Map Composition &
Module 8
OR
Making a Cool
map
Steps to Creating a Map
• Define the Purpose of the map
– Audience? Professionals? Lay public?
– How will map be used?
• Restate into a design problem
• Visualize the map
• Design solution - arrangement of map’s
image elements to facilitate communication
– Sort of an outline
• Graphic design
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Map Elements used in design
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Main map
Smaller scale inset maps showing location
Larger scale inset maps showing detail
Title of the map (usually prominent)
Subtitles
Legend
Scale
North Arrow
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Map Elements used in design
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Graticule
Various text (notes, metadata, etc.)
Borders and neatlines
Symbols
Place names and labels
Photographs, Graphics
Mapped and unmapped areas (white space)
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
The elements one-by-one
• Title
– Draws attention by virtue of its size (big!)
– Focuses attention on primary purpose of
content of map
– Not always needed
• Legend
– Principle reference to symbology
– MUST be there
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
The elements one-by-one
• Scale
– A MUST!
– Types
• graphic -- the scalebar
• verbal -- 1” = 1 mile (watch this one)
• a ratio 1/24,000 (this one too)
– Because of ubiquitous nature of Xerox
machines the graphic scale is a must,
the others are optional
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
The elements one-by-one
• Scale
– A MUST!
– Types
If nothing else these indicate …
Accuracy!
• graphic -- the scalebar
• verbal -- 1” = 1 mile (watch this one)
• a ratio 1/24,000 (this one too)
– Because of ubiquitous nature of Xerox
machines the graphic scale is a must,
the others are optional
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
The elements one-by-one
• Credits
– another, older, term for metadata
– Some metadata can be placed on map
• Data source
• Statement of accuracy, both spatial and
attribute
• Date data collected, date map made
• Your name, assignment # etc…
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
The elements one-by-one
• Credits
– another, older, term for metadata
– Some metadata can be placed on map
• Data source
• Statement of accuracy, both spatial and
attribute
• Date data collected, date map made
• Your name, assignment # etc…
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
The elements one-by-one
• Mapped and unmapped areas
– Objects, land, water, and other
geographical features important to the
purpose of the map
– makes the composition a map rather than
a diagram
– The most prominent map element
• Graticule & Grids
– Graticule – geographic coordinates
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
The elements one-by-one
• Borders and neatlines
– Borders serve to restrain eye movement and
focus attention on the map. A Border
surrounds all the elements of a map.
– A fill color can substitue for a border
– Neatlines are:
•
•
•
•
finer than borders
drawn inside borders
mainly decoration
Used to highlight objects (like legends) and to help
balance a map
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Composition
• You have all the data
• You have the symbolization plan
• Now you have to visualize the map
– A creative process
– Trial and error process
•
•
•
•
•
Where to put borders, neatlines
What style of borders, neatlines
Where does the legend go?
The title
And so on
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Composition
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
How does the eye traverse the map
Balance of map – will it fall over?
Organization of map elements
Where is important stuff?
Division of space for interest
White space
Borders & neatlines
Text
Color
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Movement of reader’s eye - upper left to
lower right
Focus
Field
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Composition: Planar Organization
• Balance
– visual impact of arrangement
• is the map “heavy” at top, bottom, sides???
Visual center:
5% of total
height above
Geometric center -Arrange content
around
this point
Geometric
center
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Balance: Visual weight
• Depends on location
– obj weight increases with distance from center
– obj at top are heavier than those at bottom
– obj on right are heavier than those on left
• Depends on size (Duh!)
• Depends on color, interest, and isolation
– Red>Blue, Bright>dark
– complex > simple
– isolated > groups
• For Example …
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Which is better balanced?
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Using Eye Movement
Eye goes left to right
Generally you want the reader to see the map
BEFORE seeing the legend – can’t always do it
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Unequal divisions of space more
interesting than equal divisions
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•St. Louis too far from
visual center, balance
not bad, however
•Hard to read name
Better, but a heavy on right
Balance with legend etc.
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Location of St, Louis
Legend
-adf asdf
adfafffdsf
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Location of St, Louis
Don’t
really need
since
countries
are labeled
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Size / white space problems
Is this a better balanced
map?
