More info on Mason Shuttle Map Competition

I spoke with Dr. Delamater and he emphasized that this is meant to be fun!

Once you email him with your intent to make a map, he will email back the data. There is an Adobe Illustrator version perfect for 310 students. Once you finish your map, email it to him. He will take care of the printing! Unlike previous years where the maps were taped to the wall of the Center of the Arts, Dr. Delameter will be printing several maps on a plotter sheet and affixing them on large boards. Should look nice.

As for the presentation...there is nothing you have to do! You do not need to be there to compete and they will not ask you any questions. Easy.

Lastly, emailing him your intent to compete is non-binding. If things get too busy, that's fine. Just let him know you need to back out.

I'll give you 20 extra credit points for entering a map.
Intent emails are due today: pdelamat@gmu.edu

Do it!!

GIS Day & Student Competitions

GIS Day is coming up on Wednesday Nov 19th. This year there are two student competitions: a Student Poster Competition and a Mason Shuttle Map. Entering either one (regardless of your outcome in the competition) will yield **20 Extra Credit points**

You must email your intent to present by this Friday, Oct 31 (this has been extended and is different from what the flyers state). The class and I will help give you feedback on your map/poster.

The Mason Shuttle Map is particularly suited to this class -- they are offering the data in Illustrator (.ai) format!

The Student Poster Competition showcases the results of your own research.

There will also be point given for attending the GIS Day event on Wed. Nov 19th. Handout will appear the day before the event.

Lab 8: Isoline example maps

NOTE: Some of these maps were map with different data values/locations so use these as design references (not as interpolation guides)!

Weekly Blog Map #9: Dot Density

You know the routine: track down an interesting example map online and post it on your blog with an explanation as to why you selected that map. Dot density is your task this week. Population maps, as you can tell, are popular, but there are loads of topics out there. See what you can find!

Dots...and more dots

For Lab 9, aim for 1000 to 2000 total dots on the map (1500 works). Yes, that is a heck of a lot of dots. But this is the way to make a very nice distribution. Dot density maps are not hard to make, they just take time (and lots of patience).

How do you decide the value of your dot? It is a little guessing, a little sleuthing. First, I'd say that 1500 dots is a very, very rough guide for the total number on your entire map (not necessarily the case for other states). With that in mind, you could add up all the values in your data and divide it by 1500. The number you will get is your first guess. Next you need to make sure that your county with the smallest number of values will have a min of 1 dot (if it has data, it should really have a dot). If it has no data, then it can be blank). If your smallest value is, say 532, then aim to make your dot value 500 or lower.

Some comments about the sample map in the write-up:

1.The dot in the legend has a small box around it. I hate that box. Please don't but a box around it! Showing the dot in the legend is optional. If you feel it is so small it will get lost, leave it out.

2. In the example map, the ancillary idea was taken too far. I feel as if I'm looking at the major highways of WV -- too many lines of dots and clumps. This is the finesse part -- learning to scatter but let some clumps. Do aim to have the highest value location coalesce (and potentially a few more places depending on your data).

3. Yes, I emphasized "small" dots. But don't go too small. Again, try mapping the county with the highest number of values to gauge the density of the dots.

4. Keeping your basemap on a layer separate from the dots will help you resize dots if needed. And you can lock the basemap so it doesn't move. And you can more easily give it a tinted fill or fiddle with the boundary line thickness/tints.

5. If you find tricks or have questions, please post a comment here. Thanks!

Lab 9 Dot Density examples (many from when it was a grayscale lab)

Creative fuel...

Weekly Blog Post #8: Isoline map

Find a map example of the isoline/contour variety. Any topic. Find something interesting!

SF Literary Map

This fits with our point data theme this week: http://www.sfchronicle.com/theliterarycity/

Dots! (and more dots and more dots and more dots)

Here are some dot maps to peruse:

Chicago Race/Ethnicity and Income:  http://www.radicalcartography.net/index.html?chicagodots

A series of maps inspired from the previous set for 103 different urban zones in the US:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkingsf/sets/72157624812674967/with/4982043082/

And just some interesting maps:

United States of Sports  http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/slate_labs/2013/10/united_sports_of_america_map_if_each_state_could_have_only_one_sport_what.html

A collection of interesting maps (perhaps there is some final project inspiration in here -- some are ripe for improvement):  http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/maps-you-never-knew-you-needed

Wired's Top 13 Infographics of 2013: http://www.wired.com/design/2013/10/13-sterling-pieces-of-data-viz-from-the-best-american-infographic-2013/#slideid-257961

Lab 8: Intro for Tues/Thurs folks this Tues

Just a reminder that Lab 8 was pushed back to this Tues (Oct 28th) so that the class could continue to work on Lab 7.

Lab 7: Proportional Symbol is due at the start of lab tomorrow (Oct 28th).

