Map of the Month Jul 10 - Traverse Me, GPS Map

My map of the month for July is called Traverse Me, it was created by the artist and map maker Jeremy Wood in June 2010.

Traverse Me is a map of The University of Warwick campus, drawn at 1:1 scale, composed of 238 miles of GPS tracks walked over 17 days.

This map is one of those that you keep finding new detail every time you look at it. The GPS lines create a picture of the landscape and function of the particular area. Some features are obvious such as the football pitch, others are simply fields as suggested by the trackline shading effect. In some areas the density and shape of lines suggest movement. There are also some chaotic areas which take some time and effort to interpret what the landscape could be. Abstract images such as a globe and a compass further add to the interest.

“Traverse Me is a map drawn by walking across campus with a GPS device to invite the viewer to see a different landscape to that which surrounds them. It questions the possibilities of where they are and inspires a personal reading of their movements and explorations of the campus.” J Wood from his website.

This is just one of many drawings Wood has created using GPS technology. Many come alive when they are shown as videos, with the effect of movement over time further enhancing the creation. One of my favourite videos is Me and You - two dogs wearing GPS receivers running around a park in Oxford.

Jeremy Wood started GPSdrawing.com in 2001 to explore digital mark making on water, over land, and in the air. He makes maps of his movements to create a personal cartography. His work both art and science express notions of space and time. Wood has conducted numerous GPS drawing and mapping workshops in schools, museums and galleries. His work is exhibited internationally and is in the permanent collection of the University of the Arts and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.