Cartography Celebrated – The Year in Maps
We started off 2008 with a fantastic map exhibit at the Chicago Field Museum “Maps – Finding Our Place in the World.” Ending the year, the Boston Globe has offered an interesting article on what is described as a “cartography boom” http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/12/28/the_year_in_maps/ .
Company Launch – New Mapping Software for the Mac
I’m pleased to announce the launch of Mapdiva, LLC, a partnership among Graham Cox and Jill Saligoe-Simmel, to develop Ortelius™ – powerful map illustration software for the MacOS. Ortelius™ is characterized by its ease of use and beautiful graphics capabilities for which Macs are known. Our new company anticipates the release Ortelius™ (Standard Edition) in the first quarter of 2009. A Professional Edition will be released a bit later with some sweet higher-end functionality.
Role of Sketching in Map Design Layouts
Hand-drawn sketching plays an important role in the digital arts. The larger a project is, and the more concepts a client will need to see, the more sketching will prove its worth in your design process. Consider using rough sketches for composition or layout options in your next project. Or push yourself to do a handful of thumbnail sketches before firing up your cartography software of choice. Create ten well thought out map design options (not seven to make three look good). Select three and refine each. Select one for final design.
In Role of Sketching in the Design Process, Sean Hodge discusses sketching for rapid concept development in traditional design. This same process should be considered in cartography.
Cartographer as Designer – IT’S A PROCESS!
Example Map by XNR Productions
Those who design maps for use by others engage in a specialized form of communication. They create images to represent physical and phenomena in three-dimensional space, but they create them on two-dimensional surfaces. To do this effectively, a cartographer must understand not only the phenomena on which the maps are based, but also how to work with them to communicate information to others. No amount of skill with computer software can rescue a map that displays a lack of understanding of the cartographic design process. Read more
Lakeshore Nature Preserve (WI)
Beautiful example of interactivity – clean map interface and intuitive design.
This map was created at the UW-Madison Cartography Lab by Rob Roth, Andy Woodruff, Joel Przybylowski under the supervision of Professor Bill Cronon and Professor Mark Harrower. Melanie McCalmont assisted with info window text and image production. Production: May-November 2006
Portfolio
Selected Projects
IndianaMap Return on Investment Study
Role: Project conceptualization, funding, research and analysis, presentation development. Click here to download the complete report.
“… Perhaps the best marketing for 1) coordination, 2) public domain information, and 3) GIS/mapping in general I’ve seen anywhere. In no small part because people actually read them.”
Steve Aichele, USGS Geospatial Liaison to Michigan
“It was one of the most interesting and informative final reports I have seen.”
Gita Urban-Mathieux, Federal Geographic Data Committee
National GIS Inventory Tool
The Ramona GIS Inventory is produced by the National States’ Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) as a tool for states and their partners. Its primary purpose is to track the status of GIS in US state and local government to aid the planning and building of Spatial Data Infrastructures. Ramona is designed to work in concert with Geospatial One Stop (www.geodata.gov).
Role: Project conceptualization, needs assessment, technical project management, training, documentation (in cooperation with BurGIS, LLC and Runskip, LLC).
“When emergencies strike, I go to the GIS Inventory first to find other GIS experts in the area of the event. It helps me connect with them to perform my support role for state and local government.”
Christina McCullough, Geospatial Analyst, B.A., Joint Forces Headquarters of Indiana
“This increased the opportunity to have the imagery products be in line with existing county products.”
Chris Kannan, former USGS NSDI Liaison for North Carolina
IndianaMap Statewide Orthophotography Project
In 2005, Indiana completed a first of its kind high-resolution statewide single-season aerial photography project to support Indiana’s most pressing homeland security, economic development, and environmental issues. The public domain imagery is available at www.indianamap.org and on GoogleMaps.
Role: Project coordination, requirements definition, development of funding partners, overall project management (in cooperation with multiple collaborating partners).
Huck Finn Project
Youth groups across Indiana were invited to participate in the Huck Finn Project by producing large outdoor works of art to be captured by the IndianaMap orthophotography. In the process, kids tracked the planes and learned about geography, geospatial technology, scale and resolution, and more. Lesson plans were developed by the Indiana Geographic Educators’ Network, and GPS units were provided to participating youth groups.
Role: Project conceptulization, web site development, content, coordination.
GIS Issue Briefing
A series of subject area issue briefs authored by project steering committee members and other contributors who have been engaged to support the Information for Indiana project work through activities such as conducting case studies and assisting in pilot project initiation and implementation.
Role: Author.
