GISC9118 Foundations of Mapping, Deliverable 1 Multivariate Mapping Analysis

Shannon Graup GISC9118 Deliverable 1

Shannon Graup shannon.graup@gmail.com

October 15th, 2013

Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2 Mapping Methods & Class Intervals ................................................................................ 2 Distribution of Data Values .............................................................................................. 3 Cartographic Map Design ................................................................................................ 4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 4 Appendix ......................................................................................................................... 4 References ...................................................................................................................... 4

Introduction
The purpose of this assignment was to create a multivariate map of the United States that demonstrates the skills learned in MapInfo Professional 12.0 throughout GISC9118. A multivariate map is one that shows several variables simultaneously, increasing the amount of information a map carries and allowing map users to compare map variables (Robinson, Morrison, Muehrcke, Kimerling, & Guptill, 1995). The multivariate map of the United States showing population density in 1990 and population change from 1980 to 1990 can be found in Appendix A. The map demonstrates the chloropleth mapping technique as well as the proportional symbol mapping technique.

Mapping Methods & Class Intervals

The map shows the United States of America with the population density of each state in 1990 per km2 with proportional symbols and the population change in each state from 1980 to 1990 in percentage with chloropleth mapping. The proportional symbol chosen to depict the population density is a black star with a white halo. This mapping technique for the population density variable is problematic because MapInfo only allows for three symbols to be shown on the map legend. The data values for population density range very widely with most states in central and western United States being small numbers because of the vast geographic space of many states. This causes the majority of state symbols to be proportionally much smaller than the smallest symbol in the map legend. This could make it difficult for map users to easily estimate the population densities of many States. The population change in each state from 1980 to 1990 in percentage is represented by the chloropleth base map. The base map uses the simple chloropleth mapping
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Shannon Graup shannon.graup@gmail.com

technique. In simple chloropleth maps absolute numbers are never mapped, instead a density or average is computed and shown (Robinson, Morrison, Muehrcke, Kimerling, & Guptill, 1995). In simple chloropleth maps, the symbolization scheme is range graded. This means that the data is separated into ranged classes. The data for population change in each State was separated into five classes using the natural breaks method. This method was chosen because it logically groups the data into n classes (five in this scenario) based on the natural variability in the data values. The map projection chosen for this multivariate map is the Lambert Azimuthal EqualArea map projection. This map projection was used because it accurately represents the areas of the countries on earth. In some map projections the United States is distorted; Alaska is close to half the size of the entire country. With the Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area map projection all of the states are represented in relative sizes to each other.

Distribution of Data Values

The browsers for each variable can be found attached as Appendix B. The data values for each State can be found in each browser for population change and population density. The values for population change range from -8.01% to 50.14%. The States that have a negative value had a decrease in population from 1980 to 1990. The population density data values range from 0.84 people/km 2 to 8596.32 people/km2. The proportional symbol variable of population density in each State per kilometer squared shows three symbols in the map legend varying in size from small to large. The majority of the symbols on the map itself are much smaller than the smallest symbol in the legend meaning that the population density of the State in 1990 was less than 860 people per kilometer squared. Since the range of data values is so large, most of the symbols on the map are very small and even hard to see. Population densities for 50 of the 51 States range from approximately 0.8 people/km2 to 992 people/km2, while the last state has a much larger number of approximately 8600 people/km2. The states along the eastern coastline have proportionally bigger symbols, such as the one seen for DC which is close to the largest sized symbol. This lets map users know that the population density of DC in 1990 was approximately 8600 people per kilometer squared. The five classes for population change are as follows; -8.1 to 0, 0 3.7, 3.7 11.6, 11.6 25.7 and 25.7 to 50.2. With the natural breaks method all the states that had a negative population change were grouped together into one class. The remaining four classes have positive population change values, grouped together by their natural variability.

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Shannon Graup shannon.graup@gmail.com

Cartographic Map Design

The map has proper map elements that have been identified throughout the course; title, legend, north arrow, scale, neatline, name, date, projection and source. The map has appropriate labels; the States have all been labelled with their official short forms, with a white halo. Map insets of Alaska, Hawaii, and the Eastern United States Coastline have been created to improve the map layout. This allows for the map of the United States mainland to be increased in size, and Alaska and Hawaii to be moved closer to mainland than their actual location in space. The inset of the Eastern coastline was created so that map users could clearly see the smaller states that are located along the coastline. The white halo was added to the symbols and labels on the map to increase the maps readability, without the halo some labels were unreadable as they crossed other lines on the map such as the state outlines.

Conclusion
During this assignment, map making skills in MapInfo Professional 12.0 were demonstrated. The map created contained the proper map elements, added from MapInfo which contributed to the final product found in Appendix A, a multivariate map. The multivariate map of the United States with two variables shows the population density of each state in 1990 per kilometer squared in proportional symbols and the population change in each state from 1980 to 1990 in percentage on the chloropleth base map.

Appendix
Appendix A: Multivariate Map of the United States showing Population Density, 1990 & Population Change from 1980 to 1990 (%) Appendix B: Browsers for United States Population Change 1980 1990 (%) & Population Density 1990 (per km2)

References
Robinson, A. H., Morrison, J. L., Muehrcke, P. C., Kimerling, A. J., & Guptill, S. C. (1995). Elements of Cartography (Sixth ed.). John Wiley & Sins, Inc.

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