Esri Releases Ninth Edition of Map Use: Map Reading and Design, the Definitive Guide to Cartographic Design

March 19, 2026 at 08:00 AM EDT

Updated Edition Delivers Modern Mapping Fundamentals, Design Best Practices, and Critical Skills for Students, Educators, and GIS Professionals

Esri announces the publication of Map Use: Map Reading and Design, Volume 1, ninth edition, delivering updated cartographic fundamentals and modern mapping insights.
Authored by Aileen R. Buckley, A. Jon Kimerling, and Patrick J. Kennelly—respected cartography and geography experts with long‑standing contributions to Map Use: Map Reading and Design, Volume 1, ninth edition.
The book provides essential skills to read, design, and evaluate maps, helping students, educators, and practitioners improve decision‑making while understanding map limitations and inaccuracies.
Map Use: Map Reading and Design, Volume 1, ninth edition, is available in paperback and ebook formats through major online retailers.

Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, today announced the publication of Map Use: Map Reading and Design, Volume 1, ninth edition. Distilling content from the eighth edition of the classic Map Use: Reading, Analysis, Interpretation, this new edition provides the knowledge and skills to read, understand, design, and create maps while also recognizing their limitations and inaccuracies.

Combining authoritative text with hundreds of stunning visuals to describe foundational cartographic concepts and the latest innovations, Map Use: Map Reading and Design takes readers beyond visual representations and into the decision-making processes of cartographers.

Covering scale, projections, design, organization, thematic maps, relief representation, and much more, the book makes basic cartographic principles accessible to all, from students and motivated self-learners to seasoned mapping practitioners. The ninth edition of Map Use also serves as an invaluable companion for college-level instructors, offering a comprehensive structure designed for college curricula.

About the Authors:

Aileen R. Buckley is a research cartographer for Esri who coauthored the sixth through eighth editions of Map Use and The Atlas of Oregon, second edition (University of Oregon Press, 2001).

A. Jon Kimerling is professor emeritus of geosciences at Oregon State University in Corvallis and lead author of the fifth through eighth editions of Map Use. He also coauthored Elements of Cartography, sixth edition (Wiley, 1995).

Patrick J. Kennelly is professor emeritus of geography at Long Island University Post, and is currently the GIS program director at Central Oregon Community College in Bend.

Map Use: Map Reading and Design, Volume 1, ninth edition is available in paperback (ISBN: 9781589487758, US$95.99) and as an ebook (eISBN: 9781589487765, US$95.99). This book can be obtained from most online retailers worldwide. Interested retailers can contact Esri Press book distributor, Ingram Publisher Services.

About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in hundreds of thousands of organizations globally, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofit institutions, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial technology and analytics, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions that leverage a geographic approach to solving some of the world's most complex problems by placing them in the crucial context of location. Visit us at esri.com.

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