----------------------------Original message----------------------------
My naive understanding of the geographic meaning of these terms:
 
A map is a projection of some realm of geographic scope (see David Mark
:-) ) to a physically small (less than 10 m and usually less than 1 m)
bounded region of two-dimensional Euclidean plane.
A chart is a map that you work on (e.g. draw points, lines and areas on
and take measurments from).
A plan is a "plan view" or "projection onto the horizontal plane" of
something of a small region (large scale, say 1:10,000 or greater) that
may extend from the size of a building to the size of a city.
 
So while a globe would be a map (bijection) to a mathematician, it would
not be to a geographer.
 
...steve smyth ([log in to unmask])
 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Darius Bartlett [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 1997 1:51 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      A very basic question...
>
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
>
> I know this is a fundamental question .... can anyone please define
> for
> me the difference between a 'plan', a 'map' and a 'chart'?
>
> Is it a question of function? Or is there some more precise
> distinction
> based on use /contents /stylistic representation? Is there a clear
> difference between these forms of cartography, or is one considered
> a subset of the others (e.g. are charts and plans simply special
> classes
> of the map)?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Darius
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> Darius Bartlett                                             Darius
> Bartlett
> Department of Geography                              Roinn na
> Tireolaiochta
> University College Cork                      Colaste na hOllscoile
> Corcaigh
> Cork, Ireland                                                Corcaigh,
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> Phone: (+353) 21 902835                               Fax: (+353) 21
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