Mapping Principles: Making Your Map Look Good! IGIC 7th Biennial Conference Scheman Center Ames, Iowa August 30th - September 1st, 2005

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Mapping PrinciplesMaking Your Map Look
Good!IGIC 7th Biennial ConferenceScheman
CenterAmes, IowaAugust 30th - September 1st,
2005

• Micah CutlerGIS AdministratorHarrison
  CountyLogan, Iowa

Brad CutlerGIS Project SpecialistGolden Hills
RCDOakland, Iowa
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Overview

• Elements of a Map
• Map Design Considerations
• Map Symbols
• Principles of Color
• Text Placement

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Beginning the Design Process
When making a map, consider the following
questions

• What elements need to be included on a map?
• How should those elements look?
• How should they be arranged?

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TALDOGS
T - Title A - Author L - Legend D - Date O -
Orientation G - Grid S - Scale
This acronym will help you remember what to
include on a map.
Source South Carolina Geographic Alliance
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T Title
TALDOGS

• On a cadastral or road map, it is most likely the
  name of the county or area.
• On a thematic map, such as house values, it
  should include the name of the area and the main
  subject of the map.
• Ex Eagle Ridge Subdivision
• 2003 Parcel Land Values

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A Author
TALDOGS

• The organization or person who made the map.
• This also include the source of the data if it is
  different that the person who created it.
• Examples

Prepared by Harrison County GIS 712-644-1324 gis_at_
harrisoncountyia.org Data compiled by the
Harrison County Assessors Office.
Prepared by Harrison County GIS 712-644-1324 gis_at_
harrisoncountyia.org
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L Legend
TALDOGS

• Explains the symbols used on the map.
• Clear and easily readable.
• Symbols should try and be the same size as they
  are on the map.
• Examples

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D Date
TALDOGS

• Always include when the map was created or the
  date of the original data.
• I include a printed date and the date of the
  aerial photography, if appears on the map.
• Examples

Printed 8 JUNE 2004

• Digital Orthophotography flown on March 1, 2000.

IMPORTANT NOTICE All data posted is certified as
of January 1, 2003
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O Orientation
TALDOGS

• Generally maps are drawn with North towards the
  top of the map and South towards the bottom.
• Very localized maps such as those for shopping
  malls or parks are often oriented around the main
  point of entry.
• Include a north arrow, even if it seems obvious
  there are a lot of poor map readers out there!
• Examples

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G Grid
TALDOGS

• This is the most difficult at the county level.
• Includes latitude/longitude A-1, B-3 type grid,
  etc.
• My personal opinion the township and
  range/section boundaries provide a location grid.
• Many software programs will automatically put on
  a latitude/longitude grid.
• A location map (overview map) also works well.

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Overview Map
TALDOGS

• The overview map helps the map reader know where
  in the county he or she is examining.

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S Scale
TALDOGS

• A map's scale is a ratio that relates a unit of
  measure on a map to some number of the same units
  of measure on the earth's surface.

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S Scale
TALDOGS

• The larger the number, the smaller the scale.
• A map of an area 100 miles long by 100 miles wide
  drawn at a scale of 163,360 would be more than 8
  feet square. To make the map a more convenient
  size, either the scale used or the area covered
  must be reduced.

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Disclaimers

• Its always a good idea to include a disclaimer
  on your map. This one should look familiar
• The Data is provided as is without warranty or
  any representation of accuracy, timeliness or
  completeness. The burden for determining
  accuracy, completeness, timeliness ,
  merchantability and fitness for or the
  appropriateness for use rests solely on the
  requester. Harrison County makes nor warranties,
  express or implied, as to the use of the Data.
  There are no implied warranties of
  merchantability or fitness for a particular
  purpose. The requester acknowledges and accepts
  the limitations of the Data, including the fact
  that the Data is dynamic and is in a constant
  state of maintenance, correction and update.

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Putting it Together

• Now that you know what should go on a map, its
  time to arrange the individual elements.
• This is like decorating, there are some general
  rules, but it all comes down to personal taste.

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Map Aesthetics

• The quality of a map is also in part an
  aesthetic matter. Maps should have harmony
  within themselves. An ugly map, with crude
  colors, careless line work, and disagreeable,
  poorly arranged lettering may be intrinsically as
  accurate as a beautiful map, but it is less
  likely to inspire confidence.
• -John K. Wright, Map Makers Are Human,
• Geographical Review 32 (1944) 527-44.

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5 Principles of Map Design

1. CONCEPT BEFORE COMPILATION - Once concept is
   understood, no design or content feature will be
   included which does not fit it.

1. HIERARCHY WITH HARMONY - Important things must
   look important, and the most important thing
   should look the most important. Harmony is
   subliminal.

