Questions tagged [map-making]
For questions that have to do with the science or practice of drawing maps. If the question has to do with making maps this tag is a good fit. Note: This tag is about creating maps of physical features, not creating the physical features themselves nor using the maps for navigation. For that see the geography tag or navigation tag..
37
questions
45
votes
7
answers
13k
views
What software is available for map creation?
I'm looking for recommendations for software to build my world, physically. I want to be able to create maps of the entire world and then drill down to individual areas and define the towns and ...
- 3,405
34
votes
11
answers
6k
views
How can I indicate a third dimension on a map of outer space?
I'm working on a map of several star systems (with the stars, planets, etc. not to scale with the map), and I'd like to show that they don't all lie in the same plane. Some orbits are perpendicular to ...
- 99.8k
9
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What tool can I use to draw a simple map of a fictional world?
This Query is part of the Worldbuilding Resources Article.
I want to draw a map of a fictional world, which consists of two regions (countries), separated by mountains.
Are there any tools which ...
- 1,301
19
votes
6
answers
724
views
Can my spaceship figure out its position using Cepheid Variables?
In my story, reasonably far in the future, an intrepid group of explorers are on the first manned mission to the Andromeda galaxy, travelling close to the speed of light. They slumbered in suspended ...
- 99.8k
35
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Destruction by design - how best to go about crafting a ruined landscape?
Ruins of many kinds are a staple of stories whether for games or tales of high adventure. My question is about the design process behind such structures: should one start with a city or building and ...
- 44.7k
29
votes
11
answers
27k
views
Explaining uphill rivers scientifically?
I see this in so many maps. Normally, the water flows downhill because of gravity but here it is the opposite, rivers will go above the hills. When you mention this incoherence, the authors refuse to ...
- 16.8k
15
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How to name places that have multiple names?
When designing a world it is convenient to decide how places will be named: Elements like the continents and the oceans.
However, it is likely that the different cultures of the world will not agree ...
- 16.8k
52
votes
21
answers
6k
views
What would be used for "coordinates" on a large asteroid?
Assuming we had a non-spherical asteroid that doesn't have a magnetic "north", how would the inhabitants define areas on the asteroid? How would they explain to a visitor to go to a very specific ...
- 441
11
votes
10
answers
2k
views
Finding the area of a nation
How can I find the area of an irregular shape while taking into account the distortions of Equirectangular projection?
- 135
9
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Which map projection would result in an accurate visual depiction of a mega crater?
Would a large, I mean large, impact crater on a spherical world be noticeably distorted on maps using different projections? Eg mercator, hanmer-aitoff, equidistant Etc.
Side question - Would there ...
- 12.9k
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What software can help me render a planet . . . from space?
So, I'd like to make a rendering of my world to see what it would look like from outer space. I have the map drawn up, and the various features (mostly) designed. Think about it like taking a series ...
- 99.8k
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How can I do programmatic generation of fantasy maps?
I found this twitter bot https://twitter.com/unchartedatlas posting maps that look like they came from a pulp fantasy novel.
Any idea on how they are done?
- 347
7
votes
1
answer
884
views
Program for drawing maps in correct scale
I've decided to draw maps, on these maps, I planned on drawing regions which already have determined areas (ex. Region 1 has 30.000 km²), the problem is, how would a measure a region's area on a map? ...
- 1,599
3
votes
4
answers
839
views
Graphically represent (map) multiple spatial dimentions
I would like to create a 3D map that can represent a universe with more than 3 spatial dimensions. The humans who use the map can only normally interact with 3 dimensions (and time) but in my world ...
- 2,558
40
votes
8
answers
4k
views
Mapping a fantasy/horror building where rooms overlap
A group of people have stumbled into one of those classic fantasy/horror houses where the usual rules of space don't seem to apply and is very confusing. Bits of the building appear to overlap with ...
- 1,887
33
votes
17
answers
55k
views
Best places to be on Earth when an all out nuclear World War III breaks out?
This is a world building question in a preventative context because those people or countries would be left fully functional while others are gone and the safe areas are where the world building would ...
- 1
30
votes
15
answers
4k
views
How would mapmakers deal with moving cities?
Imagine a city on treads; if you've seen or read Mortal Engines, imagine that instead.
beep beep losers here I come
They're constantly moving, and have decent populations. Don't worry about how it ...
- 3,689
29
votes
7
answers
3k
views
How could bird people map the air?
For sentient avians, knowing the location and behavior of currents in the air would be vitally important. Jet streams, thermals, downdrafts, and shear layers would all be important in their daily ...
