Mapping Disorder: An Exploratory Study

This chapter describes a conceptual and practical investigation into the mapping of disordered phenomena, with a particular concentration on the visual representation of topographic landscapes which can be considered as ‘disordered’. An area of terrain which has been subject to disturbance due to mining is examined using a LiDAR-derived digital surface model. Various metrics are used to characterise this area and compare it to an adjoining zone which has not been exploited. The results demonstrate the variable nature of the two land areas and the different disorder inherent in each. The graphical means by which each area is rendered on standard topographic maps is then considered.