Week 7 - Choropleth Mapping

GIS 3015

 

 

In the above choropleth map I utilized Natural Breaks classification in order to show the percent changes in the U.S. Population Growth from 1990 to 2000.  This project was done initially using ArcGIS and later modified within Adobe Illustrator to move items around and make the map more presentable.

 

 

 

 

In the above choropleth map I utilized Adobe Illustrator to modify the original map to be grayscale.  Then using an excel spreadsheet I calculated the percent change in each Division.  Analyzing the percent change, I chose Equal Interval classification to assign a color (grayscale) scheme to my map.  The intervals were 5.52 (rounded to nearest tenths value in legend), with one outlier.  Displaying this data using this classification method was the most practical.



Week 6 - Typography

GIS 3015

This week we took on the task of Labeling.  More specifically we learned how to use the Typography Floating Palette in Adobe Illustrator.  In this lab we were given a list of locations, around Marathon Florida in the Florida Keys, and tasked with labeling those locations on the Map.   The map above is the result of taking everything we learned this week in Typography and putting it into practice.  Font, font size, color, stroke, and font style all played a role in delivering a useful map to the reader.  With the above map, a reader should be able to find the highlighted Cities, Parks, and City Features around Marathon Florida quite easily.

Week 6 - Projections Part II

 

GIS 4043 L

 

 



 

In my opinion this has been one of the most time consuming, yet beneficial labs that I have done so far in the course.  This lab was all about the Projections.  I defined Projected Coordinate Systems, as well as, re-projected other already defined Projected Coordinate Systems.  I also worked with Excel files and learned how to bring tables that contained Longitude and Latitude coordinates in degrees, minutes, and seconds into GIS utilizing the Add XY data feature in ArcMap.  The map above shows the NorthEast part of Escambia County.  In it you will see several layers that I downloaded and manipulated to have all the data projected as the same Projected Coordinate System.  The Petroleum Storage Tanks were initally an Excel file with locations defined by Longitude and Latitude.  When completed, the Excel file is now a shapefile in which data can be added and manipulated.  

Week 5 - Map Composition

GIS 3015

For Week 5 in Cartographic Skills we looked at Map Composition and organization.  The focus was on the percentage of Hispanic population in Southern Florida.  The above map highlights these areas utilizing a monochrome color scheme from a lighter shade to a darker shade.  The goal in this is to allow the reader to easily recognize Hispanic population density.  Also utilizing feature-ground techniques I applied a lighter shade to the background.  This in turn caused the focus of the map to be accentuated. 

Adobe Illustrator was utilized entirely for this project and in this lesson we learned more about the AI program and the features and tools that are available to the user.  Primarily we learned about the different ways to change colors within AI.

Week 5 - Projections Part 1

GIS 4043 L

This week we discussed Projections.  The above map "Analysis of Florida Projections" was created to highlight to differences in projected coordinate systems.  Looking at the legend you can see the area in square miles for each county specified.  Depending upon the type of coordinate system used the county area is skewed and therefore displays a different area.  The Albers map above is the best coordinate system to use when analyzing the entire state of Florida.  The UTM projected coordinate system bisects the state of Florida, and areas farther East and West of the center will be more distorted.  Whereas, with the State Plane North projected coordinate system, the distortions will be greater further to the south of the state, such as Miami-Dade County due to its distance from the panhandle.  

This week we also discussed the difference between the Project tool and the Define Projection tool.  The differences between these two tools should not be overlooked.

Week 4 - Intro to Illustrator

GIS 3015

This week in my Cartography Skills class we were introduced to Adobe Illustrator.  From what I have seen, visually Adobe Illustrator takes Cartography / Map making to the next level.  Although the ESRI program ArcMap is very robust, it does lack some of the artwork that Adobe Illustrator can provide.  This week's class introduced us to some of the basic functions of AI and taught us how to save MXD files as an AI file and open them in Adobe Illustrator to manipulate them further.  This week we focused on familiarizing ourselves with the Workspace and some of the tools provided there.  We used shape tools, line tools, text tools and layer palettes all in order to present a final map in a more aesthetically pleasing way.  The above map shows the cities, and county boundaries for Florida.  Using Adobe Illustrator we grouped objects together that would allow them to be manipulated and resized all while maintaining their relative positions.

Week 4 - ArcGIS Online and Map Packages

GIS 4043 L

This week we were introduced to ESRI ArcGIS Online and Map Packages.  I was actually fortunate enough already to have an ESRI global account as I maintain my department's ArcGIS licensing.  I did not however have that global account registered to use ArcGIS online.  Once all my accounts were set up and working properly I walked through both the "Authoring Web Maps Using ArcGIS Online" and "Creating and Sharing Map Packages (for ArcGIS 10.1)" from ESRI's Training sessions.  These seminars/training exercises were great!  By the end of training I was able to create group layers, display the same layers in different scale ranges, create map packages, and share map packages making them available to others quickly and easily.  I also went the extra mile and put together a web map for my department.  My supervisor was highly impressed with the demonstration that I showed him, and has set up a meeting with the Township Engineer, OEM Supervisor, as well as the Public Works Director next week.  There I will demonstrate how Web Mapping can be utilized in a crisis event, and open the discussion for future use.  Want to see?  Search for the map "Bernards Township Road Closures during Sandy" at www.arcgis.com/home ... (or I can just attach it for you below)  Keep in mind it's a really rough draft that I threw together in just a few minutes for demonstration purposes.   I just want to show some of the features that are available.

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