Cartography Final!!

The end of the first semester of GIS is finally here! The above map is a choropleth map with added proportional symbols that show data from ACT scores in 2009. Average scores and percentage of students tested are depicted in the map above. The most interesting part of the data viewed is that many of the larger states have lower scores and participation rates than those in smaller states.  

Google Earth Lab

In this weeks lab we used Arcmap to convert two files to .KML, created two maps in Google Earth. The first map is the one picture above, which showes several different pieces of information including population density and hydrology. The second part of the lab was creating a tour in Google Earth of several cities and locations in South Florida. Google Earth is very user friendly and I found this lab to be particularly interesting because of the options that Google Earth provides to the user.

Dot Density Map

This week we were instructed to create a dot map of South Florida's relative population density in ArcMap.  Dots represent population and are placed only in urban areas. 1 dot = 40,000 people.

Flow Line Mapping

                    Process Summary:•Get Data

                   •open and unzip all files

                   •Open excel and determine stroke size

                   •calculate for each region in excel

                   •re-color each region on map

                    In AI

                   •Add arrow and line for each region, change weight to match number from excel

                   •Add all other data and finish legend, neatline, title, and source information 

Isometric Mapping

Process Summary:

1. Open illustrator and open the Georgia.ai
2. Transfer contours onto Illustrator map using the pencil tool, each contour gets its own layer at 2 points
3. Convert all to gray scale
4. Add in rectangles and text boxes with data
5. Group all map layers with scale to adjust size
6. Add map elements
7. Export and save as jpeg

Proportional Symbol Map

Base map

•add data; who european region

•re project map using europe lambert

adjust size of map ize of map

•add scale

•add neat line

•export map to Adobe Illustrator

•download data to illustrator

• add map essentials

• use elispse tool and  transparency in different sizes 

• add country names and wine consumption information sizes

• title and other needed map elements 

Choropleth Mapping

PROCESS SUMMARY: 

Copy files to my personal Drive, load state_pop.shp into arcmap.

Update projection to North American equal albers.

Right click on my state_pop.shp and go to symbology tab.

Pick a graduated color scheme and changed my class breaks to quantile

Add personal data and title

Add neatlines to all maps (Hawaii, Alaska, and mainland U.S.)

Insert Scale Bar, Legend, and North Arrow

Save and export map to .ai for Illustrator

Export for web devices as state_pop_quantiles.jpg

Open excel pop data Create a formula for the E column: =(C2-D2)/D2,
creating the formula needed for change. Then expand to all my rows.

Add state populations for 2000 and 1999 in their respective class divisions. Use the division percent formula.Then create another row for the actual percentages of the population change.

Open Illustrator back up and load my previous population map.

Change map to greyscale and add boarder to each state, black looked best.

Hold shift and click on states that need to be changed to one color.

Adjust percentage numbers to reflect data.

Save map. Export map to web device (.jpg)

Module 6 - Typography

                            -Open Adobe Illustrator 

                            -Open Florida Keys.ai file

                            -Create neatline, change order and layers to accommodate new 
                    items

                            -Add Legend, North Arrow, Data box

                            -Label all layers accordingly

                            -Add symbols to map and legend

                            -Add text to associate symbols

                            -Add line from text to symbol

                            -Save to S:drive and export once map in JPEG format.

Cartography - Map Composition

1.       Open file in adobe illustrator
2.       Group layers together (specifically legend and Hispanic map)
3.       Create New layer>Neatline> rectangle > create rectangle
4.       Changed size and re-arrange objects
5.      Create New Layer>Text> Add Text Information
6.       Save and export 

Introduction to Illustrator

In this week's module we learned how to use the basic functions of Adobe Illustrator.
Once you export your map from ArcMap in the .AI file type, you are able to open the file in Adobe Illustrator.
1. Expand map to fit on screen.
2.Open the layers panel from the floating palette > Expand Other and . You can click the circles on the right to see what each label is attached to.  Open a new layer, like the legend attributes, and drag and drop its corresponding items into a the new layer. Do this for the North Arrow, Legend, and Scale Bar.
3. Move Cities, Counties, and Scale Bar into one layer.  This is crucial because if you do not group them, it can affect the accuracy of your Scale Bar. Delete empty paths.
4. Create a new layer and name it Text > Click and hold the Text icon from the tool bar and add in the title of the map.  Do this again to add your name, date, and data source.
5. Export your finished map by clicking File> Save for Web Devices> Change File Format to Jpeg and Save to your S:Drive.

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.

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.