Maps are such an integral part of everyday life that most people don’t even stop to think about how many custom maps they encounter. A map is a map, right? Not really. Standardized maps are generally going to stick to a specific purpose and include commonly recognized political entities and geographical features. On the other hand, a custom map can be tailored to cover a specific geographical region and be customized in terms of content.
The most obvious type of custom map is the hand drawn map that people create to illustrate a point. They may be sketching out directions to a home or business for someone who doesn’t have GPS or they could be outlining a sales territory or development plan. If such a map is important to a business or organization, they should consider getting a custom map printed rather than depending on the homemade version.
News agencies, educators, and the sciences, both hard and social, are in constant need of customized maps that chart specific items, locations, or phenomenon They can use special software to create a map of an isolated region or to chart particular locations and features on a world globe . The ability to create maps that combine multiple elements, such as plotting demographics and climate on the same map, is an invaluable tool to scholars that are studying the effects of one thing on the other.
Custom maps make all of this — and so much more — possible in a way that standard maps never could.