Google Earth

This week we played with Google Earth! The assignment included creating a simple map (below) featuring layers of population density dots, water features, and county boundaries. We used ArcGIS Pro to symbolize the water layer and exported it into a Google Earth-friendly .kml file. Then it was a matter of assembling the layers and using a provided jpg as an image overlay to add a legend.

The guided tour was a little trickier. We used place markers to help move the map view through various places in South Florida and recorded a brief audio track to go along with it. It took me several tries to get the recording right as you had to click to move the map, toggle on and off layers, and read the audio all at once! I wasn't sure exactly what to say about the places, so of course, I just talked about the archaeology in each of the cities. I didn't know about this feature but will keep this in mind for creating outreach tools in the future.

Isarithmic Mapping

This week we worked on an isarithmic map, using continuous tones, hypsometric tinting, and contour lines to map a dataset of annual precipitation for the State of Washington. We also created a hillshade effect.

The final map I created includes the hypsometric tinting, contour lines, and hillshade effect. We used data from the US Department of Agriculture, created by the PRISM Group at Oregon State University. PRISM is an analytical model that can interpolate datasets like the precipitation from various weather stations. In this instance, the weather data was combined with a DEM to create a dataset representing average annual rainfalls for the entire state. PRISM is an excellent tool to use for locations like Washington that have mountains because it can take into account a lot of factors about the landscape when interpolating the precipitation dataset.

This might be my favorite assignment for this class! I love looking at topography and anticipate I will use the skills I gained in my archaeological endeavors quite a bit in the future.

Choropleth and Proportional Symbol Mapping

 This week, we had to create a map depicting the population density of European countries as well as the wine consumption per capita. We used choropleth mapping techniques to depict the population and proportional or graduated symbols to depict the wine. I opted to use the Quantile method to classify the population density as it offered the most nuanced look at the data. I used the graduated symbols to display the wine consumption as this method seemed to provide the most straight foward information to the viewer.

I used a variety of tools to help sort the data I wanted on the map including SQL queries and data exclusion. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to do the sorting on my project, and finally went to the discussion forum to see how others did it for their maps. It's really neat to see that their are so many different ways to accomplish similar tasks. My biggest struggle was getting the software to draw the labels. Man, did ArcGIS get sluggish! I finally had to just create some of the labels by hand to get things finished up. 

Data Classification

This week, we looked at how various data classifications can visual the same data differently. We used census data from the Florida Geographic Data Library to create simple choropleth maps of seniors in Miami-Dade County. We visualized the percentage of people 65 and above using equal interval, quantile, standard deviation and natural breaks. Next we used population counts naturalized by square mile and created a similar map. I'm including the map that uses the percentage because it better visualizes the data.

My data classification was a little bit of a Goldilocks story! The equal interval method creates classes that are spaced equally along the entire range (0-79%), but presented the data in such a way that looks like very few seniors live in South Florida. Several of the classes don't even appear on the map because there aren't any records that fell into these. The Quantile method put equal numbers of records into the 5 classes ArcGIS computer, but this skews the data in the opposite direction - making it look like high numbers of seniors everywhere! The Standard Deviation method calculates how far the records are from the median, which in turn highlighted the higher and lower than average population areas. This just resulted in a map that was hard to read. So, we come to the just right - the Natural Break method, in which ArcGIS created the classes by lumping similar numbers together. This method allows the viewer to see more nuance in the data.

This has been my favorite assignment so far. I am not the best graphic designer and get frustrated with some of the layout details. I have been referring to them as the fiddling bits as you can sit and fiddle with them forever! I had more fun thinking with this one, thinking about how the classification methods visualized the data so differently and how this can change the meaning and implications of the data.

Cartographic Design

 This week, we explored cartographic design including the design process and Gestalt's principles of organization. Our lab assignment focused on creating a map to display schools in Ward 7 of Washington, DC. We had to focus on the four principles (Visual Hierarchy, Contrast, Figure-Ground Relationship, and Balance) and consider them as we created the design.

I used data provided from UWF to create the map and designed it in ArcGIS Pro. I used the SQL Query to select the neighborhoods I wanted labeled and spent a lot of time playing with the settings on the symbology menus for the various layers. I did convert the Neighborhood names to annotations to adjust their position and even added some of the labels as text in the layout frame, both simple block text as well as curved text for the river. 

To achieve a lot of the principles, I relied on my color choices. I used a simple grey scheme for the basemap, with light colors to represent the other mapped elements including roads, waterways, and parks. I used a pretty classic color scheme for this to keep the map easy to read. I choose bolder colors with a red-blue-green scheme for the schools as this felt thematic for schools - an almost primary color scheme that one might see in an elementary school classroom. The light background and bolder colors for the symbols helped my achieve Visual Hierarchy, contrast, and to some extent, the figure-ground relationship, drawing the viewers eye to the schools and letting the other elements fade into the background. I was able to create balance in the map by adding the most important elements first and then deciding which elements would fit into the available space.