Cartography as a research and teaching method

Understanding that the acquisition of knowledge is fundamentally a social product that is based on relationships, cohabitation, and cultural exchanges was the starting point from which undergraduate students were involved in one of the core modules at Universidad de los Andes (Colombia): Rethinking Public Space. This paper details a research case study of a scheme that mapped a part of Bogotá (Suba Tibabuyes, UPZ 71, located in the north of the city). A more in-depth understanding of the land and its geographic space was gained through the process of acquiring collective knowledge by mapping, applying a “drifting” or “wandering” method, aided by the observation and understanding of an area using diverse methods of communication technology. As a method, cartography aids the researcher and the student to acquaint themselves with the fieldwork, improve it, constantly plan ahead, while at the same time using it as a guide and method of constructive reflection.