Creating and Sharing Map Packages

In this weeks lab we learned how to create and share map packages. This is an important lesson because map packages can be shared easily over the web. The directions in this exercise were extremely helpful in learning how to modify map and tile packages as well as how to optimize a map package.  I ended the lesson with uploading my maps to arcgis.com and shared them with the world. This tool will come in handy later on.

Intro to GIS: GIS & Cartography

This map depicts the population of the states in Mexico.

This zoomed in map shows urban areas with populations over a million as well as rivers, highways, and railroads.

This map shows the topography of Mexico with an elevation legend.

Cartography Data Classification Lab

This map depicts the percentages of African Americans in Escambia County, Florida via four types of classifications including natural break, quantile, equal interval, and standard deviation. These examples were created using ArcMap 10.1.

1. Copy and pasted zip file to s: drive, unzip Data Classification files
2. Open Escambiacensus.shp in ArcGIS
3. Attribute table
4. Right click> escambiacensus>properties> symbology> quantity>quantities>graduated colors> p_black>
5. Insert>data frame> copy and paste previous data frames
6. Right click map in table of contents re-name each according to classification
7. Update classification in each new data frame
8. Layout veiw>Page set up> landscape> re size each map so they fit on the page
9. Insert legend below each map, insert north arrow in each map, insert scale below all legends, add title, add name, date created, and data source

Both the equal interval and standard deviation create a map that doesn't show the data as well as the quantile and natural break maps. However, it’s the natural break map that shows a better distribution because “it minimizes differences between values in the same class and maximizes differences between classes” (Slocum, 2009, pg. 4).

Scatter Plot Graph with Trendlines

The scatter plot graph above shows the year and population of Alabama and Alaska. Each has an trendline corresponding with the state, which gives the ability to plug it into an equation (y = 2x + 3) in order to find the population in a given year.

Trendlines can be switched to a few different options, but for this lab we used linear and polynomial.  Linear trendlines work best when the data is straight.  Polynomial trendlines work best when the data curves. In this particular graph, linear trendlines work best.

Own Your Map: Week 2

The above map shows where Escambia County is located in the small upper right hand box. Then further show the county in green and highlights the main highways, river ways, and UWF main campus. I ran into one issue with the file of Florida Counties not properly loading with a highlight of Escambia County. However, I was able to delete and reload the maps to solve the problem.

Cartography Map Critique

                                             Good Map

The Nisqually Wildlife Refuge map pictured above is a map that I have used several times while walking the refuge trail. The map is visually pleasing with colors, icons, and boundaries which help the reader navigate the area with ease. The layout maximizes information by placing the legend in an area of unused space. Additionally, the colors highlight the area without adding any disruptive visual difficulties. This map follows the 6 Commandments including but not limited to map substantial information, effectively label maps, and map layout. Furthermore, the map also effectively represents Tufteisms 7, 8, 12, 18, and 19.

                                     Bad Map

        The Fossil Fuel Fix map is an example of a poorly designed map.  The map states that it is about fossil fuels and is confusing because it lists gas, coal, and oil. However, if you look at the informational aides on the right side of the map, as well as the information in the center of the map, you can see that the only information it refers to is in regards to oil. Additionally, there is too much information in the entirety of the map, which makes it hard for a reader to understand the point. This map does not meet many of the 20 Tufteisms such as numbers 2, 3, 7,9, 18, and 20. It also fails to comply with the 6 commandments.

Process Summary Details
I enjoyed this lab because it helped me understand the do’s and don’ts of maps by explaining Tufteisms guide lines and by having us research and provide examples of both good and bad maps.

Week 1 Intro to GIS: My First Map

Week 1 has gotten off to a shaky start. Here is my first map using ArcMap 10.1. I have a feeling each of these maps are going to take more than four hours to produce.  Hopefully it gets easier with time. The directions are helpful guidance, but I ran into a few issues including getting the original file transferred and opened within ArcMap. Wish me luck!

First Post

Adventures in Mapping