Laura Johnson
Cherie Aukland
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
GeoTEd Partners
Module 4.0 Working with ArcGIS, an Introduction
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Outline
 Map design key points
 Reference versus thematic maps
 Symbology choices
 Map layout elements
 Layout design considerations
 Common Layout Problems
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Image source:
landtrustgis.org
Module name and number
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Map design: purpose
 Why do we need to know about map design?
 Communicate effectively with maps (a picture is worth a
thousand words)!
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Number one consideration
 Who will use the map and what is its purpose?
 This drives all other aspects of map design
 map audience and/or purpose might be broad

Example: a street map of the roads, parks, and towns around
Lake Tahoe
 or narrow
 Example: a scientific map of lake bottom temperatures in
Lake Tahoe
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Two types of maps
 Reference map
 Usually shows lots of different types of
information
 Maximum 4 layers for effective communication
 Example: Road maps, Topographic maps
 Thematic map
 Focused on one type of information, or theme
 Data classified or categorized
 Example: A map of poverty rate by county
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Symbology Choice
 Symbology choices are paramount
 Determined by type of data and
audience/purpose
 Visibility
 Clear communication
 Labels
 Labels should add important information
 Clear at the chosen display scale
 Sans serif fonts are least distracting
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Symbol types
 Types of symbols




Single symbol: Features in ArcMap Layer
Properties
Unique symbols – good for qualitative categories of
things: Categories in ArcMap
Classified symbols – good for quantitative
(numeric) information: Quantities in ArcMap
Color ramps – used for raster (pixel-based) data
layers
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Symbolizing quantitative data
 Graduated colors (choropleth map)
 Graduated symbols
 Proportional symbols
 Dot Density
 Charts
ArcMap HELP LOOKUP
 In ArcMap help, type in
“represent quantity”
 Choose the link “About
symbolizing layers to
represent quantity”
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Choosing classification methods
 Different ways to classify quantitative data
 Depends on
 What you want to show
 The numerical distribution of the data
ArcMap HELP LOOKUP
 In ArcMap help, type in
“classifying”
 Choose the link “Classifying
numerical fields for
graduated symbology”
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Map Elements
 Most map layouts will include:
 A map body
 A title
 A legend
 Scale bar
 North arrow
 Other text (data source, date, author)
 Optional elements
 Overview or inset map
 Grid or graticule
 Additional graphics or photos
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Other Design Issues
 Color
 Balance
 Emphasis
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Color
 Which climate is warmer?
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Color
 Want to choose colors that
 Represent reality as closely as possible
 Are pleasing to the eye
 Portray the message of the map effectively
 Colorbrewer2.org
 Transparency is your friend
 Play with transparency settings on map layers (rightclick on the layer, Properties)
 Make colors less visually jarring
 Reference maps showing multiple data layers
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Balance
 Symbols:
 Don’t crowd
 Make sure they are all visible
 The eye tends to follow a “Z” pattern across a page –
left to right, top to bottom
 Place most important information in the center of the
page
 Linear information (title, scale bar, text) along the top
and bottom
 Balance white space within the layout
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Map layout
Module name and number
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Emphasis
 The emphasis should be the map body
 Emphasize the map body through
 Size: largest map element
 Placement: Central to page layout
 If creating a thematic map, emphasize the theme or subject
of the map
 Reference layers should be less noticeable on thematic layouts
 Legends
 Typically don’t need the title “Legend”
 Make as simple as possible
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Common Layout Blunders
 Not changing the names of data layers
 Leads to non-sensical text in the map legend
 Showing too much detail
 Cluttered map
 Huge, complicated map legends
 Poor color choices
 Using default symbols, particularly for points
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Summary
 Most important consideration?
 Symbology choices
 Look for balance and emphasis on the finished layout
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270
Questions?
Module name and number
NSF DUE-1205110;
0903270