Esri International User Conference 2015 Navigating Preconceptions to Create Better Maps

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Arnold Wilcox
5 years ago
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1 Navigating Preconceptions to Create Better Maps Interdisciplinary Collaboration to Improve Cartography

2 Kristin N. Hart Mapping and Spatial Services Group Lead / Senior GIS Specialist Bachelors in Geography, Environmental Studies, & Geological Sciences - UCSB GIS practitioner since 2004 Awarded GISP Certification Esri UC award for Best Cartographic Presentation in 2009 Esri UC Moderated Paper Presenter Active member: CA Geodetic Control Working Group Co-Author and Contributor: Retaining California s Coastal Agricultural Land through economic incentives, regulation, and purchase

3 Padre Associates Inc. Multidisciplinary consulting firm established in 1996 Provide balanced and unique solutions through a blending of complementary technical service areas: Environmental Services Geoenvironmental Services Geotechnical/Civil Engineering Mapping & Spatial Services

4 Topics of Discussion The Challenge Identifying Issues The Plan The Results What we Learned

5 The Specific Challenge Report maps for a large project had been updated in the same style for many years Responsibility of the maps was transitioned to a different group New group saw room for improvement in the maps and the way they were produced Non-mapping staff working on the reports were happy with the maps as they were

6 The Broader Challenge Non-mapping staff have an idea of what they want and how things should be depicted BUT they often lack a general understanding of principals of cartography and the process for creating a map and tools used (and tools available) to get to that end product In short: Give the customer what they want without compromising cartography

7 Identifying issues Colors not representative of features meaning Labels for different types of features in the same color Legend and other map elements interfering with map

8 Identifying issues Colors not representative of features meaning Overlapping features are confusing 11x17 Portrait format page is awkward in bound report Legend and other map elements interfering with map

9 Identifying issues Graphs within the map are confusing Lots of white space

10 Identifying issues Non-intuitive color scheme Over exaggerated feature sizes give a false sense of data

11 The Plan Build a collaborative relationship between the nonmapping and mapping staff Be positive frame as an opportunity to improve Do not put down existing maps Make and ask for suggestions Bring non-mapping staff into the process Plan to make improvements each report cycle Gradual changes will make the transition easier Prioritize changes

12 The Plan cont. Make minor changes to maps appearance to improve cartography Use transparency, coordinate symbols of like things, use intuitive choropleth colors, use imagery for context Employ tools to improve efficiency and consistency data driven text, data driven pages, bookmarks, extent indicators

13 The Results

14 Before for comparison

15 The Results

16 Before for comparison

17 The Results

18 Before for comparison

19 The Results

20 Before for comparison

21 What we learned Change is really scary.but can be really good! Gradually making changes to the look of the maps keeps us looking for opportunities for improvement Keeps us from getting set in our ways Compromise and discussion about the process alleviated frustration on both sides Working on interdisciplinary teams allowed opportunity for all parties to expand their knowledge and improve process for working together

22 Questions? Kristin N. Hart Senior GIS Specialist Mapping and Spatial Services Group Lead Padre Associates, Inc.

Bridging Subsurface Geologic Databases with Cross-Sections in GIS

Bridging Subsurface Geologic Databases with Cross-Sections in GIS Eva E. von Thury ESRI International User Conference Padre Associates, Inc. Project Geologist / GIS Analyst June 29, 2016 Outline Introduction