Cartography Tips and Tricks

Chris Rives Milsoft Utility Solutions, Inc.

Introduction Chris Rives

Support Specialist, Milsoft Utility Solutions
Training, Support, Installations

B.S. Geography, Texas State University

GIS concentration

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

NIMA Cartographic School

Outline Cartographic Concepts/Theories GIS Tools/Implementation Applications

Concepts
Cartography Defined Basic cartographic concepts WindMilMap Renders Creating maps in ArcMap Printing and plotting maps DSMap Book Things to remember Q&A

What Is Cartography? Art, Science, and Technology Making Maps Presentation

Map and Design Objectives Map objectives

Share Information Highlight relationships Illustrate analysis results Decision support Manipulate the graphic characteristics Fulfill the intended purpose

Design Objectives

Factors Controlling Cartographic Design Audience Reality and need to generalize Objective Technical Limits and Scale Mode of use Final Design

Communication in Maps
Reality. The geographic environment
Compile

Cartographer GIS/CAD specialist

Recognize Select Classify Simplify Symbolize

Map User Mental image of reality

Map

Map

Image

Read Analyze Interpret

Map

Types of Maps
General Map
Location/positional Variety of features and uses

Thematic Maps
Distribution of an attribute Single attribute or relationship

Different objectives, different cartographic designs

Issues In Cartographic Design Colors, shade patterns, and text

Perception of colors and symbols Legibility of features and text Visual contrast and hierarchy Size Value

Visual Balance

ESRI Layers, Data Frames and Maps

Layer

Represent symbolized spatial data

Data frame

Data frame

Organizes layers

Layers

Map contains

Data frames Layers Map elements

WindMilMap Renderers
Every feature type has a unique WindMilMap Renderer. Applying WindMilMap Renderers
Renderer Button Right-Click Properties

Analysis Manager Affects the color of the entire model Gives the proper colors to a new symbol Changes to match the colors of the current view mode

Display Options: Circuit Element Symbols Element sizes controlled universally Element sizes can be individually set as well.

Display Options: Lines & End Points

Can turn on Mid & End Points Can be any Symbol Can set Visible Scale Range Line Width can also be set.

Property Page Controls all aspects of the renderer

Change Symbol Select Value. Click on Preview Window.

Symbol Variations The Base Tab

Changes symbol values Different for each feature type Allows for different symbol value breakdowns

Symbol Variations
The Status & Dead tab
The Status tab changes symbol values for current, selected, upline, and downline. The Dead tab changes symbol values for features not energized. Status and Dead symbols can be consolidated.

Demo WindMilMap Renderers

Property Page Change Symbol

Symbol Variations Analysis Manager Display Options

Circuit Element Symbols Lines & End Points

Filter by Symbol Features can be filtered by symbol value. Select symbol values not to be drawn. Right click and select Hide.

View Modes
The current view mode can be changed on the WindMilMap Analysis toolbar. Layers remember symbol settings for each view mode. Layers can be independent of the current view mode.

Reducing Legend Only checked symbol values show in legend. Unchecked values still draw on map.

Text Definitions
Text definition place attributes on symbol Not labeling Always present on every symbol Definitions shared by symbol values

Text Definitions Create different definitions. Definition can have multiple text layers. Text properties

Name Position Visible Scale Font Value

Demo Filter by Symbol View Modes Reducing Legend Text Definitions

Creating Maps in ArcMap Design in Layout View Data frames organize layers. Map elements are added to a virtual page. Maps stored as .mxd files

Data location Layer properties

Setting Up The page Remember the purpose.

Will the map be viewed up close or at a distance? What is the best page size? Landscape or portrait? What printer will I be using, and what are my printer size limitations?

Elements of a Map Title Map Body North Arrow Legend Scale Bar Other text
Author name, Logo, date of map

Inserting Map Elements 1. Choose type. 2. Choice appears on page. 3. Drag and place. 4. Modify as needed.

Layout tools Zoom and Pan layout tools

Additional layout settings from Tools > Options

An Example of the Legend Properties Dialog

Modify Double Click

Adding a north arrow and a scale

Change angle, color, size.

Change unit, increments, color, font.

Incorporating a Reference System

Displaying reference positions on the maps Available reference system:

Graticule

Lat/Long Map Units ABC/123

Measured Grid

Reference Grid

Different graticule or gird types on the same map WindMilMap will use the grid system thats already in WindMil.

Text Blocks Title and Author Data source, date, projection Date of map and of data Disclosures and Acknowledgements
same

Grids and Rulers Determine the size of the map elements. Use guides to arrange elements. Use grids to position elements at specific points. Use snapping for precision and efficiency.

Creating and Using Map Templates Gives all maps in a series the same look ArcMap templates Create your own

Exporting a Map Exporting to an image format

Each format has different output options.

Copy a map to clipboard.

DS Map Book Free map production tool Map Book Tool Bar
Creating a map series Create Local and Global indicators

DS Map Book
Click on Create Map Book. Select Index Layer.

Use all tiles. Suppress Tiles. Use only tiles with electrical elements in them.

DS Map Book
Set the Extent.
Variable Fixed Data-Driven

Set the options.

Rotate Clip data Label Neighbors Select tile when drawing

Click Finish.

DEMO

Setting Up the page Creating a map series Inserting Map Elements Complete Map

Things to Remember Visual Balance Beauty is not the main objective. Map Objective
Why?

Design objective
How?

ALWAYS THINK of the USER.