TEMPUS PROJECT GEM 510978-TEMPUS-12010-AT-TEMPUS-JPCR
Osh Technological University
Module: Cartography & Visualization
Map Design & Layout
Kochkonbaeva Buazhar
“Map Design and Layout”
The Map Design Process
• Choosing a Map Size
• Elements of a map composition
• The Design Filter
• Planar Organization of Visual
Elements
“Map Design and Layout”
Common Mapping Sizes
Letter . . . . . . . . . . 8.5” x 11”
Legal . . . . . . . . . . . 8.5” x 14”
Ledger . . . . . . . . . . 11” x 17”
USGS Quad . . . . . . . 24” x 30”
“2x3” . . . . . . . . . . . 24” x 36”
“3x4” . . . . . . . . . . . 36” x 48”
“Map Design and Layout”
Standard Media Sizes
ANSI Size
Inches
A
8.5 x 11
"Letter"
B
11 x 17
"Tabloid"
C
17 x 22
D
22 x 34
E
34 x 44
“Map Design and Layout”
Page Orientation
Portrait
Landscape
Changing Page Size & Orientation in
ArcMap
“Map Design and Layout”
Elements of a Map Composition
Title and Subtitle
Legend
Scale Bar
Inset Map
Credit Note
Date
Logo
North Arrow
Mapped and Unmapped Areas
Borders and Neatlines
Graticules and Grids
Map Symbols
Place Names and Labeling
Map Layout
Title
► What
► Where
► When
Titles are important map elements, and
type size should be two to three times
the size of the type on the map itself. A
subtitle, in smaller type, is appropriate
for longer titles or more complex map
subjects.
Title - Usually draws attention by
virtue of its dominant size; serves to
focus attention on the primary
content of the map; may be omitted
where captions are provided but are
not part of the map itself.
Adding Titles in ArcMap
Legends
The legend is the graphic guide
that you provide to your audience.
You do not always need to provide
symbols for all of the information
used in your maps.
Legend - The principal symbolreferent description on the map;
subordinate to the title, but a key
element in map reading; serves to
describe all unknown symbols used.
Adding Legends in ArcMap
Scale
Large scale maps should always include a scale. Maps that
inform the user about differences in distance or area should
also include a scale. Small scale maps may not need a scale,
as scale varies greatly with world or continental projections.
Verbal and visual scales make more sense to the average
reader. Include a visual scale if the map will be reprinted or
resized.
Map Scale - Usually included on a
thematic map; it provides the reader with
important information regarding linear
relations on the map; can be graphic,
verbal, or expressed as an RF.
“Map Design and Layout”
More on Map Scale
Map scale is a unit of measurement on the map
related to the appropriate number of same units on
the Earth’s surface and is usually stated as a
representative fraction.
For example: 1/24,000 or 1:24,000 scale One (1) unit
on the map represents 24,000 units on the ground (1 inch =
24,000 inches which equates to 1 inch = 2000 feet).
Adding Scale in ArcMap
Inset Maps
Inset Map or Location Diagram –
This informs the map user of the context
of the map, i.e. the big picture. This will
keep the user from having to guess the
location of the map.
Adding Inset Maps in ArcMap
Locator Maps
Adding Locator Maps in ArcMap
Explanatory Text
Sources and Credits
Informational or Credit Note Can Include the map’s data source, an
indication of their reliability, dates, and
other explanatory material.
Date – Use if the time of a map’s
publication is a factor. This may also work
well as part of the Sub-title.
Adding Explanatory Text in ArcMap
Text tools in ArcMap could be better
► Insert Text from the menu has very limited options
► Instead use the text tools on the draw menu (see below)
► Use New Rectangle Text tool if you want text wrapping
►
Company Identifier or Logo – Take
credit where credit’s due. Make sure to
use a high quality logo, especially for
partnering agencies.
Directional Indicator
Indicating Direction in ArcMap
change map N
orientation in data
frame properties
“Map Design and Layout”
Elements of a Map
Composition
Borders and Neatlines - Both optional; borders
can serve to restrain eye movement; neatlines are
finer lines than borders, drawn inside them and often
rendered as part of the graticule; used mostly for
decoration.
Borders
Adding Borders in ArcMap
“Map Design and Layout”
Graticules and Grids
- Often omitted from thematic maps today; should be
included if their locational information is crucial to the
map’s purpose; usually treated as background or
secondary information. Grids show the same information,
but display it across the body of the map and not just
along the neatline.
Adding Grids & Graticules in ArcMap
Grids& Graticules are
added in the data
frame properties
Coordinate values will
be added to the
boundary of map
Tasks for students
Map design and layout
Goals: To learn about map design principles in order to make maps that function well for their intended purpose.
Objectives: When you are finished this lab you should gain the following:
Mapping Science knowledge:
You will learn about map design and the elements that are typically added to a map including:
Titles
Legends
Explanatory text, source statements
Inset and locator maps
Scale
Directional Indicators
Neat lines and borders
Grids and Graticules
ArcGIS skills:
You will learn how to add each of the above map elements to a map layout (for example: about setting the map scale)
You will especially learn how to manipulate the data frame properties where much of these elements are implemented.
Deliverables:
You are responsible to create an 11X17 map of a country of your choosing that has 3 different map views: 1) political, 2)
population, and 3) physical. You are also required to have all the elements added to the map listed on the required
elements.
Task:
Create a map layout of a country Kyrgyzstan.
Thank you for your
attention!