Alaska's outdated terrain maps

Alaska's terrain maps are apparently much less accurate than the 48 states -- and this causes some serious issues. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/alaskas-outdated-maps-make-flying-a-peril-but-a-high-tech-fix-is-slowly-gaining-ground/2014/10/14/bc2e601e-4fd4-11e4-8c24-487e92bc997b_story.html

Show & Tell

Yes...Show & Tell. You might be a big ol' college student but I'm bringing back preschool. In a good way. I promise.

In an effort to hear more from each of you in the class and see a wider variety of maps I want you to bring in (or pull up online) and map of your choosing. Show it to the class. Tell us why you selected it and what is unique about it. Inspire us. Five minutes max.

What kind of map? Ideally it is a map that you have used for something (work, travel, or research), or you made it in the past, or saw it at a museum, or it highlighted a phenomena in a whole new way OR simply you were awestruck by it. No restrictions....but it has to be a quality map. Paper maps are encouraged, but it can be a digital format. It can be a singular map or a component of a larger product.

When is this due? You have to have it ready to present sometime before the last day of class. Aim for sooner rather than later! It is worth 20 points (5 for your map pick and 15 for what you say). Should be easy and informal!

Using Open Street Map in Ebola crisis zones

Interesting article on the rapid mapping techniques of OSM in areas with little Google Map coverage. It is mapping on demand to help those in need and the folks there to help. A win-win!

You can map anything if you can find data..

From an article in the Washington Post identifying the countries that drink the (apparently) unpleasant beverage.

Smooth Continuous Surfaces

Some graphics of isolines:

James Niehues -- Ski Map god: http://www.jamesniehues.com/

The go-to site for shaded relief info: http://www.shadedrelief.com/

Shaded Relief

This site (http://www.shadedrelief.com/ ) is an excellent source of information, images, and trends in shaded relief and mapping physical environments. I highly recommend you check it out!

Map of Texting Fines by State

Interesting map -- simple but informative.

Lab due dates

Lab 6: Color -- due at the END of lab today (Tues Oct 21)
Lab 7: Proportional Symbol -- due Tuesday Oct 28 at the start of lab
Lab 8: Isarithmic Map -- due Thursday Oct 30 at the start of lab

Yes, there is overlap...but you still have a week to complete each one.

Final Project Examples from the past

Here are links to many final projects from GGS310 in the past (and a graduate Thematic Cartography course). I will continue to collect more to show you.

http://ggs310.posthaven.com/final-project-maps-from-a-graduate-class-in-s
http://ggs310.posthaven.com/final-projects-from-2-3-years-ago
http://ggs310.posthaven.com/and-more-45
http://ggs310.posthaven.com/final-projects-from-fall-2009

One more thing to think about with your final project

There are two map competitions for college students (one sponsored by National Geographic and one by CaGIS). Your final project map could certainly be designed to be entered into one (or both) of these. 

Details: http://www.natgeomaps.com/mapawards.html

Also you should look at NACIS (North American Cartographic Information Society). They have their own competitions and are more at the forefront of mapping that any other oganization: http://nacis.org/

Final Project Proposal Presentation

In addition to the written proposal posted to your blog, I'm having everyone give a quick presentation of the topic you will be mapping. The goal is to gather lots of resources and feedback right from the start.

For the presentation: No powerpoint needed. Show us your blog and paraphrase your proposal. If you are inspired by an online map, show us! Explain how yours will be different/better/more detailed, etc. If you cannot find a site online similar to your idea, find an example of the style of map you want to create as a visual reference point. Make sure you have at least one map to show that connects in some way to your proposal.

Presentations will be on the same day as the proposal-- Tuesday Nov 4th

Final Project Topic and Proposal

For the topic, think of something interesting, something that could link up with a project for a different class (I'm ok with double-dipping), or just something you've been curious to see as a map. Anything goes -- any topic is fair game (well, provided it won't get me in trouble).

Single variable maps are the easiest (and what I recommend). I will, however, let you make a bivariate map (2 datasets). Three or more datasets on one map are prohibited for this project (they get logarithmically more complex). Just one word of caution on bivariate: don't get caught up trying to answer a question with the map (i.e. don't think of this as a GIS project where you need a map to show a result). For this class, the *map* is the key component. Doesn't matter if the topic has been done before, just so long as your map is fantastic. Focus your energy on the graphic not the data.

In order to make the map you must have data. Really search for the data before you settle in on your topic. This is often the "make or break" step of an idea. If there is a topic you love but can't find any data, let me know and I'll do some sleuthing as well. And Joy Suh, the Geography-oriented librarian at Fenwick library is also an excellent resource (for both data and ideas). I recommend seeing her if you are stumped. One last approach is to find a bad map of interesting data, and set about making it better (much, much better).

To help you nail down your idea (and communicate it to me) I want your to write a proposal. It needs to be a well-written blog post of around 500 words covering the following points:

-map subject

-reason why this is your pick

-map audience

-type of map you're envisioning

-scope of map (world? Virginia? Dorm room?)

