The Family Legacy

Since 1919 mapping has been a part of our family’s work.

Mapping has been in our family for generations. Ellen Nodwell’s grandfather’s map from 1918.

We know mapping – we know the thought processes that enable what we observe and note to be transformed into meaningful data, including location, into a human readable visualization of that place and all that needs to be known and understood.

The old drafted map was a database on paper.

It took a lot of effort to keep the spatial data updated on hand-drafted maps. Today, we use databases for the information and software to materialize the views that can be dead accurate or deadly wrong.

We care about the integrity of what people see in their maps – because if the data is wrong, it is as good as fiction. Without accurate data in maps, people get hurt – things get blown up or badly broken and in the best case scenarios, people only get lost.

Without a good and accurate map to navigate, how do you know where you really are?

A compass and a map. The basics then, the basics now. The forms and formats have changed, but it is no different than it was in 1919.

Ellen’ Grandfather (CENTER) CONDUCTING A Geological Mapping survey in 1921.

Ellen’s Grandfather on his horse, when doing a geological mapping survey in 1921!

Ellen with her dad when she was Three. Her Dad depended on maps in his work. He was a map data contributor.

You have to know how to map before you can use digital tools to map or else your maps will likely not reflect reality. Using digital tools without the background understanding can get you into a lot of trouble and this includes people getting hurt and loss of life.

Maps are a powerful tool in human culture. They have been since the dawn of human existence. Maps are everywhere.

Antique map of the North American continent.

Visualization of the local surroundings as a sphere Photo by Rahul Shah on Pexels.com