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Concept
Proportional symbol map
Summary
A proportional symbol map or proportional point symbol map is a type of thematic map that uses map symbols that vary in size to represent a quantitative variable. For example, circles may be used to show the location of cities within the map, with the size of each circle sized proportionally to the population of the city. Typically, the size of each symbol is calculated so that its area is mathematically proportional to the variable, but more indirect methods (e.g., categorizing symbols as "small," "medium," and "large") are also used.
While all dimensions of geometric primitives (i.e., points, lines, and regions) on a map can be resized according to a variable, this term is generally only applied to point symbols, and different design techniques are used for other dimensionalities. A cartogram is a map that distorts region size proportionally, while a flow map represents lines, often using the width of the symbol (a form of size) to represent a quantitative variable. That said, there are gray areas between these three types of proportional map: a Dorling cartogram essentially replaces the polygons of area features with a proportional point symbol (usually a circle), while a linear cartogram is a kind of flow map that distorts the length of linear features proportional to a variable (often travel time).
Arthur H. Robinson credited Henry Drury Harness with the first map to clearly attempt to portray point sizes proportionally, on an 1838 map of cargo traffic in Ireland (with proportional widths) that showed city population. The technique was soon replicated and enhanced by other cartographers. The official report of the 1851 Census of Great Britain included several maps drawn by a W. Bone, showing significant towns sized proportionally to population (apparently range-graded), including one of the first useful legends. Charles Joseph Minard produced several proportional symbol maps, including the innovations of using them to represent regions rather than points, and incorporating color and statistical charts in the point symbols.
Official source
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