The Dots Density Method as a Cartographic Tool for Population Analysis: The Case of the City of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)

This work proposes an application of the dot density method to the spatial representation of the population in the city of Jeddah, the second-largest agglomeration of Saudi Arabia, marked by a strong demographic dynamic and a contrasting spatial organization. This city is a relevant field in which to experiment with cartographic approaches based on the visualization of statistical data. First, we outline the conceptual foundations of the method, its objectives and the different ways in which it is implemented. The study is based on official demographic data and involves several geomatic tools, including ArcGIS Pro for data structuring, Philcarto for thematic maps, and ScapeToad for specific treatments such as anamorphosis. The mapping was produced from a variety of backgrounds, including local topographic maps and OpenStreetMap resources. The results obtained confirm that this technique is among the most commonly used for the visualization of demographic phenomena. Its design is relatively simple, and its realization can follow three distinct approaches: a distribution of points based on the real location of the phenomenon, an arbitrary distribution within spatial units, or even a regular arrangement according to a homogeneous frame. Although specifically applied here to population data, this method remains adaptable to other themes of human or physical geography. It is distinguished by its legibility and ability to synthesize, while presenting some limitations in terms of spatial interpretation.