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Geography 70

Geography 70. Map Design Cartographic Communication. Uses of Maps. To record and store information for reference. To analyze locational distributions and spatial patterns. To present information and communicate findings (often to help facilitate decision-making). Cartographic Communication.

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Geography 70

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  1. Geography 70 • Map Design • Cartographic Communication

  2. Uses of Maps • To record and store information for reference. • To analyze locational distributions and spatial patterns. • To present information and communicate findings (often to help facilitate decision-making).

  3. Cartographic Communication • Success or failure on the part of the cartographer depends on whether or not the map communicates the intended information.

  4. Cartographic Communication • How do I say what to whom? • Cartographer (I) • map reader/audience (whom) • map design and production (how) • subject of the map (what)

  5. Thematic vs. Reference • Thematic maps • spatial distribution of particular variables • Often created by GIS analysts • Reference maps • USGS Topo maps, navigation charts, tax maps • Generally created by large mapping organizations

  6. “Rules” of cartography • Example: “maps should always have a scale bar” • ”Rules” should be considered in terms of what the cartographer is trying to communicate with the map • Example: A series of page-sized maps of the entire U.S. displaying different population variables by state? » a scale bar may not be important for these maps. • Readers are likely to already be familiar with the size and shape of the U.S. • The purpose of these maps has nothing to do with measuring distances. • But, some guidelines...

  7. Map elements • Most common: • map/spatial data • title • scale • legend • north arrow • inset(s) • textual information (incl. spatial metadata) • border, neatlines • coordinate grid

  8. Titles • Largest and most noticeable text on the map • Be precise! no superfluous words. • Can be a label, or can be a sentence. • Consistent format in titles for maps in a series • No "Map of..." in the title -- we know it's a map

  9. 10 miles Scale • Only graphic scales will survive enlargement or reduction during reproduction • Some thematic maps may not need a scale bar

  10. Legends • Almost always required on thematic maps • Symbolization in the legend must exactly match symbolization used on the map • No "Legend" in the title for the legend

  11. Legend Map credits: MEASURE Project, Carolina Population Center, UNC-Chapel Hill

  12. Legends

  13. Insets • locator maps (where is this map in relation to the others?) • Example: the Alabama page in a US road atlas • detail maps • Example: Raleigh inset/blowup map on a North Carolina map

  14. Textual information • Common uses: • author/publisher • date of production • date of map information • projection type and coordinate system information • data sources • brief information on how the map was produced

  15. Borders, neatlines • Provide a graphic "container”

  16. Map Elements Border Neat line Title Map/figure Legend Scale Text:Projection/source Inset North Arrow

  17. Coordinate grid

  18. Data symbolization • For vector data: basic symbol elements (Geographic Primitives) are: • Points • Lines • Areas • Choice of symbol is scale dependent

  19. Symbolization • Nominal/categorical data

  20. Symbolization • Ordinal data

  21. Symbolization • Interval Data

  22. Symbolization • Ratio Data

  23. Bertin’s Visual Variables • Jacques Bertin, French geographer • classified different graphic methods for symbolization • called “visual” or “graphic” variables

  24. Bertin’s Visual Variables • NOTE: the list presented here adds Arrangement to the visual variables discussed in the Heywood text (p. 159, based on Bernhardsen’s work).Also, Density is mentioned by Heywood as separate from Texture, but is generally considered a component of Texture by Bertin.

  25. Size • Difference in geometric dimensions (e.g. length, height, diameter) of symbols • Convention: larger size = greater quantity or importance Utility

  26. Shape • Differences in forms of symbols • Options: • abstract (e.g circle, square) • iconographic (e.g. airplane, flag, schoolhouse) • Caution: too many different shapes can get very busy and difficult for the map reader to discriminate Utility

  27. SIDEBAR DimensionsofColor HUE INTENSITY SATURATION

  28. Color Hue (Color) • Real color differences (not simply differences in intensity or saturation) • Perceptual difficulties for some map readers is a problem (e.g. 6-8% males color-blind) Utility

  29. Color Value • Intensity or saturation (relative lightness or darkness of symbols) • Convention: darkness = higher numerical values • Difficult for map readers to keep track of more than four or five values Utility

  30. Texture • Size and spacing of elements that make up a single symbol • Dense vs. sparse • Danger of aesthetically unpleasing appearance Utility

  31. Orientation • Direction of symbols • Useful for some nominal variables (e.g. wind direction) Utility

  32. Arrangement • Configuration (random vs. systematic) • Convention: random often used to symbolize natural phenomena (e.g. marshland) • systematic used to symbolize human-made phenomena (e.g. croplands) Utility

  33. Map Layout and Design • Key components to consider when designing a map • Legibility • Visual Contrast • Visual Balance • Figure-Ground Relationship • Hierarchical Organization

  34. Map Layout and Design • Legibility • Make sure that graphic symbols are easy to read and understand • Size, color, pattern must be easily distinguishable

  35. Map Layout andDesign • Visual Contrast • Uniformity produces monotony • Strive for contrast/variation (butdon’toverdoit) • Variation can be expressed with • size • intensity • shape • color

  36. Simultaneous Color Contrast

  37. Map Layout and Design • Visual Balance • Keep things in balance • Think about the graphic weight, visual weight • Graphic weight is affected by darkness/lightness, intensity and density of map elements • Visual center is slightly above the actual center(Standard is 5%)

  38. Visual Balance

  39. Visual center 5% of height 5% of height Portrait Landscape

  40. Map Layout and Design • Figure-Ground Relationship • Complex, automatic reaction of eye and brain to a graphic display. • Figure: stands outGround: recedes

  41. Map Layout and Design • Figure-Ground Relationship • All other things being equal, there are factors that are likely to cause an object to be perceived as figure (i.e. stand out from background) • articulation & detail • objects that are complete (e.g. land areas contained within a map border) • smaller areas (relative to large background areas) • darker areas

  42. Map Layout and Design • Figure-Ground Relationship • Very difficult to develop a hard and fast rule with figure ground, relies on a mix of factors

  43. Map Layout and Design • Hierarchical Organization • Use of graphical organization schemes to focus reader’s attention

  44. Hierarchical Organization • Extensional • “Ranks Features on the Map” • Use of different sized line symbols for roads

  45. Hierarchical Organization • Subdivisional • Portrays the internal divisions of a hierarchy • Example: Regions of North Carolina

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