Comparative Area Map

For this weeks lab I made a map of Florida, comparing the area of 4 counties across 3 different projections. There are square mile numbers for each colored county. It is interesting how with different projections, the exact same counties come up with mismatched numbers.

The main idea behind the lab was learning how to convert shape files from one projection to another.

The exercise and lecture is one I was looking forward to, as matching projections is something that I struggle with at work. On multiple occasions I have put my sample plots in North Dakota, when they should have been in Oregon. I have a basic understanding now, and hope to learn more with next weeks continuation.

Histogram

Above is a Histogram for weather stations in Europe. It shows the data (temperature) frequency and variations across the different stations. This graph also makes it easy to spot outliers. As you can see, the majority of the data is in the 2.72-3.34 range. It follows a bell curve for the most part, with an outlier on the upper end of the spectrum.

This was created in ArcMap, using the Histogram tool in the Geostatistical Analyst toolbar.

Typography Lab

For this weeks lab, I made a map of Marathon Island in the Florida Keys. The focus of this exercise was typography, or the layout and design of text. In this case, the text is in the form of labels.

I used CorelDraw exclusively for this map. The symbols and north arrow were from the ESRI symbol fonts, and the inset map was pulled off the internet. I tried to obey the point feature guidelines for my label placements as much as possible. I attempted to make curved text for my water features, but I could not get them to come out right.

CorelDraw continues to be a tortuous experience. It is constantly crashing and freezing, and I also have an issue with the ergonomics of the program. There were lots of things that I wanted to do with this lab, but I had trouble figuring out how.

I did learn that there is a plethora of map symbols to be used with the Font tool. A nice bonus of this exercise was that I learned some geography of the Florida Keys.

Yosemite - Use and modify map and tile package

This week I learned how to create, organize, and share map packages with ArcGIS online. The mapmaking was stuff we had already gone over, so that was fairly easy. I had never made any map packages though, or worked with ArcGIS online. Everything was done exclusively over ArcGIS 10.2 and ArcGIS online. I can see how map packages, as well as ArcGIS online, could be handy tools in the future for sharing maps with large groups.

This map shows climbing spots in the Yosemite Valley.

Aguirre Springs - Optimize a map package

This week I learned how to create, organize, and share map packages with ArcGIS online. The mapmaking was stuff we had already gone over, so that was fairly easy. I had never made any map packages though, or worked with ArcGIS online. Everything was done exclusively over ArcGIS 10.2 and ArcGIS online. I can see how map packages, as well as ArcGIS online, could be handy tools in the future for sharing maps with large groups.

This map shows tree sample points near Aguirre Springs.

GIS Cartography Lab - Map 1

This is a choropleth map of Mexico, with different shades of yellow/orange representing population. This map relied on the symbology and label functions in ArcGIS. I would like to learn how to even out the population numbers in the legend.

GIS Cartography Lab - Map 2

This is my digital elevation map (DEM) of Mexico. It uses raster data, with a range of colors that allow easy viewing of elevation. I think my choice in elevation colors turned out well. In hindsight, I think a color other than blue would have been a better option for the neighboring countries.