Cartography Final Project

This map is for my final project in Cartography. We were not given much step by step guidance or data with this project, but were required to use skills and data we had previously utilized in the course. I believe I have learn several skills in this course, although I had some problems creating this map I was able to complete it, something I could not have done prior to taking this course.

Goggle Earth Screen Shot

Above is a screen shot of a map I created on Google Earth using my map from last weeks Cartography lab.  I have used Google Earth on several occasions in the past, however until this weeks lab I was not aware of all of the operations that Google Earth is capable of doing. I will explore this further as time permits.

Dot Density Map

This weeks Cartography lab covered making and understanding Dot Density Maps. I created the above map using ArcGIS. It depicts population densities in Southern Florida Counties

Flow line Map

The above map was created using Adobe Illustrator for my Cartography course.  I was to display the data provided, using as may or as few "effects" as I felt were necessary to create the best visual effects possible. As you can see I only used  "shadow effect" on my flow lines and "3d effect" on both the title of the main map as well as the inset map. I did however experiment with several other "effects", but in the end chose only those two.

Isometric Map

This map was created in Adobe Illustrator, using Grey Scale. It depicts the average annual rainfall for the state of Georgia.  This map took more time and effort than I at first thought would be necessary.  I actually printed a copy of the map and drew the isolines by hand, once that was complete I transferred them to the map using the "pencil tool in Adobe illustrator. After a little practice, found drawing the lines fairly easy. However, one needs to watch coffee consumption when working with the pen or pencil tool!

Proportional Symbol Maps

The above maps were created for my Cartography Course. They are proportional symbol maps. As the name implies they are simply maps on which phenomena is displayed by the use of symbols of varying size, in most cases the larger the symbol the greater the occurrence of the phenomena. Symbols can either be geometric such as circles, or squares, or pictographic such as wine bottles.

Choropleth Maps

 

These two maps were created for my Cartography course. they were created using ArcMap, then imported to Adobe Illustrator.  Starting with a basic map of the U.S. and an excel spreadsheet containing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, I chose the Natural Breaks method of data classification on the color map to display change in population growth by state.  The second map was done in grey scale and the data was presented by U.S. Census Bureau divisions using the Quantiles method of data classification.

Marathon, Florida

This map was created in Adobe Illustrator for the Typographic and Labeling lab of my Cartographic Skills course.  We were given a list of islands, bodies of water, cities, and park and city features. After determining the actual location of the features they were labeled using the typographic and labeling guidelines covered in this weeks module.

Percent of Hispanic population in Southern Florida

This map was designed using Adobe Illustrator.  It incorporates (or should) design principles such as visual hierarchy, visual balance, and figure-ground differentiation. I found this to be a very challenging assignment as I really do not have an "eye" for design. However,  it is something I need to become more comfortable with if I'm to succeed in this course.

Adobe Illustrator - Cities of Florida Map

This is a map originally created in ARCMap then export to Adobe Illustrator. Once exported various object within the map were put into groups and layers for ease of manipulation and organization.  The map was exported because Illustrator has a larger array of tools in which to enhance your map than ARCMap.  

Map Depicting Four Methods of Data Classification

This map was created for a Cartographic Skills course in ArcGIS 10.1.  Depicted is the same data set on the same base map, however four separate Classification Methods were used. It illustrates the importance of choosing the correct classification method by allowing a visual comparison of the end product.

Map Depicting Natural Breaks Classification Method

This map shows only the "Natural Breaks" classification Method. I believe this methods best portrays the data because the data covers a large spectrum (from less than 1% to over 80% in some areas) Natural Breaks classification provides logical breaks in the data to help group like numbers together yet still show differences in the varying percentages. It has entries in all classification and is easy for the cartographer to calculate.  It also is easy for the reader to understand and has no gaps in the classes to cause confusion.  

Cartography Module 2 Histogram

This histogram is a graphical depiction of data using bars to show the different values of the data within each column or bin.  It was constructed in Microsoft Excel, using data provided in my Cartographic Skills course. This data was analyzed, and then bin numbers were selected that provided the best array of the data. Histograms are useful when analyzing data with two or more attributes. Histograms display the data in a manner that is visually easier to interpret than a scatter plot graph, or a string of raw data.

Poorly-designed Map

I consider this to be a poorly-designed map for several reasons.  I found this map in an article about the concern of deforestation in a rural area. It provides no data concerning deforestation whatsoever, thereby missing the target audience.  Perhaps providing data on acreage and species of forested area to be lost would have been a better choice. The use of the text boxes is more distracting than informative; I also became confused trying to follow the arrows. The data provided in the text boxes is also in the legend.  Much of the information provided is also redundant. 

Well-designed Map

Although a little depressing I found this to be a well-designed map as it possesses several of the 20 Tufteisms, along with many of the six commandments.  It is a well-designed presentation of interesting data. I believe it also communicates ideas with clarity, precision, and efficiency, and has clear, detailed, and thorough labeling.  It definitely contains substantial information that engages the emotions.  There is no “map crap” it has a clear concise title; the states are shown with their shape alone.  A short to the point statement is contained within of the state borders.