cartographic design case study cartographic design for gis (geog. 340) prof. hugh howard american...

CARTOGRAPHIC DESIGN

CASE STUDY

Cartographic Design for GIS (Geog. 340)Prof. Hugh HowardAmerican River College

CASE STUDY: REAL ESTATE

SITE SUITABILITY MAP

CASE STUDY• Application of the concepts, rules, and

guidelines presented thus far– Map Elements– Typography– Cartographic Design

• To solve a real-world map design problem

– Create an efficient, attractive map that represents the relative suitabilities of residential building parcels

CASE STUDY• Thematic symbols are building parcels

(polygons) within two neighborhoods that are:

– Zoned for single-family residences– Not within 500 ft of a freeway or freeway

onramp/offramp– Not within 250 feet of an active railway

CASE STUDY• Thematic symbols have been ranked

for suitability. Higher suitability parcels are characterized by:

– Relatively low crime density– Relatively high percentage of college-

educated residents (Bachelor’s or higher)– Relatively high elevation (the region has a

high potential for flooding)

These three criteria have been weighted equally and represent the same level of importance in the analysis.

CASE STUDY• Base information includes:

– Unranked parcels– Freeways and ramps– Railways– River– Descriptive type labels

CASE STUDY• Additional symbols: Crime Hot-Spots

– Hybrid symbols: part thematic symbol and part base information

– Similar to thematic symbols because they are directly related to the map’s theme

– Used here as a visual reference to areas of relatively high crime

– Will provide a frame of reference for the thematic symbols, much like base information

CASE STUDY• Map Communication Model

– List of the basic steps involved in communicating geographic information

– Design process encompasses the entire model, but is most concentrated in Step 4

STEPS 1-3 of the MAP COMMUNICATION

MODEL

STEPS 1-3 of COMM. MODEL• Consider the real-world

distribution– I have a general idea, but

GIS analysis is required to establish a ranking of parcels

– Standard site-suitability analysis involving buffering, map overlay, data standardization, weighting, etc.

STEPS 1-3 of COMM. MODEL• Determine the map’s

purpose and intended audience

– The map user is a client of a residential real estate agent

– The map will provide the client with a graphical representation of the parcel distribution

Specific information on the parcels or homes will not be provided

STEPS 1-3 of COMM. MODEL• Collect data

– This step has been completed as part of the GIS analysis process

STEP 4 of the MAP COMMUNICATION

MODEL

STEP 4 of COMM. MODEL• Design and Construct the

Map

STEP 4 of COMM. MODEL1. Determine how the map will be

reproduced– Reproduction methods will involve

digitally-assisted offset lithography, such as computer-to-plate or direct-to-press methods

– These methods result in high-resolution, high-quality printed images in both gray tones and full color, and place few restrictions on the design process

STEP 4 of COMM. MODEL2. Select a scale and map projection that

is appropriate for the map’s theme– The scale will be dictated by two factors:

the need to represent two neighborhoods within 5 inches of width (1:20,000)

– The very small geographic extent renders the map projection virtually inconsequential (Lambert Conformal Conic, State Plane Coordinate System)

STEP 4 of COMM. MODEL3. Determine the most appropriate

methods for data classification and symbolization

– The quantile data classification method will ensure that the map will have roughly equal numbers of parcels in each class

– A choropleth-style symbolization approach will be taken. Each suitable polygon will be symbolized with a color that gets darker in relation to increased suitability

STEP 4 of COMM. MODEL4. Select which map elements to employ,

and decide how each will be implemented– Frame line and/or neat line– Mapped area– Inset (a locator map)– Title and subtitle– Legend– Data source– Bar scale– Indication of orientation?

Typography

Final decisions will be made later in the design

process

• Thematic symbols and type labels

• Title, subtitle, and legend

• Base information (boundaries, roads, etc.)

• Scale and north arrow

• Data source and notes

• Frame and neat lines

STEP 4 of COMM. MODEL5. Establish an Intellectual Hierarchy

Most Important

Least Important

STEP 4 of COMM. MODEL6. Create one or more sketch maps

– Simple, hand-drawn map showing relative locations of thematic symbols and base information

STEP 4 of COMM. MODEL7. Construct the map

– And print rough drafts to evaluate the emerging design

That was easy!