- 46.2k
17
votes
5
answers
565
views
Architectural encoding of maps
Picture a band of explorers deep underground in huge dwarven underground complex they have been exploring for what to most of them feels like an eternity. They come to hub like chamber with a dozen or ...
- 43.2k
15
votes
3
answers
554
views
What is a good reference size for a settlement?
I have been sporadically building a particular world, mainly by developing its cultures with events (often paralleling Earth history) and individuals, rather than shaping the cultures beforehand. One ...
- 251
13
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Mapping the far side of the galaxy
Humans got a one time ticket to the other side of the galaxy, traveling $2r$ in just a few days (where $r$ is the distance from earth to the super massive black hole: 28,000 lightyears)
The stars we ...
- 5,672
13
votes
2
answers
793
views
Site for online custom map with tags or labels
I am looking for a site that will do the following for free:
Allow me to upload a map of a world (either URL or file, I don't
mind).
Allow me to tag/label that map, to mark the locations of thing
(...
- 2,886
11
votes
5
answers
2k
views
A water cycle in an underground setting
The ozone layer depleted beyond reasonable levels and life on the surface has become impossible and life migrated underground in giant caves connected together by tunnels.
Some of those caves have ...
- 894
11
votes
6
answers
812
views
How would a world with drifting land-masses be mapped/charted for navigation?
Context
The world is made of floating islands suspended in the atmosphere. For all intents and purposes, the world doesn't have a solid surface.
Due to a magical influence, islands rise from the ...
- 3,262
10
votes
4
answers
1k
views
In a World of islands floating in the air how would people navigate?
We are creating a world of floating islands, these vary in size from small outposts that are little more than a Dock and Watchtower, through independent farmsteads, to full Nations in which the ...
- 303
9
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How realistic is the geography of my map?
I was told to post this question separately, so here it is. I need help with the geography and climate of my map.
Blue circles are ports
Gray circles are cities
That one brown circle is a town
The ...
- 543
7
votes
1
answer
333
views
Why do the terms "large scale" and "small scale" seem to swap meanings? [closed]
Sometimes when someone says a map is "small scale", it seems to mean a map shows a small area, but the things are drawn large as a result, and other times it means the things in the map are shown much ...
- 4,847
7
votes
2
answers
388
views
Drawing landmasses for this odd-shaped planet
I've just come here for some help drawing a map for this fictional planet where two roughly similar planets have been smushed into kind of pear shape like this:
So this planet spins on an axis which ...
6
votes
2
answers
681
views
Could I get some guidance on this map in progress?
BACKGROUND
So I was working on a map, when I suddenly realized that despite the many helpful tutorials on this site I have very little idea what I'm doing. I thought it might be a good idea to put on ...
- 5,966
6
votes
4
answers
506
views
Advice on accuracy of world map
My friend and I are working on a map of a globe. The setting of this universe involve various intelligent animal species divided into 5 clades: Archo (Crocodilians), Avians (Birds), Aquatics (Fish), ...
- 149
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What would the world map look like if sea levels rose 49 meters
If the sea levels of Earth were to suddenly rise by 49 meters, or 160.7 feet, what would the world map look like?
- 56.1k
5
votes
1
answer
533
views
Can Someone Help Me Determine Plate Divisions?
I have a world designed called Ser. I want to place tectonic plates so that they can explain how the current landmasses formed.
Below shows the 6 major continents of the world. As continents are ...
- 6,232
4
votes
1
answer
899
views
Which minerals are needed to make a sustainable medieval country?
Which minerals (iron, coal, copper, etc.) are needed in the same country to make it sustainable (medieval age)?
For example: A country is made in the middle of a gigantic island (like a little ...
- 8,853
3
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How to measure land area for a map?
Is there a site, app, or technique that you can use to measure the area of your world’s continents. It is rather easy to find the surface area of your world if the map is equirectangular or just a ...
- 886
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How realistic is the placement of the cities and borders on my map?
I need some help with the placement of the cities on a map of one of my continents. I'm not looking for opinions, but more for a reality check on how realistic it is in terms of where things are and ...
- 543
2
votes
1
answer
828
views
Does my climate map work?
I'm looking for notes on my climate map for a continent I've mapped out. Does this set up seem plausible.
Map (Imgur)
[3
Previous question with general planetary conditions
edit
Don't have time ...
- 1,852
0
votes
3
answers
241
views
Is my environmental map consistent?
This is the map of my alien planet's continents and I want to know if the environments are accurate.
The symbol at the top is the Arctic island. It's like Greenland and has some greenery or should I ...
- 491