The term network is used in many areas of knowledge, with different meanings and different applications.In the social sciences, are studied social networks that may consist of individuals, groups and institutions, called nodes, which are interconnected are studied. In these networks, the actors are represented by nodes and their relations by lines. The representation of these networks can be done using graphs, without spatial reference. With the knowledge of the geographical position of the actors, they can be placed on maps with a base map that provides spatial reference to the social network. The objective is to represent these social networks in a 15-inch monitor screen. With the reduction in area of representation, communication problems such as congestion of symbols may occur. This problem was solved with the application of cartographic generalization operators such as aggregation, displacement and smoothing. The results show that the generalized maps are more effective in the communication process.
Social Networks; Representation of Social Networks; Network Generalization