Time to revisit map elements and

typography

SELECTION and IMPLEMENTATION of MAP ELEMENTS and

TYPOGRAPHY

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Map elements will be placed in the

recommended order – Frame line and/or neat line– Mapped area– Inset (a locator map)– Title and subtitle– Legend– Data source– Bar scale– Indication of orientation?

First (Larger)

Last (Smaller)

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Frame line and neat line

Frame line will also act as

a neat line

StyleLine is black and

thin (0.5 pt)

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Mapped area

Thematic Symbols

Are Dominant Are Large

Are Centered

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Mapped area (cont.)

Thematic Symbols


Are Centered

Base InformationIs SubduedIs Cropped

Is Differentiated

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Differentiation of Base Information

– Contrast is applied to differentiate features

No Contrast Contrast Applied

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Mapped area (cont.)

Thematic Symbols


Are Centered

Base InformationIs SubduedIs Cropped

Is Differentiated

Crime Hot-SpotsAre Intermediate in

Visual WeightAre Transparent

Figure-GroundThree levels of

information

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Evaluate available space

HybridSketch Map

Hand drawing on rough draft

Tentative Locations

Are identified for remaining map

elements

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Inset

RequiresA relatively large

portion of available space

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Inset (cont.)

SimpleAllows the map user to identify

the area of detail within a larger context

IntermediateIn Visual Weight

HaloesUsed to reduce effects

of overprinting

• Inset (cont.)

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Title and Subtitle

Requires A medium sized


MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Title and Subtitle (cont.)

TitleSuccinctly reflects the map’s theme

SubtitleProvides the geographic

region and date

Type SizeTitle is large;

subtitle smaller

Multiple LinesAre horizontally

centered

• Title and Subtitle (cont.)


LocationTop center

TypefaceHelvetica Neue

Roman

(no bold or italic)

Letter & Word Spacing

Slightly increased

MaskUsed to prevent

overprinting

MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE• Legend

Requires A medium sized


MAP ELEMENTS and TYPERectangles

Are Connected• Legend (cont.)

Legend HeadingHelps to explain

categories

“Legend” LabelAbsent

Base InformationOmitted

ComponentsHorizontally Centered

Amorphous PolygonUsed for Crime Hot Spot


MaskUsed to prevent

overprinting

• Legend (cont.)

Type CharacteristicsAre identical to title

and subtitle

(size excepted)


RequiresRelatively little available space

• Data Source


“Data Sources:”Avoids ambiguity

• Data Source (cont.)

Type SizeIs very small

Multiple LinesAre horizontally

centered

ItalicsUsed for

publication names


MaskUsed to prevent

overprinting

• Data Source (cont.)

Type CharacteristicsAre identical to title and subtitle (size

and italics excepted)



• Bar Scale


Maximum ValueIs round and easy

to work with

• Bar Scale (cont.)


DesignIs simple and

subtleIntermediate Tics

Included

Unit of MeasureIs Appropriate(and singular)

Extension ScaleOmitted


MaskUsed to prevent

overprinting

• Bar Scale (cont.)


and subtitle

(size excepted)



• Orientation: North Arrow


IncludedTo clarify ambiguous

orientation

• Orientation: North Arrow (cont.)


DesignIs simple and

subtle

StarRepresents Polaris, or Geographic North


MaskUsed to prevent

overprinting

• Orientation: North Arrow (cont.)


and subtitle (size excepted)


Descriptive Labels

Identify base information

• Type Placement

Explanatory Notes

Describe criteria used in ranking

Should NotAttract undue

attention


Masks and HaloesUsed to prevent

overprinting

• Type Placement (cont.)

Linear Features

Are set in Title Case

Areal FeaturesAre set in UPPER

CASE with exaggerated letter &

word spacing

Hydrographic Features

Are italic

THE FINAL MAP

THE FINAL MAP• Is the result of several iterations of

– Critique– Editing– Experimentation– Fine Tuning

• Is not perfect, or the only possible solution to the problem

– But it does communicate a clear message with minimal map noise

CARTOGRAPHIC DESIGN

CASE STUDY

Cartographic Design for GIS (Geog. 340)Prof. Hugh HowardAmerican River College

cartographic design case study cartographic design for gis (geog. 340) prof. hugh howard american...

Documents

map projection

attractive map

map overlay

map communication model

gis analysis process

design process step

intended audiencethe

higher suitability parcels