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Borders or Not
• A dark fill works better than a light
fill in establishing a border
Location of St, Louis
Location of St, Louis
Legend
Legend
-adf asdf
-adf asdf
adfafffdsf
adfafffdsf
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Borders or Not
• A dark fill works better than a light
fill in establishing a border
Location of St, Louis
Location of St, Louis
Legend
Legend
-adf asdf
-adf asdf
adfafffdsf
adfafffdsf
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Text
• No more than two fonts
– Serif text, Sans Serif text
• In each use the following to define hierarchy
– Normal. italic, bold, spacing, color
– UPPER and lower case
• ALL UPPER CASE IS HARD TO READ
• No fancy fonts
• Big print for important stuff
•
Little print for not so important stuff
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Using Color
• Color is complex and tricky
• There are definite color preferences
• There are definite color combination
preferences
• There are standard color codes (like
for planning)
• The map should NOT be garish!
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
So
• Creating maps is a creating a
document for a specific purpose -- to
communicate something to the reader
• It is an iterative process
• There are some basic rules or guides
that can be used – described above an
in the on-line course module.
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Summary of Guidelines
1) Map layout – where are the pieces going to go
– major pieces – visual center – eye path –
uneven juxtaposition of parts
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
The map area and what’s in it
Legend placement (usually to right of map)
Scale bar, North Arrow
Balance
White space
2) Map Title – Large – may not be needed
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Summary of Guidelines
3) Credits (Metadata) usually present
4) For FOR357/557- Author’s name,
Exercise #, & date!
5) Borders and neatlines.
a) Border around ALL map pieces or solid fill
b) Neatlines (or fill) around (in) various pieces
6)
Color – tricky – but not garish!
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Lewis Roads and Hydro
4
0
4
8
12
16 Miles
Rdlewis
Hylew
Blew
N
W
E
S
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LewisLewis
Roads
and
Roads and
Hydro Hydro
Rdlewis
Hylew
Blew
Blah balh blah
Blah blah blah
4
Blah blah blah
10
0
0
4
8
12
16 Miles
Rdlewis
10 Miles
Hylew
Blew
N
N
W
E
W
S
E
S
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Lewis Roads and Hydro
State & Cnty Highways
Hydrology
Lewis
County
Hydrology
Rdlewis
Hylew
Blew
Blah balh blah
Blah blah blah
Blah blah blah
N
10
0
10 Miles
W
E
S
By Eustis B. Nifkin , Inc. Syracuse NY 10/10/05
35
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Lewis Roads and Hydro
State & Cnty Highways
Hydrology
Lewis
County
Hydrology
Rdlewis
Hylew
Blew
Blah balh blah
Blah blah blah
Blah blah blah
10
0
10 Miles
This map illustrates the a;dj;fa
N
a;dljf a;dlfj aljdf a;sdf asdjf
a;sdufdafdsf paseuef a;df;a ap[ef
a;sduf asdfo aosdf [asdfi asdoif
W
E
a[dsf [asdifdfi asdifd asdf
S
By Eustis B. Nifkin , Inc. Syracuse NY 10/10/05
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esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Things I discovered
• The next maps you see took several
hours for the basic map
• A really good map takes time
• Turning on labels is ok but you have
no control (or limited control)
• Convert to annotation allows individual
manipulation of the labels
37
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
• The basic map
as it appears in
map view
• Questions
DIANA
£
¤
812
CROGHAN
DE
NM
A
£
¤ £
¤
RK
26
126
CROGHAN
410
NEW BREMEN
E
RR
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¤
£
¤
LO
W
HA
VI
12
LL
IS
VI
NE
LL
Y
E
£
¤
177
MONTAGUE
LOWVILLE
WATSON
£
¤
MARTINSBURG
12
GREIG
£
¤
26
TURIN
LYONS FALLS
OSCEOLA
LYONSDALE
WEST TURIN
PORT LEYDEN
¤
£
¤ £
12
CONSTABLEVILLE
12D
LE
YD
EN
• Lewis is a bad
shape because
of upper left
3
CK
Legend
Title
N arrow
Scale bar
Metadata
Neatlines
£
¤
PI
–
–
–
–
–
–
HARRISVILLE
LEWIS
£
¤
26
38
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Making a map
• The basic map w/
title and N arrow
• Where’s the edge?
