Wikipedia:Using maps and analogous media: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:22, 15 May 2013

Revision as of 17:11, 25 November 2013

Line 36:

===Original research===

Use of a map to source information beyond the intended use of a map can violate Wikipedia's policies, such as [[WP:OR|no original research]], [[WP:V|verifiability]] or [[WP:reliability|reliability]]. For example, if an object does not appear in the 1950 and earlier editions of a map, but does appear in the 1951 and later editions of a map, this does not prove the year of construction was 1950, unless there is additional information in the map, as this is using the map in a different manner from its intended purpose. It would be acceptable to say "The freeway first appeared on the department of transportation's map in 1951" or "The freeway was constructed by 1951" (assuming the source has a reputation for accuracy in its map updates) in the above case. Some maps are totally unreliable if used in a manner for which they were not designed. For example, maps of mass transit systems are usually not drawn to a scale, as they are drawn to show the interconnections of a system in such a way that the map will fit in a limited space. This makes such maps unsuitable for other uses. For example, the [[Tube map|London Underground Map]] is an unreliable source for estimating the distance between two stops, but it is an excellent source for the number of stops on a given route.

When using maps as a source for topographic descriptions, care should be taken not to read more into the map than is already there. It is quite in order to state the “Valley X is ‘U’ shaped with [[glacial moraine]] at its entrance”, assuming that is what the map shows; the words “glacial moraine” should be explicitly stated on the map. However it is original research to state that “Valley X is glacial in origin” unless the map actually states that (e.g., in a caption), because there might be some other explanation for the valley's origin or the presence of the glacial moraine.