Data Presentation in GISCartographic Basics

Why This Workshop?

• Learn a few key cartographic principles

– Many professionals using GIS don’t have background

in cartography, color or design

• Learn how to share those principles

– Help others create clear maps

WHY cartography is important…Help others to see/understand the results of your efforts

Your audience is

going to expect

more & know less

GOAL

Present Information in a Clear & Useful Map

Manipulating Graphic Properties

of Map Elements– Carefully & accurately

represent information

– Create visual hierarchy

– Maintain clarity and

legibility

Projects

GIS Dept.

Enterprise

Societal

The Communication Channel

REALITY

Data collection

& compilation Selection

Recognition

Classification

Simplification

Symbolization

and

Map Creation

CARTOGRAPHER

MENTAL IMAGE OF

“REALITY”

Read

Analyze

InterpretMAP USER

?

Investigation/Preparation

• Identify Map User

– Display medium (paper or digital)?

– Available time & proximity to map?

– Users expected understanding of map data?

– In or out of peer group?

• Determine Map Focus/Extent

– What information is being presented?

– Layers needed to present a complete picture?

– Extent of important layers?

• Hardcopy?

• Data Scale vs. Output Size

How big can you print?

CAN you show what you want?

• Paper Types

• Plotter restrictions

• Digital / On-line

• Resolution/size of screen

• How much data can be seen

Think of end result before you begin

Considerations

• Determine Data:

– Selection

– Classification

– Simplification

– Symbolization

• Determine Map Type:

– General or “Reference” Map

– Thematic Map

General Maps

• Locational

• Positional

• Display a Variety of Features

for a Variety of Users

– More information than

any single user needs

Thematic Maps

• Display the Structure of

Distribution

– Qualitative - Soil type

• Display Specific Attributes or

Relationships

– Quantitative - Soil Depth

Type A

Type KType C2

Type C

Type E

Over 8”

Under 1” 3-5”

1-3”

5-8”

Do you have all of these????

•Scale Bar/Ratio

•Data Sources

•Classification

Methodology

•North Arrow

•Map View

•Print Date

•Data Date

•Neatline

•Legend

•Logo

•Location of “Plot file”

Cartographic Components

Clarity & Legibility

• Visual Contrast

• Visual Balance

Manipulate graphic elements

• Color

• Text Selection

• Symbol Selection

text

Text

?

TEXT

Visual Contrast

• Basis for Seeing

– Aids differentiation

– Creates hierarchy

• Creating Contrast

– Color

– Value

– Size

– Shape

– Texture

Bridgerton

Riverdale

Gotham

Holbein

Bridgerton

Riverdale

GOTHAM Holbein

Visual Contrast: Examples

• Size

• Value

Creating Visual Hierarchy

Use line weight,

shading, & text

to create depth.

Color

• Hue (H) - What We Mean by “Color”

–Qualitative Symbols

Polychromatic

–Quantitative Symbols

Monochromatic/Dichromatic

• Value (V) - “Light and Dark”

–Quantitative Symbols

• Saturation (S) - Intensity of a Hue

–Least controllable

–Larger areas appear more intense

Color

• Clarify and Delineate Features

• More Details & Design Possibilities

• More Visual Interest

• Clarify Facts

Type A

Type KType C2

Type C

Type EOver 8”

Under 1” 3-5”

1-3”

5-8”

Qualitative

(Polychromatic)Quantitative

(Monochromatic / Dichromatic)

Color models

•Different models for different uses

•RGB (Red-Blue-Green)

–CRT display LIGHT

•CMYK (Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black)

–Printing/Plotting PIGMENT

•HSV (Hue-Saturation-Value)

–Primary Colors INTUITIVE

–ArcView‟s color model

HSV: ArcView‟s Color Model

Hue - What we mean by „color‟

Saturation - How much „color‟

Value - Light & dark of „color‟

All the colors of the rainbow

0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255

Adding color/pigment . . . . .

