Non-cartographic

Referring to something that is not related to, or does not involve, the creation, study, or use of maps, charts, or other cartographic representations. This adjective describes activities, data, objects, or fields of study that exist outside the realm of mapmaking and spatial analysis. It implies a lack of engagement with geographical information and visualization techniques, focusing instead on areas of knowledge or endeavor that do not prioritize location or spatial relationships. Essentially, anything described as non-cartographic lacks a cartographic dimension or perspective.

Non-cartographic meaning with examples

• The historian's research on medieval social structures was strictly non-cartographic, focusing on economic data and social hierarchies without considering geographical mapping or spatial distributions. The study’s data didn’t require a visual representation of where the people or events occurred. The focus was on what not where.
• The abstract concepts explored in philosophical debates about free will are fundamentally non-cartographic. The ideas and thought experiments did not require maps or diagrams to discuss. The discussions lacked the type of elements and ideas that are usually associated with mapping.
• While the field of theoretical physics develops intricate mathematical models, its fundamental principles remain non-cartographic. The equations describe universal laws, not spatial distributions. They function on a different plane to maps. The data produced is not map-able.
• The author's novel, focusing on the psychological development of its characters, maintained a distinctly non-cartographic approach, eschewing any detailed descriptions of the setting that would have allowed a reader to create a map. Plot and character trump location.