ABSTRACT
In the same way that the management of land and property has been an essential human activity since the earliest civilisations, the maps and charts that provide key information for land management have been familiar tools throughout history. The map as a means of spatial representation is a diverse and flexible tool and its development has resulted in many different approaches to the visualisation of the world. Although map products are very diverse, there are a number of common ideas that underpin their creation. These concepts have accompanied the map on its journey of development through the ages and have moved with it from the printed page into the digital computer and the GIS. In this chapter we will explore the fundamental concepts behind maps and map making. We will investigate how computerised mapping techniques have enhanced our ability to make maps and explain how these ideas affect the creation and use of maps for property management.
