Magnetic dip:
The angle at which the Earth's magnetic field at a particular
place would tilt a freely suspended magnetic needle relative to
the horizontal. Some types of compass can and should be
mechanically adjusted for use in different regions of the world.
Magnetic north:
The direction of the
meridian
along which a freely
suspended magnetic needle would lie if it were influenced only
by the Earth's magnetic field. Magnetic north is constantly
moving, albeit so slowly that in almost all locations this
movement causes only negligible error in
compass use.
Map: A picture of
the land, a map is a graphic representation, often
two-dimensional, of some part (or all) of the Earth's surface.
There are many different kinds of maps.
Map interview:
The process of talking to community members and asking questions
to help them record their information about the land on a
map in sketch form, or in words.
Map projection:
A particular way (such as UTM) of depicting the curved
surface of the Earth as a two-dimensional map
through the use of a specific mathematical algorithm.
Map scale:
The reduction needed to display a representation of the
Earth's surface on a map. A statement of a measure on the map
and the equivalent measure on the Earth's surface, often
expressed as a representative fraction of distance, such as
1:10,000 (one unit of distance on the map represents 10,000 of
the same units of distance on the Earth).
Map series: A
set of thematic maps of the same area, or a set of maps
(that were made with the same process and format) to cover a
region too large to fit on one map sheet at the desired scale.
Map
registration: A technique by which to
align two or more maps. such as an overlay map and a
base map using special
registration marks (or special holes and pins).
Mental map: A
map that represents the perceptions and
knowledge that a person has of an area.
Media:
mass, interpersonal or hybrid media are basis devices that help
to combine different communication channels for the
‘transportation’ and exchange of ‘textual, visual, auditive,
tactile and or olfactory signals. Hence different media can be
used in the context of methods and methodologies (source:
Leeuwis, 2004)
Mental maps:
an alternative term for cognitive map. A map that represents the
perceptions and knowledge that a person has of an area (source:
IAPAD). Mental maps are associated with all cultures, ages,
genders, types of people, though there are big cultural
differences in how significant they are as spatial
representations.
Meridian: A
great circle around the Earth, or half of one. A meridian of
longitude (or line of longitude) connects the north and south
poles. The meridian of longitude that passes through any
particular point can be called the north meridian for that
point.
Methodologies are basically more or less a series of
predefined steps, procedures and activities. Each step can
involve the use or one or several methods. Methodologies are
often known under a particular label or acronym, e.g.
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) (source: Leeuwis, 2004).
Methods
can be seen as a particular mode of using media and media
combinations within the context of a confined activity. A method
can (but need not) be and element in a methodology. Examples of
methods include a workshop, a discussion group, a farm visit, a
priority ranking (an element of e.g. PRA) (source: Leeuwis,
2004).
Mosaicing is the process of
assembling a series of images and joining them together to form
a continuous seamless photographic representation of the earth’s
surface. These can be done manually on aerial photos or
digitally with remote sensing images and scanned aerial photos
or digital aerial photos (source: Silika Tuivanuavou, 2006).
Metre tape: A
measuring tool used in surveying that is marked in meters. Basic
models consist of a rolled nylon or fiberglass tape that extends
to 30 or 50 m.
Mylar:
A particular kind of drawing 'paper' made of plastic. It is
available with one or both sides 'frosted' (matte) to take
pencil or drawing ink.
Adapted with
permission from: Flavelle, A. 2002.
Mapping our Land
