DOT METHOD

Dot method

It is the most important, useful and simple method of showing the distribution on the map. This method is particularly useful for showing absolute figures. Dots are put on the map to show the concerned distribution. Each dot is assigned a special value. The dots are put according to the actual distribution of the element to be shown. This method is used to show the distribution of population, livestocks, agricultural production of a certain crop, production of minerals etc                          

CONSTRUCTION

Construction of dot map is not an easy as it appears to be

·        It requires  some- preliminaries which need the following

·        Outline map of the concerned area with administrative division. The smaller the division, the more accurate will be the map. Absolute figure of element to be shown. These figures should be according to the administration divisions shown on the map.

·         Relief map, drainage map, climatic map(temp, rainfall)

SPACING OR PLACING OF DOTS

The third step after the value and size of the dot is the placing of dot on the map. As a rule the dots are placed exactly according to the actual distribution of the concerned element.

No dots are placed over negative areas i.e. area having no distribution. rugged, infertile, densely forested area, mashes, water bodies are some examples of negative areas .the negative areas are marked lightly with a pencil and erased with eraser after placing the dots

       

 MERITS

Ø      This method is better than any other method of showing distribution because of its accuracy

Ø      The distribution of dots is similar to the commodity shown by them.

Ø      This is the best method for showing the absolute figures.

Ø      It provides a better visual effect and is more useful than the other methods of showing distribution.

Ø      We can have an idea of the figure shown on the map by counting the dots.

Ø      A dot can be converted into choropleth or isopleth  but these maps can’t be transferred into a dot map.

Ø      We do not have to look at index, time and again as in case of choropleth maps. The dot maps can be easily read

Ø      More than one element can be shown on a single map by using multiple dot map method.

DEMERITS

Ø      It requires a good deal of practice to draw it.

Ø      This is useful for absolute figure only. Relative figure such as density of population proportion of scheduled caste population to the total population, proportion of cultivated land to the total land etc can’t be shown by dot method.

Ø      The dot method looses much significance if the data is not available for small division of areas.

             It is almost impossible to draw a perfect dot map in the absence of complete

            geographical knowledge of the area and knowledge of the element to be shown