Cameron Sherman

Esri. “Tactile Maps Built with GIS Help People Who Are Blind Gain Spatial Awareness,” June 27, 2023. https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/arcnews/tactile-maps-built-with-gis-help-people-who-are-blind-gain-spatial-awareness.

This source is helpful for looking at how GIS and GPS mapping systems can help the creation of tactile maps. The article details work in Europe that utilizes symbology keys and explains issues of customization and being able to zoom in on specific areas. This article is a good starting point to examine aspects of creating tactile maps and what we might want to include/learn from them.

Pahaoja, Samuli. “Tactile Maps Easily | Touch Mapper.” Touch Mapper - Tactile Maps for the Visually Impaired. Accessed March 25, 2025. https://touch-mapper.org/.

This source creates .stl tactile maps by entering an address and selecting a print size and scale of the map. Although we could simply create a tactile map from this webpage, that takes all the fun away from designing a tactile map, and since it makes maps in squares, we would either have to make way too many mini maps or one map that included areas outside of campus, such as the Cedarwood neighborhood. Nonetheless, this source could be a great reference for making our final .stl map.

TomTom. “Tactile Mapping: Helping the Blind Find Their Way | TomTom Newsroom.” Accessed March 25, 2025. https://www.tomtom.com/newsroom/explainers-and-insights/tactile-mapping-helping-the-blind-find-their-way/.

This source provides a solid framework for defining what a tactile map is and why tactile maps are necessary societal tools. It goes into the history of tactile maps, detailing when they were first created in the 1800s and how they evolved as time went on. It debunks the suggestion that tactile maps are of no use to those who are visually impaired. It also asserts that everyone, even those with no visual impairment, should use tactile maps to enhance their understanding of the world around them.

Geomart Staff. (2024, April 25). Tactile topography: The art and science of raised maps. RaisedRelief.com. https://raisedrelief.com/blogs/news/raised-maps.

This article explores the design and purpose behind raised maps, detailing both the artistic and scientific considerations involved in their creation. It offers insight into how raised topographic features can be both educational and practical, and it gives context to the historical and technical progression of tactile cartography.