. . . . . Adding black

Manipulating HSV

Using HSV for effect

• Manipulate HSV to create colors that go well together

–Select the same color for polygon fill & outline

–Open ArcView‟s “Custom” color editor and drop the “Value” of

the outline, or turn it off together

–Create more contrast between line & polygon features

Perception of Graphics

• Eye Limitation

– 12 colors

– 7 Shades of the same color

• Texture vibration

Creating dynamic ramps

Use the CTRL button to create complex ramps

• Complex graduated

color rampsDigital Elevation Model

94.738 - 243.516243.516 - 392.294392.294 - 541.071541.071 - 689.849689.849 - 838.626838.626 - 987.404987.404 - 1136.1821136.182 - 1284.9591284.959 - 1433.7371433.737 - 1582.5151582.515 - 1731.2921731.292 - 1880.071880.07 - 2028.8472028.847 - 2177.6252177.625 - 2326.4032326.403 - 2475.182475.18 - 2623.9582623.958 - 2772.7362772.736 - 2921.5132921.513 - 3070.291

+• Graduated unique

in one ramp

Open Areas

Natural Open Space

Public Facilities & Open Space

Parks - Public

Parks - Other Recreation

Agriculture

Residential - Rural & Residential

Residential - Semi- Rural

Residential - Estate

Residential - Hillside

Residential - Low Density

Residential - Medium Density

Residential - Medium-High Density

Residential - High Density

Mixed Use - Residential Emphasis

Commercial - Business & Office

Commercial - Service

Commercial Center

Commercial - Automotive Park

Industry - General

Industry - Business Park

Industry - Light

Office - Low Rise

Office - Mid Rise

Mixed Use - Office Emphasis

Residential

Commercial

Industrial

Office Bldgs

City of Riverside - LandUse

Labels

• Presence or absence of a label

assigns importance

– “Riverdale” is unimportant,

therefore it bares no label

Bridgerton

Riverdale

Gotham

Holbein

Bridgerton

Holbein

GOTHAM

Text Selection

• Qualitative

– Vary: color-H > style > font

• Quantitative

– Vary: CASE > size > font > color-H > color-H

• Be Aware of Text Color vs Background Color

• Limit Text to Three Fonts

– Use style, CASE, color-H and color-H

Label Placement

• Help User Read Faster and Easier

– Consistent Placement

– Resolve Ambiguity

Combine with symbol

selection to complete

differentiation

Point Symbol

• Geometric symbols

– Quantitative

– Qualitative

• Icons

– Quantitative

– Qualitative

• Symbols

– “Picture” images

– Qualitative

Line Symbols

Value

Size

Value

w/Direction

Size

w/Direction

Hue

Shape

Hue

w/Direction

Quantitative Qualitative

• Display Qualitative Classes

–TEXT Color-H Style Font

–POINT Color-H Marker Size Label

–LINE Color-H Marker Size Label

–AREA Color-H Fill/Outline Label

• Display Quantitative Classes

–TEXT Case Size Font Color-V

–POINT Size Color-V Label Marker

–LINE Size Color-V Label Marker

–AREA Color-V Fill/Outline Label

Note: Limit # of Text Fonts to ThreeText Color vs. Background Color

Symbol & Text Selection

Simplify, align & group

Open Areas

Natural Open Space

Public Facilities & Open Space

Parks - Public

Parks - Other Recreation

Agriculture

Residential - Rural & Residential

Residential - Semi- Rural

Residential - Estate

Residential - Hillside

Residential - Low Density

Residential - Medium Density

Residential - Medium-High Density

Residential - High Density

Mixed Use - Residential Emphasis

Commercial - Business & Office

Commercial - Service

Commercial Center

Commercial - Automotive Park

Industry - General

Industry - Business Park

Industry - Light

Office - Low Rise

Office - Mid Rise

Mixed Use - Office Emphasis

Residential

Commercial

Industrial

Office Bldgs

City of Riverside - LandUse

• Example: creating a complex

legend

– “Grouping” graphic elements

– “Align” individual & grouped

elements

Direction

Speed / Volume

Legend ideas

• Study maps for Legend ideas– Be creative

be careful!

– Simplify - Edit Predefined Legends

– Create adjacent color bar with dropped values

Hillshade legends

12 Million

20 Million

8 Million

6 Million

POPULATION

Hills

had

e S

cale

FINALLY . . .

• Does the end product actually fit the need?

• Enduser understand scale bar or ratio scale?

• Map date and data date clearly stated?

• Data source, projection, quality & quality issues

stated clearly?

• Sacrifice clarity for beauty?

• Include classification methods?

• Disclaimer?

Jonathon Corbridgejcorbridge@esri.com

Online Resources @ ESRI• Resources.esri.com

• Mappingcenter.esri.com

• Store.esri.com

Jonathon Corbridgejcorbridge@esri.com

BOOKS!

ESRI:Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users

Designed Maps: A Sourcebook for GIS Users

AMAZON:How to Lie with Maps

Colour Basics for GIS Users

BUY A

COLOR WHEEL!