CARTOGRAPHIC
DESIGN
CASE STUDY
Cartographic Design for GIS (Geog. 340)
Prof. Hugh Howard
American 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 collegeeducated 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. MODEL
1. 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. MODEL
2. 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. MODEL
3. 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. MODEL
4. 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)
Typography
Title and subtitle
Final decisions will be
Legend
made later in the design
process
Data source
Bar scale
Indication of orientation?
STEP 4 of COMM. MODEL
5. Establish an Intellectual Hierarchy
Most
Important
Least
Important
•
•
•
•
•
•
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. MODEL
6. Create one or more sketch maps
– Simple, hand-drawn map showing relative
locations of thematic symbols and base
information
STEP 4 of COMM. MODEL
7. 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
Style
Line 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 Information
Is Subdued
Is 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
Figure-Ground
Three levels of
information
Base Information
Is Subdued
Is Cropped
Is Differentiated
Crime Hot-Spots
Are Intermediate in
Visual Weight
Are Transparent
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Evaluate available space
Hybrid
Sketch Map
Hand drawing on
rough draft
Tentative
Locations
Are identified for
remaining map
elements
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Inset
Requires
A relatively large
portion of available
space
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Inset (cont.)
Simple
Allows the map user to identify
the area of detail within a
larger context
Intermediate
In Visual Weight
Haloes
Used to reduce effects
of overprinting
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Inset (cont.)
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Title and Subtitle
Requires
A medium sized
portion of
available space
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Title and Subtitle (cont.)
Title
Succinctly reflects
the map’s theme
Type Size
Title is large;
subtitle smaller
Subtitle
Provides the geographic
region and date
Multiple Lines
Are horizontally
centered
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Title and Subtitle (cont.)
Typeface
Helvetica Neue
Roman
(no bold or italic)
Letter & Word
Spacing
Slightly increased
Location
Top center
Mask
Used to prevent
overprinting
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Legend
Requires
A medium sized
portion of
available space
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Legend (cont.)
Rectangles
Are Connected
Legend Heading
Helps to explain
categories
“Legend” Label
Absent
Base Information
Omitted
Components
Horizontally Centered
Amorphous Polygon
Used for Crime Hot Spot
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Legend (cont.)
Type
Characteristics
Are identical to title
and subtitle
(size excepted)
Mask
Used to prevent
overprinting
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Data Source
Requires
Relatively little
available space
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Data Source (cont.)
“Data Sources:”
Avoids ambiguity
Type Size
Is very small
Italics
Used for
publication names
Multiple Lines
Are horizontally
centered
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Data Source (cont.)
Type
Characteristics
Are identical to title
and subtitle (size
and italics excepted)
Mask
Used to prevent
overprinting
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Bar Scale
Requires
Relatively little
available space
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Bar Scale (cont.)
Maximum Value
Is round and easy
to work with
Intermediate Tics
Included
Unit of Measure
Is Appropriate
(and singular)
Type Size
Is very small
Design
Is simple and
subtle
Extension Scale
Omitted
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Bar Scale (cont.)
Type
Characteristics
Are identical to title
and subtitle
(size excepted)
Mask
Used to prevent
overprinting
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Orientation: North Arrow
Requires
Relatively little
available space
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Orientation: North Arrow (cont.)
Included
To clarify ambiguous
orientation
Type Size
Is very small
Design
Is simple and
subtle
Star
Represents Polaris,
or Geographic North
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Orientation: North Arrow (cont.)
Type
Characteristics
Are identical to title
and subtitle
(size excepted)
Mask
Used to prevent
overprinting
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Type Placement
Descriptive
Labels
Identify base
information
Explanatory
Notes
Describe criteria
used in ranking
Should Not
Attract undue
attention
MAP ELEMENTS and TYPE
•
Type Placement (cont.)
Linear
Features
Are set in Title Case
Areal Features
Are set in UPPER
CASE with
exaggerated letter &
word spacing
Hydrographic
Features
Are italic
Masks and Haloes
Used to prevent
overprinting
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 Howard
American River College