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 Dominant Are Large
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 Dominant Are Large
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
portion of available space
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.)
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
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
portion of available space
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
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
MaskUsed to prevent
overprinting
• Legend (cont.)
Type CharacteristicsAre identical to title
and subtitle
(size excepted)
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
RequiresRelatively little available space
• Data Source
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
“Data Sources:”Avoids ambiguity
• Data Source (cont.)
Type SizeIs very small
Multiple LinesAre horizontally
centered
ItalicsUsed for
publication names
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
MaskUsed to prevent
overprinting
• Data Source (cont.)
Type CharacteristicsAre identical to title and subtitle (size
and italics excepted)
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
RequiresRelatively little available space
• Bar Scale
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
Maximum ValueIs round and easy
to work with
• Bar Scale (cont.)
Type SizeIs very small
DesignIs simple and
subtleIntermediate Tics
Included
Unit of MeasureIs Appropriate(and singular)
Extension ScaleOmitted
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
MaskUsed to prevent
overprinting
• Bar Scale (cont.)
Type CharacteristicsAre identical to title
and subtitle
(size excepted)
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
RequiresRelatively little available space
• Orientation: North Arrow
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
IncludedTo clarify ambiguous
orientation
• Orientation: North Arrow (cont.)
Type SizeIs very small
DesignIs simple and
subtle
StarRepresents Polaris, or Geographic North
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
MaskUsed to prevent
overprinting
• Orientation: North Arrow (cont.)
Type CharacteristicsAre identical to title
and subtitle (size excepted)
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
Descriptive Labels
Identify base information
• Type Placement
Explanatory Notes
Describe criteria used in ranking
Should NotAttract undue
attention
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
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