not a map but interesting!
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/10/15/us/politics/swing-history.html
You know the routine: track down an interesting example map online and post it on your blog with an explanation as to why you selected that map. Dot density is your task this week. Population maps, as you can tell, are popular, but there are loads of topics out there. See what you can find!
In addition to the written proposal posted to your blog, I'm having everyone give a quick presentation of the topic you will be mapping. The goal is to gather lots of resources and feedback right from the start.
For the presentation: No powerpoint needed. Show us your blog and paraphrase your proposal. If you are inspired by an online map, show us! Explain how yours will be different/better/more detailed, etc. If you cannot find a site online similar to your idea, find an example of the style of map you want to create as a visual reference point. Make sure you have at least one map to show that connects in some way to your proposal.
Presentations will be on the same day -- Thursday Nov 8th.
For the topic, think of something interesting, something that could link up with a project for a different class (I'm ok with double-dipping), or just something you've been curious to see as a map. Anything goes -- any topic is fair game (well, provided it won't get me in trouble).
Single variable maps are the easiest (and what I recommend). I will, however, let you make a bivariate map (2 datasets). Three or more datasets on one map are prohibited for this project (they get logarithmically more complex). Just one word of caution on bivariate: don't get caught up trying to answer a question with the map (i.e. don't think of this as a GIS project where you need a map to show a result). For this class, the *map* is the key component. Doesn't matter if the topic has been done before, just so long as your map is fantastic. Focus your energy on the graphic not the data.
In order to make the map you must have data. Really search for the data before you settle in on your topic. This is often the "make or break" step of an idea. If there is a topic you love but can't find any data, let me know and I'll do some sleuthing as well. And Joy Suh, the Geography-oriented librarian at Fenwick library is also an excellent resource (for both data and ideas). I recommend seeing her if you are stumped. One last approach is to find a bad map of interesting data, and set about making it better (much, much better).
To help you nail down your idea (and communicate it to me) I want your to write a proposal. It needs to be a well-written blog post of around 500 words covering the following points:
-map subject
-reason why this is your pick
-map audience
-type of map you're envisioning
-scope of map (world? Virginia? Dorm room?)
-data specs (note where the data is from, the year, the size/complexity of the dataset, and the apparent accuracy)
-basemap needed for map
-expected production steps (be realistic and calendar focused)
-challenges you perceive
***The Final Project Proposal is due Thursday Nov 8th (in 2 weeks) at the start of lecture*** You must have it posted to your blog by then. If you have any questions, I'm more than happy to hear your ideas. Fire away!
These are from 2010
So here are some final maps made by undergrad mapping students in the past (2009)
Here are some more final projects from the past (2007)
Virginia Colleges and Universities
As you can see, the topics are wide ranging....
Creative fuel...
For Lab 7, aim for 1000 to 2000 total dots on the map (2000 being better). Yes, that is a heck of a lot dots. But this is the way to make a very nice distribution. Dot density maps are not hard to make, they just take time (and lots of patience).
How do you decide the value of your dot? It is a little guessing, a little sleuthing. First, I'd say that 2000 dots is a very, very rough guide for the total number on your entire map (not necessarily the case for other states). With that in mind, you could add up all the values in your data and divide it by 2000. The number you will get is your first guess. Next you need to make sure that your county with the smallest number of values will have a min of 1 dot (if it has data, it needs a dot). If it has no data, then it can be blank). If your smallest value is, say 532, then make sure your dot value is 500 or lower.
Some comments about the sample map in the write-up:
1.The dot in the legend has a small box around it. I hate that box. Please don't but a box around it! Showing the dot in the legend is optional. If you feel it is so small it will get lost, leave it out.
2. In the example map, the ancillary idea was taken too far. I feel as if I'm looking at the major highways of WV -- too many lines of dots and clumps. This is the finesse part -- learning to scatter but let some clumps. Do aim to have the highest value location coalesce (and potentially a few more places depending on your data).
3. Yes, I emphasized "small" dots. But don't go too small. Again, try mapping the county with the highest number of values to gauge the density of the dots.
4. Keeping your basemap on a layer separate from the dots will help you resize dots if needed. And you can lock the basemap so it doesn't move. And you can more easily give it a tinted fill or fiddle with the boundary line thickness/tints.
5. If you find tricks or have questions, please post a comment here so we can all chime in. Thanks!
**And last but not least, I want you to find an example of a dot density map online to post on your blog. See if you can find a good one that I didn't show in class.
Here are some dot maps to peruse:
Chicago Race/Ethnicity and Income: http://www.radicalcartography.net/index.html?chicagodots
A series of maps inspired from the previous set for 103 differernt urban zones in the US: http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkingsf/sets/72157624812674967/with/4982043082/
A bit more for Graduated Symbols:
neat graduated circle map I just found projecting US pop in 2050 with graduated circles emphasizing major urban centers: http://www.rpa.org/america2050/images/2050_Map_Megaregions_Influence_150.png
Interactive tool for generating a legend for a graduated circle map: http://jenny.cartography.ch/legend/
And just some interesting maps:
Arctic map showing change due to ice melt: http://urbanomnibus.net/main/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/arcticmap.jpg
Change (and projection) in US pop 1970-2030 as a prism map (2.5D choropleth): http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RBw-psMN_Ew/S-2DPSCCzoI/AAAAAAAAHjI/TeRzMDtrFrA/s16...
