Spatial metaphors for mapping informal geographies

Abstract

Multidisciplinary research projects generate much non-physical/human geographic information. However, much of this information is collected and archived with no reference to geography. By mapping this type of information the communication of schemes and coherencies of complex data can be simplified. This can be termed “mapping informal geographies”, as the ‘geography’ of this information can be considered to be less rigorous than the ‘normal’ geography represented through maps. Products utilised to represent these geographies generally comprise maplike representations of non-geographic constructed spaces. Due to the fact that the resulting depictions lack the underpinnings of traditional geographical information they are mostly not considered to be maps in a common sense. These depictions do not represent geographies that map users are accustomed to, but these maps of other geographies are powerful tools with which to better understand the complexities of the geographies of other disciplines.