Preliminary decisions and questions for the creation of a thematic map

Before starting with the creation of a thematic map, some important questions have to be asked and decisions have to be made. First, it is to be determined if it is actually possible to create the desired map. Second, good preparation will facilitate an efficient map construction process. The following list shows a compilation of questions that have to be asked and decisions that have to be made:

• Which topic should be mapped?
• Conduction of an analysis and creation of a concept
• Data acquisition
• Choice of scale, format, content and area
• Which map projection should be used?
• How should basemap and topic act together?
• Should the map be displayed as a map on which only a selected area is mapped in full or as a map on which the detail extends over the whole area enclosed by the Neat Line or to the Bleeding Edge
• Should the map be single-coloured or multi-coloured?
• Considerations on map labeling
• Considerations on the design of the map contents and the legend respectively

In the following sections, some of these aspects will be discussed in more detail.