GIS Presentation and Output
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7/12/2016 Ron Briggs, UTDallas
charts
maps
POEC 6381 Introduction to GIS
1
Presentation: Charts
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charts can be used to display
tabular data.
the types of charts available in
ArcView are typical of these
available in GIS desktop systems
most systems have dynamic (as
opposed to static) charting:
charts automtically updated as
data in underlying tables
changes:
6 types in ArcView: area, bar,
column, line, pie, scatter
7/12/2016 Ron Briggs, UTDallas
Area
Bar
Column
Line
Pie
Scatter
POEC 6381 Introduction to GIS
2
Presentation: Maps
What’s a map?
"a representation, normally to scale and on a flat
medium, of a selection of material or abstract
features on , or in relation to, the surface of the
earth.”
International Cartographic Association
A spatial model of the real world, but differentiated
from it by:
abstraction, focus, simplification, symbolization
scale, projection, and purpose
7/12/2016 Ron Briggs, UTDallas
POEC 6381 Introduction to GIS
3
What’s in a Map?
• Abstraction
– Imaginary features (i.e. political boundaries) as well as physical features
– Past, present, and future (archaeological sites, current, and planned roads) features
• Focus
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Selection and classification of features in real world to include in the map
• Simplification
– Simplification of complex features such as coastlines
– Exaggeration of features that are too small to show at the scale of the map
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Symbolization
– Use of symbols or graphic to represent classified objects (e.g. church)
• Scale
– The ratio of distance on a map, to the equivalent distance on the earth's surface.
• Projection
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Representing curved surface of the earth on a flat plane. Distortion is inevitable.
• Purpose
– To describe, measure, communicate/persuade
7/12/2016 Ron Briggs, UTDallas
POEC 6381 Introduction to GIS
4
Types of Maps
1. Planimetric (e.g municipal base map)
A map designed to portray the horizontal positions of features; vertical
information is specifically ignored.
2. Topographic (e.g. USGS 7.5 minute quads)
A map designed to portray features on the surface of the Earth, including
relief (elevation), hydrography, and cultural features.
3. Cadastral (e.g municipal parcel map)
A map representing boundaries of land parcels, ownership, land use,
valuation, and other related information.
4. Image (e.g LANDSAT image ‘map’)
A map representing a remotely sensed picture or reflection of all or part of
the Earth's surface
– may or may not be orthomorphically correct.
5. Thematic (see next slide for types and examples)
– A map used to visualize spatial relationships and patterns among information
pertaining to some theme or concept (e.g. income)
7/12/2016 Ron Briggs, UTDallas
POEC 6381 Introduction to GIS
5
Types of Thematic Maps
Thematic Map: A map used to visualize spatial relationships and patterns
among information pertaining to some theme or concept (e.g. income)
» Choropleth map: uses zones or polygons to display information using shading, dot, density, or
other techniques.
– e.g population change, ethnicity distribution
» Proximal (dasymetric) map: shows zones of constant attributes, such as soil type or vegetation
(similar to choropleth except that data determines boundary lines; no pre-defined polygons)
– e.g zoning, soil map
» Isopleth map (contour or isarithmic) : shows a contiuous three dimensional surface such as
elevation using lines connecting points of equal value (contours).
– e.g elevation, travel time contours from a point(s), land values,
income
» Point (dot) or symbol map: shows information relating to specific points using marker sysmbols
whose size and/or frequency relates to magnitude of phenomena
– housing sales, code violations, crimes
7/12/2016 Ron Briggs, UTDallas
POEC 6381 Introduction to GIS
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Making Better Maps: some general principles
• keep it simple, but don’t rely on software defaults
• show only the area under study (e.g. if Texas, don’t show AK or LA
counties): use small insert map to show relative location
• Plan for final printing/publication scale
– allow for size reduction (e.g. for report or journal publication),
– point symbols visually reduce at twice the rate of line features (a function of area)
• put title at top using ‘thick line’ font: serif/sans-serif; case not critical
• map labels
– best in serif font (letters have ‘tails’), with first letter upper and rest lower case
– place above and to the right of the feature (2nd choice: above to left)
– use font size hierarchy to indicate relative importance: US,
Texas, Dallas
– water features traditionally labelled in italic font
• Create good map in black and white, then add color (not the reverse!)
– 1 in 10 people are colorblind
– people will xerox your map anyway
7/12/2016 Ron Briggs, UTDallas
POEC 6381 Introduction to GIS
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Making Better Maps: color and symbolization
• Color concepts
– Hue:
the actual color (red, blue, etc)
– Saturation: how much of it
– Value:
the amount of black
Use low saturation in background, high saturation in foreground
• choice of shading
Quantitative data
– symbols should have visual progression corresponding to data values
– for polygons, use monochromatic color ramp: same color (hue), different saturation
or value
» can highlight top and bottom with contrasting color if desired
» if use different fill patterns, be sure “visual progression” is achieved
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– for point symbols, use different sizes of the same symbol
Qualitative data
– For polygons, use different colors (polychromatic), or different fill patterns
– For point symbols, use same size of different symbols
To create a color ramp for any two colors, hold CTRL key while selecting colors
• be sure legend is big enough to clearly show different fill patterns
7/12/2016 Ron Briggs, UTDallas
POEC 6381 Introduction to GIS
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Making Better Maps: some tricks to use
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Always include “neatline” around outside: ArcView uses this for positioning
– Select Layout/add neatline to add neatline around outside of entire graphic
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Use the same theme twice (be sure to remove copy from legend)
– e.g. place theme with thin black line on top of a copy of the theme with thick red line
– e.g. have separate theme for outline of polygons
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Use buffering to create special effects (in View, select Theme/Create buffers)
– e.g. along a shoreline, create multiple buffers then color ramp them
– e.g.buffer within a polygon border, then save as new theme, and shade appropriately
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Controlling scale of maps in Layouts
– use copy to create a second frame of identical size
– Be sure distance units and map units are set in View/ Properties for any View used
– Set scale option in “View Frame Properties” box (double click on frame to set this)
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Controlling size of point and line symbols in Layout
– In View, double click on theme in TofC to open its Legend Editor
– Click Advanced button, click Scale Symbols check box, type in Reference (output) scale
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for dot patterns, keep density constant and change size of dots (rather than
converse): but most software won’t do this!
Color, or use fill pattern (dots or stipple) for oceans and large water bodies
Use graphics design package for major customization
– Export entire layout to graphics package
– Use package to create a custom graphic then bring in as a picture/graphic
7/12/2016 Ron Briggs, UTDallas
POEC 6381 Introduction to GIS
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