Stylised Custom Maps:
Sometimes maps are stylised, and the image for the map doesn’t retain the underlying geometry of the real world. Maps can be intentionally drawn “incorrectly” for a variety of reasons, perhaps to fit better on a rectangular page, or perhaps to communicate information considered more important that the geographical relationship between different place on the map.
The most extreme examples of these are perhaps rail network maps, which do a great job of showing train users which line to use and what order the stations are in, but which bear little resemblance to how the tracks and stations are laid out geographically.
Isometric 3D Map Design Example
Maps might be drawn as Isometric 3D maps.
These are often used to show the shapes and relative heights of things like buildings, trees, or other features, which are not shown well in normal top-down view. This graphic design style may be intentionally used to make the map look more appealing than just a top down view like regular maps. These maps also result in maps with geometry not matching the real world.
These stylised maps can be used in Mapiddiction as an Image Only map, but they do have some compromises or drawbacks. Since they don’t represent “real world geometry” they cannot be aligned or calibrated to latitude and longitudes. This means you cannot do “blue dot” navigation, where you use your phone GPS to show a blue dot on the map indicating your current location. Since distances and angles on the map do not accurately represent the real world, wayfinding or route length and direction calculations cannot be accurate.
Intentionally distorted map example:
It’s not rectangular in the real world, as shown by satellite view
Rectangular & right angles, with tracks and roads parallel.
