Integrating cutting-edge technology with traditional cartographic principles, this text provides a framework for effectively visualizing and analyzing geospatial data. It gives students critical concepts and methods for harnessing the enormous amount of geospatial data that is available on the Internet and creating maps that can support real-world decision making. The third edition incorporates current developments in scientific and information visualization, multimedia, animation, virtual reality, and exploratory data analysis. The writing style is straightforward, clear, and accessible. Illustrated throughout with highly instructive diagrams and sample maps, the book includes 58 color plates.