-data specs (note where the data is from, the year, the size/complexity of the dataset, and the apparent accuracy)

-basemap needed for map

-expected production steps (be realistic and calendar focused)

-challenges you perceive

***The Final Project Proposal is due Tuesday Nov 4th at the start of lecture*** You must have it posted to your blog by then. If you have any questions, I'm more than happy to hear your ideas. Fire away!

Weekly Blog Map #7: Proportional Symbol

Ok...you know the drill. Find a map online that is a well crafted example of a proportional symbol/graduated circle map. Any topic. Any symbol (geometric or mimetic).

Graduated Symbols

Neat graduated circle map projecting US pop in 2050 with graduated circles emphasizing major urban centers: http://www.america2050.org/images/2050_Map_Megaregions_Influence_150.png

Very nice interactive map from NYTimes of Immigration data from 1880. Has both choropleth and graduated circle variations: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/10/us/20090310-immigration-explore...

Visualizing the US power grid (note the isoline version as well): http://www.npr.org/2009/04/24/110997398/visualizing-the-u-s-electric-grid

World population: Not the snazziest symbols, but I bet you like the 2.5D aspect: http://thematicmapping.org/api/symbolimage.php

And to be topical, here are two Ebola maps with graduated symbols: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/15/understanding-the-ebola-epidemic-in-2-charts-and-2-maps/ 

Lab 7 Example Maps

Above: Well done. Great legend. Nice size range and crisp identifiable symbol (but you get to use color!)

Above: Creative legend! Nice use of drop shadows (which help with figure/ground contrast). To apply the drop shadow you will need to "group" your counties first. This defines the outside of the whole state as the boundary to receive the shadow. Otherwise you may get internal shadows on some of the counties which looks odd.

Above: very nice example. Good symbol and legend. Rotated with north arrow.

Above: Another good example. Also rotated with small north arrow. 

Above: This student really pushed the design! Unique legend and background.

Above: more complicated dataset (diverging). Also uses a photo as the background. 

Above: Nice icon. You can always start searching for a "vector" image -- you may get lucky. If you only find raster examples (and aren't keen on hand crafting one in Illustrator) bring in the raster version and trace vector linework on top of it. Then delete the original raster ("white box") version. 

**Class Cancelled Today!**

**Today's class and lab (Thursday Oct 16th) are cancelled**

I apologize for the late notice but I just don't feel well. I got up and showered and figured I'd improve but I haven't. :(

So…Lab 6 will be pushed back to the END of lab next TUES 10-21. I will try to drop off the graded Lab 5's to the GGS student lab tomorrow so you can pick it up and see if any changes need to be made. 

We were supposed to begin Lab 7: Proportional Symbol today. I will push that back, too. Will send out notice later when I figure it out. I will also update the class calendar. 

If you see any classmates, please tell them! I don't want to miss anyone. 

-Professor Hallden

Look what the Washington Post plopped on Sunday's front page

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/foreign-fighters-flow-to-syria/2014/10/11/3d2549fa-5195-11e4-8c24-487e92bc997b_graphic.html

Notes on Lab 6: Color

1. The lab write-up states that your neatline must have a background that is something other than white or black...but I'm guessing some of you are not reading the instructions all the way through. So to be blunt: put a colored fill in your neatline (and yes, you need a neatline!). I did say in lab that I'd accept black (which I can't take back), but I absolutely do not want white. Selecting a color that complements your map and does not compete for attention is a trial and error process I want you to work through. Lab 6 shouldn't be a super quick gray-to-color switch. It is a DESIGN lab.

2. I demoed the ColorBrewer utility in lab on Thursday and if you're keen on bringing the colors right into Illustrator I have good news: Rob figured it out! Export your chosen color ramp from the ColorBrewer as an Adobe Illustrator Swatch Exchange File. In Illustrator, go to the Swatches panel. The bottom left corner has a button (library button) -- click on it. Select at the bottom "Other library..." and search to find where ever Windows saved your Adobe Illustrator Swatch Exchange File. It should come right into your Swatches panel! (though if you change computers I'm not sure if it will stay with your lab file or will need to be reattached)

3. Lab 6 is due at the END of lab on Thursday so you have time to make corrections to anything in your graded Lab 5. I may be able to get the graded lab 5's dropped off in the GGS student lab before Thursday....I'll let you know.

Lab 6: Color Examples from the past

Very creative approach (above)

Look at how the legend was designed (above)

Very distinctive approach (above)

The map above is a great example -- looks professional. Note the sideways legend. The tan background she selected works with many different color schemes. 

Creative legend (missing scale)

Nice  color pairing for figure/ground (above)

Note the small style additions to an otherwise standard map (you have to add scale, though).

Weekly Blog Post #6: Color

Pick and post a map that uses color in a creative, effective way. Any topic, any style. Find something that you feel is really well crafted!

Crayola colors through time