• It was saved as
Transparent
Lewis County, NY: Towns and Villages
HARRISVILLE
-
£
¤
3
DIANA
£
¤
812
CROGHAN
DE
NM
AR
£
¤ £
¤
K
26
126
CROGHAN
PI
CK
N
EY
HA
RR
IS
VI
E
LL
£
¤
410
£
¤LOWVIL
LE
NEW BREMEN
12
£
¤
177
MONTAGUE
LOWVILLE
WATSON
£
¤
MARTINSBURG
12
GREIG
£
¤
26
TURIN
LYONS FALLS
OSCEOLA
LYONSDALE
WEST TURIN
PORT LEYDEN
¤
£
¤EN £
12
CONSTABLEVILLE
12D
LE
LEWIS
YD
£
¤
26
39
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Making a map
HARRISVILLE
-
£
¤
3
DIANA
£
¤
812
CROGHAN
DE
NM
£
¤ £
¤
K
AR
26
126
CROGHAN
E
£
¤
410
LL
Y
NEW BREMEN
LO
W
HA
VI
12
E
RR
£
¤
LL
IS
VI
NE
CK
PI
• The basic map w/
title and N arrow
• Where’s the edge?
• It was saved as
Transparent
Lewis County, NY: Towns and Villages
£
¤
177
LOWVILLE
0
2
4
8
£
¤
MARTINSBURG
MONTAGUE
WATSON
12
16
Miles
12
GREIG
£
¤
26
TURIN
LYONS FALLS
LYONSDALE
WEST TURIN
OSCEOLA
PORT LEYDEN
¤
£
¤ £
12
CONSTABLEVILLE
LE
YD
EN
12D
£
¤
26
LEWIS
0
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
2
4
8
12
16
Miles
40
Making a map
Lewis County, NY: Towns and Villages
HARRISVILLE
-
£
¤
3
DIANA
£
¤
812
CROGHAN
DE
NM
AR
£
¤ £
¤
K
26
126
CROGHAN
E
£
¤
410
LL
Y
NEW BREMEN
LO
W
HA
VI
12
E
RR
£
¤
LL
IS
VI
NE
CK
PI
• Added more stuff
but background is
still transparent
• Balance does not
look too bad
£
¤
177
LOWVILLE
0
2
4
8
£
¤
MARTINSBURG
MONTAGUE
WATSON
12
16
Miles
12
GREIG
£
¤
26
TURIN
LYONS FALLS
LYONSDALE
WEST TURIN
OSCEOLA
PORT LEYDEN
¤
£
¤ £
12
CONSTABLEVILLE
YD
EN
12D
LE
This map shows
the Lewis County
Towns and Villages
served
by
State
hightways. It was generated
from 1998 NFLII data (towns)
and 2005 ALIS data. Map was
prepared by E.B. Nifkin and
Associates, Syracuse, NY
10/10/2005
£
¤
26
LEWIS
0
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
2
4
8
12
16
Miles
41
Making a map
Lewis County, NY: Towns and Villages
HARRISVILLE
-
£
¤
3
DIANA
£
¤
812
CROGHAN
D
M
EN
AR
£
¤ £
¤
K
26
126
CROGHAN
410
VI
12
E
RR
£
¤
NEW BREMEN
LL
IS
VI
NE
LL
Y
E
£
¤
LO
W
HA
£
¤
177
LOWVILLE
0
2
4
8
£
¤
MARTINSBURG
MONTAGUE
WATSON
12
16
Miles
12
GREIG
£
¤
26
TURIN
LYONS FALLS
LYONSDALE
WEST TURIN
OSCEOLA
PORT LEYDEN
¤
£
¤ £
12
CONSTABLEVILLE
YD
EN
12D
This map shows
the Lewis County
Towns and Villages
served
by
State
hightways. It was generated
from 1998 NFLII data (towns)
and 2005 ALIS data. Map was
prepared by E.B. Nifkin and
Associates, Syracuse, NY
10/10/2005
LE
CK
PI
• Oops!
• Put in neatline
around map
• In properties set
fill color to yellow
• And where did the
second scale come
from?
