GIS 4006 - Module 2 - Intro to Adobe Illustrator

For this weeks module 2 we were tasked with customizing our module 1 maps of the state of Florida. This weeks module allowed me to familarize myself with much of adobe illustators tool set and I feel like this intro lesson will be useful later on.

I used scripts in this lab exercise to replace all major cities symbols with the symbol for a primitive hut. I did this by selecting both the major cities object and the hut object from the layers panel and ran the supplied script. I also applied this same method to the capital object in order to replace it with a primitive sun symbol.

I added a 1.0 neatframe by drawing a rectangle and adjusting the stroke width and color. I also added a drop shadow to my counties object by selecting it in the layers panel and then choosing the effect tab > stylize > and drop shadow. I added images of Florida’s state flag, salt water fish, and fruit from the web. A custom north arrow was chosen from ArcGIS symbols and a legend was created with corresponding map symbols and elements.

GIS 4006 - Module 1 - Map Critique

For this weeks assignment, Module 1, we were tasked with finding two maps, one that exemplifies a well-designed map, and one that exemplifies a poorly designed map. I chose the following two maps and wrote the following evaluation synopsis for each.

Well-designed Map
Title: National Elevation Data Set Shaded Relief of the United States
Author: United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Theme: Elevation for the United States

I chose this map for the well-designed selection because I feel it conveys the best sense of topography elevation in a simple, clear manner. This map may lack map elements such as scales, legends, and quantitative data but I feel like that information is not necessary to accomplish what the original authors were trying to convey, a good representation of the United States elevation. I believe the first three Tuftesisms represent this map:

1. Graphical excellence is the well-designed presentation of interesting data – a matter of

substance, of statistics, and of design.

2. Graphical excellence consists of complex ideas communicated with clarity, precision, and

efficiency.

3. Graphical excellence is that which gives to the viewer the greatest number of ideas in the

shortest time with the least ink in the smallest space.

Poorly designed Map

Title: N/A

Author: N/A

Theme: Terrain and Collective Groups of Fantasy World.

 

 I chose this map for the poor design selection because although it does convey its intended theme it was assembled in an uncreative and artistically poor manner. The look and feel of this map is achieved minimally using an ordinary Mercator projection, which I would attribute to a lack of creativity. The setting for this map may be fictitious but that does not disqualify it from being a well-designed map. This map fails the following “Tufteisms”:


1. Graphical excellence is the well-designed presentation of interesting data – a matter of substance, of statistics, and of design.

2.Graphical excellence consists of complex ideas communicated with clarity,
precision, and efficiency.

And

20. The revelation of the complex. 

Here is an example of a fictitious map where the artist clearly devoted an enormous amount of artistic detail into, which can be appreciated.

GIS 4006 - Introduction

For the start of spring semester 2019 I have enrolled in the GIS 4006 course Computer Cartography to continue pursuing my minor in the UWF GIS program.

I have a bit of experience with the GIS program here at UWF and I can say that, overall, it has been a pleasing and challenging learning experience. In fact, the last project I did for special topics involved mapping food desert areas for Navarre, Fl which was interesting to apply GIS skills to learn something about my own home town.

My future goals involve pursuing a masters and eventually a job related to Geology/GIS for the U.S. Geological Survey.

Here's a link to my Story Map (Links to an external site)