Esri International User Conference 2015
Navigating Preconceptions to Create
Better Maps
Interdisciplinary Collaboration to Improve
Cartography
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Kristin N. Hart
• Mapping and Spatial Services Group Lead / Senior
GIS Specialist
• Bachelors in Geography, Environmental Studies, &
Geological Sciences - UCSB
• GIS practitioner since 2004
• Awarded GISP Certification
• Esri UC award for Best Cartographic Presentation in
2009
• Esri UC Moderated Paper Presenter 2011-2015
• Active member: CA Geodetic Control Working Group
• Co-Author and Contributor: ‘Retaining California’s
Coastal Agricultural Land through economic
incentives, regulation, and purchase’
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Padre Associates Inc.
• Multidisciplinary consulting firm established in 1996
• Provide balanced and unique solutions through a
blending of complementary technical service areas:
• Environmental Services
• Geoenvironmental Services
• Geotechnical/Civil Engineering
• Mapping & Spatial Services
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Topics of Discussion
•
•
•
•
•
The Challenge
Identifying Issues
The Plan
The Results
What we Learned
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
The Specific Challenge
• Report maps for a large project had been updated in
the same style for many years
• Responsibility of the maps was transitioned to a
different group
• New group saw room for improvement in the maps
and the way they were produced
• Non-mapping staff working on the reports were
happy with the maps as they were
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
The Broader Challenge
• Non-mapping staff have an idea of what they want
and how things should be depicted…
…BUT they often lack a general understanding of
principals of cartography and the process for creating a
map and tools used (and tools available) to get to that
end product
• In short: Give the customer what they want without
compromising cartography
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Identifying issues
• Colors not
representative
of features
meaning
• Labels for
different types
of features in
the same
color
• Legend and
other map
elements
interfering
with map
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Identifying issues
• Colors not representative of features
meaning
• Overlapping features are confusing
• 11x17 Portrait format page is awkward in
bound report
• Legend and other map elements
interfering with map
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Identifying issues
• Graphs
within the
map are
confusing
• Lots of
white space
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Identifying issues
• Non-intuitive
color scheme
• Over
exaggerated
feature sizes
give a false
sense of data
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
The Plan
• Build a collaborative relationship between the nonmapping and mapping staff
• Be positive – frame as an opportunity to improve
• Do not put down existing maps
• Make and ask for suggestions
• Bring non-mapping staff into the process
• Plan to make improvements each report cycle
• Gradual changes will make the transition easier
• Prioritize changes
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
The Plan cont.
• Make minor changes to maps’ appearance to
improve cartography
• Use transparency, coordinate symbols of like
things, use intuitive choropleth colors, use
imagery for context
• Employ tools to improve efficiency and consistency
• data driven text, data driven pages, bookmarks,
extent indicators
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
The Results
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Before – for comparison
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
The Results
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Before – for comparison
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
The Results
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Before – for comparison
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
The Results
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Before – for comparison
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
What we learned
• Change is really scary….but can be really good!
• Gradually making changes to the look of the maps
keeps us looking for opportunities for improvement
• Keeps us from getting set in our ways
• Compromise and discussion about the process
alleviated frustration on both sides
• Working on interdisciplinary teams allowed
opportunity for all parties to expand their
knowledge and improve process for working
together
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015
Esri International User Conference 2015
Questions?
Kristin N. Hart
Senior GIS Specialist
Mapping and Spatial Services Group Lead
Padre Associates, Inc.
[email protected]
Kristin N. Hart, July 2015