Deep mapping is a way of exploring territories beyond their simple representation on a map. It takes into account the history of places, narratives, collective memory, symbols, and human experience in order to understand how a space is lived in and interpreted over time. By bringing together geography, culture, and perception, deep mapping reveals invisible connections between places and highlights the hidden meaning of landscapes.
Deep mapping is enriched by participatory, radical, and narrative cartography, which bring three complementary perspectives. Participatory mapping engages local residents and users in the creation of territorial representations, gathering their knowledge and lived experiences. Radical mapping questions official maps by revealing often-hidden realities: overlooked districts, conflicts, and the lived experiences of marginalized people. Narrative mapping, for its part, transforms the map into a storytelling medium, where data and imaginations intertwine to tell the stories of a place.
Symplanicity aligns with the concept of deep mapping by placing a specific emphasis on the shared meaning that emerges from spatial relationships. It examines how alignments, shapes, or geographic configurations give rise to symbolic correspondences.
