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How to Read Value-By-Alpha Maps

When you watch election polling and results on news channels. the data is likely displayed on a cartogram map. It is identified by the color-coded regions on land maps. A value-by-alpha map is an alternative to a traditional cartogram and allows the viewer to see data in more dimensions. This is accomplished by overlaying data on an initial background map.

Instructions

- 1
  Look at the map and notice the color-coded areas in the quadrants. Unlike a standard cartogram map, the colors indicating data are shaded.
- 2
  Locate the key on the map to gain information about the exact type of data that is being displayed on the map.
- 3
  Locate the darkly-shaded areas over the base map. This represents a type of topography. If you can make out color, but it is dark, it is likely a mountainous or desert region with little population.
- 4
  Look at the brightest areas of the map. Bright areas represents densely populated areas of the map. By providing this type of topography, the landscape and borders of the base map are not altered.

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