Author: Kenneth Field
Publisher: ArcGIS Blog
Publication Year: 2022
Summary: The following article discusses the ethical practices that mapmakers should consider in the world of geographic information systems (GIS) and cartography. The author lists important frameworks that he believes map-making professionals should always hold themselves to: realize opportunities, understand impacts, do no harm, protect the vulnerable, address bias, minimize intrusion, minimize data, protect privacy, prevent individual identification, and provide accountability. He also discusses specific actions that map makers and GIS professionals should take, which include, but are not limited to: strive to know your audience, don’t discard contrary data, report all data sources, be attentive to differing cultural values, and don’t let defaults drive your design. The author also focuses on the idea that everyone makes mistakes and all maps have bias, but professionals should be aware of this and be transparent as they can with their maps.