£
¤
26
LEWIS
0
2
4
8
12
16
Miles
42
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Making a map
HARRISVILLE
-
£
¤
3
DIANA
£
¤
812
CROGHAN
D
M
EN
AR
£
¤ £
¤
K
26
126
CROGHAN
410
VI
12
E
RR
£
¤
NEW BREMEN
LL
IS
VI
NE
LL
Y
E
£
¤
LO
W
HA
CK
• Clicked on “Send to
back” and ……
Lewis County, NY: Towns and Villages
PI
• Oops!
• Graphic problem
• Clicked on yellow
and got this
£
¤
177
LOWVILLE
0
2
4
8
£
¤
MARTINSBURG
MONTAGUE
WATSON
12
16
Miles
12
GREIG
£
¤
26
TURIN
LYONS FALLS
LYONSDALE
WEST TURIN
OSCEOLA
PORT LEYDEN
¤
£
¤ £
12
CONSTABLEVILLE
YD
EN
12D
LE
This map shows
the Lewis County
Towns and Villages
served
by
State
hightways. It was generated
from 1998 NFLII data (towns)
and 2005 ALIS data. Map was
prepared by E.B. Nifkin and
Associates, Syracuse, NY
10/10/2005
£
¤
26
LEWIS
0
2
4
8
12
16
Miles
43
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Making a map
• Better
• But kind of garish
• But
– Balance good
– Not too much yellow
space for 8.5x11
Lewis County, NY: Towns and Villages
HARRISVILLE
-
£
¤
3
DIANA
£
¤
812
CROGHAN
DE
NM
AR
£
¤ £
¤
K
26
126
CROGHAN
NEW BREMEN
LO
W
HA
VI
12
E
RR
£
¤
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IS
VI
NE
CK
PI
410
LL
Y
E
£
¤
£
¤
177
LOWVILLE
0
2
4
8
£
¤
MARTINSBURG
MONTAGUE
WATSON
12
16
Miles
12
GREIG
£
¤
26
TURIN
LYONS FALLS
LYONSDALE
WEST TURIN
OSCEOLA
PORT LEYDEN
¤
£
¤ £
12
CONSTABLEVILLE
YD
EN
12D
LE
This map shows
the Lewis County
Towns and Villages
served
by
State
hightways. It was generated
from 1998 NFLII data (towns)
and 2005 ALIS data. Map was
prepared by E.B. Nifkin and
Associates, Syracuse, NY
10/10/2005
£
¤
26
LEWIS
0
2
4
8
12
16
Miles
44
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Making a map
Lewis County, NY: Towns and Villages
HARRISVILLE
-
£
¤
3
DIANA
£
¤
812
CROGHAN
DE
NM
AR
£
¤ £
¤
K
26
126
CROGHAN
410
VI
12
E
RR
£
¤
NEW BREMEN
LL
IS
VI
NE
LL
Y
E
£
¤
LO
W
HA
£
¤
177
LOWVILLE
0
2
4
8
£
¤
MARTINSBURG
MONTAGUE
WATSON
12
16
Miles
12
GREIG
£
¤
26
TURIN
LYONS FALLS
LYONSDALE
WEST TURIN
OSCEOLA
PORT LEYDEN
¤
£
¤ £
12
CONSTABLEVILLE
YD
EN
12D
This map shows
the Lewis County
Towns and Villages
served
by
State
hightways. It was generated
from 1998 NFLII data (towns)
and 2005 ALIS data. Map was
prepared by E.B. Nifkin and
Associates, Syracuse, NY
10/10/2005
LE
CK
PI
• Aaah
• Better
• Still don’t like the
hole where the N
arrow is
• Could put a legend
there but this map
does not need a
legend
£
¤
26
LEWIS
0
2
4
8
12
16
Miles
45
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Making a map
• Ech
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
-
HARRISVILLE
£
¤
3
DIANA
£
¤
812
E
26
Y
CROGHAN
VI
NE
This map shows the Lewis County
Towns and Villages served by State
hightways. It was generated from 1998
NFLII data (towns) and 2005 ALIS data.
