Who Draws the Maps and How? Experiments in Critical Mapping: Data, Scale and Functionalities

Maps have long been identified as a political document aimed at structuring human senses, expectations, desire and notion on the space around. Developments in Geographic information technology which combines GIS, Remote Sensing and GPS has created new avenues in mapping and spatial decision making. Advent of FOSSGIS and Web GIS has further simplified data availability and analytical capability. These new technological advances have helped the use of critical mapping which is a set of new mapping practices and theoretical critique grounded in critical theory. It differs from academic cartography in that it links geographic knowledge with power structures operating in the area. The present study is a critical evaluation of traditional institutionalised maps and critical maps prepared by FOSSGIS and Web GIS techniques for three cases in Kerala. This critical mapping experiment reveals serious limitations of the existing State maps by way of the data it presents, the scale they use and the functionality it addresses. The present study demonstrates the use of new advancements in Geographic information technology can overcome these limitations reliably.