A special purpose map is a map that has been created for a specific purpose. It is designed to be used for a particular purpose or for one specific group of users. Unlike standard maps, special purpose maps are specialized maps that display particular information. They are not used for navigation but just for data visualization purposes. Special purpose maps are also referred to as infographics. These maps are not cluttered with information but rather focus on one subject. There are many different types of special purpose maps, each one showing very specific aspects of the region in question. Some examples of special purpose maps include:

• Population Density Map: Shows the population dense area.
• Vegetation Map: Displays different types of vegetation.
• Land Cover Map: Shows different features present in the area.
• Slope Map: Displays the sloppiness of the area.
• Elevation Profile Map: Shows the change in the z values with respect to distance.
• Hot Spot Map: Shows the density value in the particular area.
• Watersheds Map: Displays the area of the land that divides waters flowing to different rivers.

Special purpose maps can be an extremely useful tool in the design process. They use drawings, images, and words to help brainstorm ideas or visualize design concepts.