Understanding different geographies

Abstract

Cartographers endeavour to design and develop tools that can be employed to support theme experts in their research that involves the use of geodata. Having access to appropriate cartographic tools provides the facilities to better address how geography, and the location of things like found objects can better inform. However, ‘just’ providing and using these tools does not fully embrace the complexity of ‘different’ geographies, where cartographic applications are applied to geographies that perhaps are outside the conventional thinking of what is meant when a ‘geography’ is defined in conventional terms. There exists a need to address how cartographic research in the development of appropriate tools for theme researchers who work in areas where geography may be described and measured in ways that can be considered to not be conventional. Once developed and provided, these innovative cartographic tools can be employed in the quest to understand different geographies.