Posted in 03 Mappable Data, 04 Map-Making Tools, 13 Multimedia Mapping on July 31, 2007 | 3 Comments »
Google Earth can display geographic data with a time component, and thus show animated maps. Animated mapping has garnered much attention among cartographers in the last decade.
I created a few Google Earth animated choropleth (literally, area-filling) maps of population change in Ohio. One map shows total population by county from 1900 to 2006. [...]
Posted in 07 Hierarchies on July 25, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Back in the day when I was working at the University of Wisconsin Cartographic Lab we created graphic design guides with different size type, lines, and area shading. Such guides provide, for example, a quick idea of what 10 point black type over a 50% gray background looks like, and help to see design [...]
Posted in 04 Map-Making Tools on July 24, 2007 | No Comments »
A wiki for the State of the Map Conference (14-15 July ‘07 in Manchester, UK) links to a series of presentations (audio, and sometimes slides) on map related topics. Titles include “This Mapping Stuff Could Really Take Off,” “Why Mash-ups Suck (and Cartography Matters),” “Bringing Maps to Life,” “20 Years of Web Mapping,” and [...]
Posted in 09 Map Symbolization, Map History on July 19, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Rock which does not cover,
Coral reef, detached,
Wreck always partially submerged.
A number of sunken wrecks,
Obstruction of any kind,
Limiting danger line.
Foul ground, discolored water,
Position doubtful,
Existence doubtful.
Old map symbols and their descriptions can be poetic, enjoyable to view and read while providing ideas for symbols on contemporary maps. Indeed, is it possible that “maps are poems and [...]
Posted in 09 Map Symbolization, 11 Color on Maps on July 16, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Selecting effective colors for your maps is a challenge. In Making Maps I review basic color issues, including how we see and create colors, as well as the complexity of color interactions and some basic color guidelines.
A myriad of color resources for mapping exist. A few of the more useful are below.
ColorBrewer: Cindy Brewer [...]
Posted in 05 Geographic Framework, 08 Generalization & Classification, Map History on July 12, 2007 | 1 Comment »
I was catching up on back issues of the magazine The Independent (the May 22, 1920 issue) and came across this historical tidbit entitled “These Maps Tell Lies.”
(link to larger PDF)
“An absolutely accurate and truthful map can be used in skillful hands to mislead the unwary. Only the crudest propagandists will distort his [...]
Posted in 03 Mappable Data, 04 Map-Making Tools, 08 Generalization & Classification, 12 Finishing Your Map, Map Police on July 9, 2007 | 1 Comment »
The proliferation of mapping sites on the web provides ample fodder for critique by the map police (cartographic insiders). I usually feel a bit bad whining about the cartographic limitations of such sites. Cartographers have a history of obsessing with rules and such obsession has, arguably, limited creativity and undermined innovations. [...]
