地圖上「指北標」與比例尺必要性探討

On the Necessity of North Arrow and Scale Bar on Map

地圖是展示空間資訊的媒介，「方向」與「距離」是圖徵間空間位置關係的兩項重要訊息。因此，用於標示北方的「指北」圖形，與展現尺度的「比例尺」，其於地圖圖面的存在，是許多地圖製作程序文件中的教條。「指北」標示，或稱「指北標」，通常以「指北針」及「方向玫瑰」圖示。雖然與距離相關的「比例尺」，其存在尚少爭議，是否每一張地圖均需要置放「指北標」，卻歷經長年檢討省思後，在現代化的製圖思維中，已有較為完整的論述。實務上，較普及之網際地圖服務，均保留「比例尺」，但是不在基礎畫面中呈現「指北標」。由地圖之基本理論探討，「指北標」原本就不需要呈現在每一張地圖中。例如，就全球地圖而言，「指北標」就不適合使用。但是在某些特殊的情境，如地圖的方向不是已成人類共同文化經驗的「以北為上」時，保留「指北標」是較佳的選項。本文目的在陳述這項思維的理由與作業的考慮面向，以及「每張地圖均必須有指北標」之教條遭到廢除的原因。雖然此一發展，早已具體呈現在網際地圖及其他大量客製化地圖中，實非為新。在強調舊教條之觀念影響尚未完全移除之前，本文或許仍可以提供初學者思索、了解。

Maps are the media used to display and communicate spatial information. The direction and distance between spatial objects are two fundamental items. Consequently, the north arrow showing the direction of North and the scale bar for the length measurement are two mandatory components of maps and viewed as a doctrine. Although the presence of numeric or graphic displays for the scale bar has not received overturn type challenges, the north arrow has disappeared from major web map services of today. Delving into the fundamental principles of cartography, it can be determined that the north arrow is not appropriate for presenting on every map. For example, the small-scale world map is one which should not have a north arrow. However, in some situations, such as in which the map is not following global conventions for placing north-up, using a north arrow may be a better practice. This study discusses the concept of orientation reference mark in map-making, and why this doctrine has been demolished. Although this practice could be evidently observed from current major web map ervices, the doctrine is still emphasized by some educators. This writing is compiled for providing learners with an intuitive reference.