What are the key elements of a good map?

[Faiez]

Hi!

What are the key elements of a good map and why they are important?

I knew, Title, Scale, Legend and North Arrow are some of the elements, what else?

Best,

Faiez

[DanaNolan]

Fulfilling the intended purpose of the map is prime. Maps do have very different uses.

[ODWC_GIS]

Hey Faiez!  I notice you ask these questions that would be assigned in early geography courses, eventually add an oversimplified summary as a comment, and then don't mark the question as resolved.

We're doing your homework for you, aren't we?  😢  

Could you at least let us know what our answers were marked by your instructor?

[ChrisStover]

STAND D

Scale, Title, Author, North Arrow, Date, Datum

[PTW]

The purpose! A map should have a precise purpose and everything shown in the map should be relevant to that purpose. Context is nice however keeping it simple is usually best.

If the map is too busy then it could be trying to convey too much at once and a map series maybe needed but it depends on the purpose!