1. SIMPLICITY FROM SACRIFICE Its not what you put
   in that makes a great map but what you take out.
   The map design stage is complete when you can
   take nothing else out.

1. MAXIMUM INFORMATION AT MINIMUM COST - How much
   information can be gained from this map, at a
   glance.

• ENGAGE THE EMOTION TO ENGAGE THE UNDERSTANDING -
  Only when the reader engages the emotion, the
  desire, will they be receptive to the map's
  message. We are not just prettying maps up. The
  philosophy is simple, beauty (aesthetics) focuses
  the attention. Focusing the attention is the
  purpose of map design!
• - Society of Cartographers

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So What is a Good Map?

• To really focus, you need to ask yourself these
  questions
• What is the goal of the map?
• Who will read the map?
• Where will the map be used?
• What data is available for the composition of the
  map?
• What resources are available in terms of both
  time and equipment?

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Map Composition

• Good map composition should
• Stress the purpose of the map.
• Direct the map readers attention.
• Coordinate the base and thematic elements of the
  map.
• Maintain good cartographic conventions (TALDOGS).
• COMMUNICATE.

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Simplify or Detail?
depends on the scale and size of the final
product.
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Design Considerations

• Visual Balance use the natural shape of your
  county or region.

• Look for white space that allows for text
  placement.

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Figure and Ground Organization

• People tend to organize the visual field into
• Figures important objects
• Grounds things less important
• Use contrast distinguish important from
  unimportant parts.

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Contrast

• Lines labels, borders, neatlines, political
  boundaries, symbols, etc.
• Line character type and color
• Line weight thickness
• Texture or pattern
• Color
• Visual acuity (measures the size threshold at
  which the eye can distinguish or read)
• Dont want symbols and text too small or too big

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Text Contrast

• Masking text and symbols works well for giving
  importance and clarity.

• Notice the text Woodbine and road names.

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Contrast

• The shading for water along the coastline
  provides nice contrast to the land.

• Also notice that the text label for the water is
  italicized.

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Hierarchy

• Contrast, shading, color, and text masking are
  all techniques used to create hierarchy.

• The focus or most important part of the map
  jumps out at you first.

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Map Symbols

• Take time to research commonly-used symbols and
  conventions.
• Use line weights and colors to make your symbols
  stand out.

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Map Symbols in ESRI Software

• ESRI software comes with tons of symbols for
  lines, points, and polygons.
• Often these symbols can be modified slightly to
  get the exact look you are after.

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Why Use Color?

• Color simplifies and clarifies, as well as
  unifies various map elements.
• Color affects the general perceptibility of the
  map.
• Color elicits subjective reactions to the map.
  People respond to colors it creates mood.

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Color Wheel

• Many believe that providing complementary colors
  in a composition establishes stability.
• Complementary colors are opposite on the color
  wheel.

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Color Balance

• Use color balance so that dominant colors
  occupying large areas do not overpower the
  remainder of the map.
• Since areas are fixed in geography, only choice
  of color is possible when planning balance.
• Remember what is pleasant to one map reader may
  not be pleasant to another.

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Map Lettering

• Map lettering should be viewed first as a
  functional symbol, only secondarily as an
  aesthetic object.
• Need to consider
• Selection of lettering type
• Placement on map

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Choosing Text Style

• When considering text styles, keep the following
  points in mind
• Legibility of individual letters (dont want to
  confuse c and e or i and j).
• Avoid extremely bold forms.
• Select a typeface with a relatively large
  x-height relative to lettering width.
• Dont use decorative typefaces too difficult to
  read.

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Point Label Placement

• Chart at the right shows the preferred order of
  text placement around a point.
• Text should be horizontal if possible.
• Town names should be located on the side of the
  river on which the town is located.

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Linear Feature Label Placement

• Linear features rivers, streams, roads,
  railroads, paths, airlines, etc.
• Repeat as often as necessary to facilitate its
  identification.
• Ideal location is along a horizontal stretch.
• Prefer italicized labels for hydrology features.

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Areal Features Label Placement

• Ideally, put the label entirely inside the
  polygon feature.
• Dont hyphenate names.
• If lettering is not horizontal, make sure it
  deviates significantly, so that its placement
  wont look like a mistake.
• Never position text so that parts are upside down.

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Title and Legend Text

• Titles are generally most important largest
  type size.
• May position title or title boxes overlapping
  other features.
• Legend materials medium reflect their position
  in the hierarchy.
• Map sources, notes, etc. in the smallest type
  size.

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Questions? Comments? Opinions?
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Thank you!

• Micah CutlerGIS AdministratorHarrison
  County712-644-1324
• gis_at_harrisoncountyia.org

Brad Cutler GIS SpecialistGolden Hills
RCD712-482-3029 gis_at_goldenhillsrcd.org