 

LIDAR-Light Detection and Ranging

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s798b.htm

LIDAR is a remote sensing technique that fires laser light at an object and collects data based on the objects resulting illumination. Laser instruments are attached to aircraft and data is collected as the aircraft passes over an object. High resolution beams can produce very precise images, but have a narrower beam size and therefore take longer to produce a complete image.  The image above is a LIDAR image of the world trade center on September 23rd, 2001. 

DEM-Digital Elevation Model; Hillshade

http://developmentseed.org/blog/2009/jul/30/using-open-source-tools-make-elevation-maps-afghanistan-and-pakistan/

Depicted above is a Digital Elevation Model of some mountains and the surrounding country. DEM's are useful in showing vertical data in several ways. Above is a hillshade, a rendering of elevation data to show shadows and depressions, and a color relief map to more easily contrast land features like mountains. Numerical data is often difficult to understand, and before computer technology it was only more so. With satellite imagery and hillshade models it has become infinitely more easy to represent elevation data in a visual manner.

http://developmentseed.org/blog/2009/jul/30/using-open-source-tools-make-elevation-maps-afghanistan-and-pakistan/

Here are the two separate images of the elevation rendering(top) and the color relief map(bottom), combined to create a hillshade