Thematic Attributes and Classification

This lecture introduces thematic attributes and classification in thematic cartography, focusing on statistical thematic cartography concepts, types of thematic maps, and methods of data discretization. It covers the basics of spatial units, spatial distribution, and spatial structure, as well as quantitative and qualitative data types. The lecture also explains absolute and relative quantitative data, proportional symbol mapping, and spatial constraints in proportional symbols. Additionally, it discusses the use of QGIS for proportional symbol mapping and the considerations for symbol size in relation to data values. Various methods of data discretization, including classing quantitative and qualitative variables, are explored, along with the importance of selecting appropriate classification methods.