Week 3 - Data Classification
GIS 3015 L

In this week's lab for Cartographic Skills we delved into Data Classification.  Above you will see a map of Escambia County Florida, which highlights the percentage of Blacks found within the US Census tracts.  We were tasked with highlighting four different classification methods utilizing the same data from the Census.  Utilizing ArcGIS I modified the symbology to reflect the Graduated Colors style found in the Quantities symbology.  Here I was able to modify the different classifications that the Quantities symbology uses.  Doing this I highlight the different ways that data can be shown.  Even though the data has remained constant, the way the data is reflected on the map can visually show a different result.

Also in this week's lab we were asked to isolate which map we thought reflected the data best.  I chose the Natural Breaks classification method.  I feel that this classification method better allows the reader to understand the information and does not leave gaps within the legend that may be confusing to some readers.  I also felt the other classifications did not reflect the data as I thought it should be reflected.  I felt anyone reading this map will be able to quickly determine the percentage of blacks within a tract, and this is the ultimate goal of the map.

Week 3 - Cartography

GIS 4043 L

Population of Mexican States - The map above highlights the different states of Mexico and identifies the estimated population of each state.

Central Mexico: Transportation and Urban Areas - In this map I identified all the major and primary rivers found throughout Central Mexico.  Also identified are the federal roadways and rail lines.  This map also highlights the urban areas found throughout Central Mexico.  The inset was added to allow the reader to orient themselves to the location that is the focus.

Mexico: Elevations - This map utilized stretched symbology to highlight the elevations of Mexico.  A Digital Elevation Model was used to show the elevations.  Modifying the DEM symbology allowed me to display the elevation in an appealing manner.

Statistics Lab

GIS 3015

Histograms

This week's lab brought a new understanding of Excel to me through Statistical Analysis.  In the Histogram above, I was able to show the frequency of values based on an array of numbers provided in the lab.    The cumulative percentage was then added.  I tried to take the data that was provided and show it in a normal distribution or as close to one as possible.  The values were still skewed to the left, although not as much as in the default bin distribution. This graph quickly shows the user how often values from the data array were experssed.
 

Week 2

Own Your Map

In the week 2 lab we were tasked with creating a map that reflects the UWF Campus location in Escambia County, Florida.  This project reinforced the fundamentals of map-making as well as working with multiple dataframes.  The purpose of the map was to highlight the location of UWF Campus. I felt that the background color I chose drew the readers attention down slightly on the map, rather than directly to the center.  

Cartographic Skills

Map Critique 

Well Designed Map

Of all the maps to choose, I found that the map of Easter Island stood out as one of the better maps.  The user can easily navigate the map to locate points of interest throughout the island.  The creator of the map draws the reader into the map and its points of interest, utilizing and filling most of the open space with needed information.  With the addition of a location inset, the user can easily identify where he/she is in relation to the world.  Elevation is softly added in the background, and is not too overpowering in order to keep the reader’s attention focused on the points of interest in the legend.  Labels are conveniently placed, and allow the user to see key locations and important texts.  I particularly liked the addition of longitude and latitude lines.  This allowed the map designer to forego the north arrow yet still keep the reader oriented.

Poorly Designed Map 

There were several poorly-designed maps to choose from for this lab.  This map stood out to me.  The design shows a disinterest in the project overall.  Any reader of this map will find it difficult to understand what the designer is trying to display especially since there is no title.  With no legend the reader will find it difficult to distinguish what the designer is trying to display.  The total lack of any of the basic map building blocks leads me to believe the designer of this map was looking to answer a specific question for himself, and was not interested in sharing any findings.  The spaghetti-like model that can be found in the focal point of the map is too overpowering.  Even if the designer added the key information to this map, the user would still be confused and unable to glean any useful information about the topic.

My First Lab! 

Overview of ArcGIS

Wow!  My first lab for Intro to GIS was a fun one.  I think this is a useful representation of what the population of the world was in 2008.  I tried to utilize the lighter to darker shades of red to show how density varied from country to country.  I would have liked to work on the legend a little bit more, possibly rounding the values to whole numbers, but I didn't want to jump too far ahead.  I added the tan color at the bottom of the map in order to break up the "white space" that I felt my eye was focusing on.  I feel with the title, legend, scale, and source information listed at the bottom of the map, the reader will focus on the content of the map rather than the void "white space" that was left at the bottom of the map.