Map was prepared by E.B. Nifkin and
Associates, Syracuse, NY 10/10/2005
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State Highway Numbers
LO
177
WATSON
LOWVILLE
12
126
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12D
LYONS FALLS
LYONSDALE
WEST TURIN
177
PORT LEYDEN
¤
£
¤£
EN
CONSTABLEVILLE
12
GREIG
26
OSCEOLA
Statehighways
HWY_NUM
£
¤
£
¤
TURIN
MONTAGUE MARTINSBURG
YD
CK
£
¤£
¤
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PI
NM
CROGHAN
LL
DE
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AR
LE
– Added more text
– Added a highway
legend after
classifying the
highways
Lewis County, NY
HA
• Here is another
approach
• Landscape
• Harder to do
because map has to
be smaller
• So
12D
12
26
£
¤
294
26
3
410
812
0 2 4
8
12
16
Miles
46
• Hummmm
Lewis County, NY
-
HARRISVILLE
£
¤
3
DIANA
£
¤
812
E
26
126
Y
IS
NE
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¤
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¤
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NEW BREMEN
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£
¤£
¤
HA
12
W
PI
NM
CROGHAN
LL
DE
K
AR
This map shows the Lewis County
Towns and Villages served by State
hightways. It was generated from 1998
NFLII data (towns) and 2005 ALIS data.
Map was prepared by E.B. Nifkin and
Associates, Syracuse, NY 10/10/2005
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State Highway Numbers
LO
£
¤
177
WATSON
LOWVILLE
HWY_NUM
£
¤
£
¤
TURIN
MONTAGUE MARTINSBURG
12
126
LYONSDALE
177
PORT LEYDEN
EN
¤
£
¤£
YD
LE
LEWIS
12D
LYONS FALLS
WEST TURIN
CONSTABLEVILLE
12
GREIG
26
OSCEOLA
Statehighways
12D
12
26
£
¤
294
26
3
410
812
0 2 4
8
12
16
Miles
47
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Lewis County, NY
HARRISVILLE
£
¤
3
-
N
DE
DIANA
£
¤
812
CROGHAN
M
K
AR
£
¤ £
¤
26
126
This map shows the Lewis County
Towns and Villages served by State
hightways. It was generated from 1998
NFLII data (towns) and 2005 ALIS data.
Map was prepared by E.B. Nifkin and
Associates, Syracuse, NY 10/10/2005
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l;dieoaod
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LL
£
¤
NEW BREMEN
State Highway Numbers
VI
HA
RR
E
IS
N
W
12
£
¤
LO
CK
PI
£
¤
410
VI
EY
LL
E
CROGHAN
177
MONTAGUE
WATSON
LOWVILLE
12
126
£
¤
MARTINSBURG
12
12D
GREIG
£
¤
26
177
TURIN
26
294
LYONS FALLS
OSCEOLA
LYONSDALE
WEST TURIN
3
PORT LEYDEN
¤
£
¤ £
12
CONSTABLEVILLE
410
YD
EN
12D
LE
812
LEWIS
£
¤
26
0 1.5 3
6
9
12
Miles
48
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Lewis County, NY: Towns and Villages
HARRISVILLE
-
£
¤
3
DIANA
£
¤
812
CROGHAN
DE
NM
A
£
¤ £
¤
RK
26
126
But maybe this, a
simple white or
no fill is better
after all
CROGHAN
NEW BREMEN
E
RR
£
¤
LO
W
HA
VI
12
LL
IS
VI
NE
CK
PI
410
LL
Y
E
£
¤
£
¤
177
LOWVILLE
0
2
4
8
12
£
¤
MARTINSBURG
MONTAGUE
WATSON
16
Miles
12
GREIG
£
¤
26
TURIN
LYONS FALLS
LYONSDALE
WEST TURIN
OSCEOLA
PORT LEYDEN
¤
£
¤ £
12
CONSTABLEVILLE
YD
EN
12D
LE
This map shows
the Lewis County
Towns and Villages
served
by
State
hightways. It was generated
from 1998 NFLII data (towns)
and 2005 ALIS data. Map was
prepared by E.B. Nifkin and
Associates, Syracuse, NY
10/10/2005
£
¤
26
LEWIS
0
2
4
8
12
16
Miles
49
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS
Booby Trap
• When you make scale bar it is grayed out?
• Why?
– You didn’t set map and distance units
• If there are no map units then ArcGIS has
no idea what they are probably no
metadata
• If map units are m and you don’t want scale
bar in meters then you have to set the
distance units
• Where?
50
esf Laboratory for Applied GIS