Geography 475, Summer 2017 II University of Maryland College Park
Computer Cartography
Course Website: ELMS (elms.umd.edu)
Course Description
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Lecture & Lab: M Wed 6-9:30pm, online
Instructor: Naijun Zhou, Ph.D., [email protected]
Teaching Assistant: TBA
Course Website: ELMS
Adobe Connect Live Classroom: copy the following links to enter the online classroom of each lecture/lab.
Lectures: https://webmeeting.umd.edu/geog475summer2017lectures
Labs: https://webmeeting.umd.edu/geog475summer2017labs
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Maps are a visual form of communication. Computer cartography is the art and science to make “good”
maps and to understand maps. Being able to make a map that is easy to understand and conveys the
information you want will make your geographic analyses easier to be understood by your audience. Besides,
making maps is fun!
This course will cover the basic use of the theory, methods and tools in computer cartography, which include
appropriate design and placement of map elements; how to appropriately display a variety of information in
map form; selecting an appropriate projection; the different types of map media (paper, online, animation).
This course consists of two closely related components: lectures and labs. In lectures, the theory and
methods of the above topics are examined. Labs are designed to provide hands-on experience in ArcGIS 10.
By the end of the class, you should be able to understand how maps are made, and how to make effective
and attractive maps.
Class Organization
As an online course, Mondays will be devoted to lectures, and Wednesdays for labs. Lecture will cover
theoretical material and applications, and labs will be devoted to map making. The lab result will be the
weekly homework assignments.
Recommended Textbooks (can be checked out from McKeldin Library)
Slocum, T.A., et al. (2009). Thematic Cartography and Geovisualization. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-229834-1. Call number: GA108.7 .S58 2009. Companion website at
http://www.pearsonhighered.com/slocum3e/ with many useful and detailed materials.
Brewer, C.A. (2005). Designing Better Maps. Redlands, CA: ESRI Press. ISBN 1-58948-089-9. Call
number: GA105.3 .B74 2005.
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Course Requirements
EIGHT labs.
ONE individual course project and project presentation.
As an online class, attendance at all lectures and labs is highly recommended (although not required).
There is strong evidence that attending lectures and labs significantly improves learning outcome.
Archived lecture/lab videos are provided on ELMS, which you can watch afterward.
Late work is given for University approved excused absences, and students must notify the Instructor
and make arrangement at least 24 hours BEFORE the due date, and provide valid documents.
Otherwise, no late work and make-ups will be accepted.
Course materials including lecture slides, lab materials, announcements, archived lab and lecture
videos, and others will be posted on ELMS. Check ELMS frequently.
The instructor will make every effort to accommodate students who are registered with the Disability
Support Services (DSS) Office and who provide the instructor with a University of Maryland DSS
Accommodation form. This form must be presented to the instructor during the first week of the session.
E-mail: for efficient communication, please use [email protected] instead of ELMS message.
SOFTWARE. Students will be using ArcGIS for labs and assignments. The instructor will give the free 1year ArcGIS license and students can install ArcGIS on their personal computer (software installation
guide is posted on ELMS), or remotely use ArcGIS on the geography server.
COMMUNICATE! Feel free and do not hesitate to contact the instructor if you have any concerns,
critiques and suggestions promptly. They are ALWAYS welcome, and the earlier the better.
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Geog475: Computer Cartography, Summer 2017 II
Instructor: Dr. Naijun Zhou
Course Project, Proposal, Presentation and Report
 Project Proposal: a one-page project proposal is due July 26, 5:30pm on ELMS. This proposal should
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follow the format of the final project presentation and report (see Project Requirements and Project
Result and Report).
Project Requirements
Your final project requires you to make an original map product. I expect high quality work. The steps of
doing this project may include:
1) researching and determining the subject and the (expected) purpose of the map.
2) obtaining appropriate geographic and statistical data.
3) designing and constructing the map with appropriate cartographic elements.
4) revising and refining the map if needed.
5) writing a course project report.
6) presenting your cartographic design during course project presentations (August 16)
The product can be static map, animated map, web map, or other form of cartographic product. The
course project must be completed individually unless approved by the instructor. You may discuss your
project with others, but the work needs to be completed by yourself.
Project Result and Report (due 11:59pm, August 18 on ELMS)
1) If your project is a traditional thematic map, submit a PDF file on ELMS. If your project is an
animation or other formats that cannot be printed out, submit it in the most appropriate form (web
link, movie, etc.) AND make sure the product functions by the end of this summer session. Due to
limited space allocated by ELMS to this course, please do not submit unnecessary documents. For
large file(s) (e.g., animation) please contact the instructor ahead of time by the due time.
2) A THREE page project report in Word due on ELMS detailing (12 point, 1-inch margins, single
spaced, excluding cover page, figures, tables, references, etc.):
 The subject of the map & why you chose it.
 The (expected) purpose of the map.
 The data collected and used.
 The process for creating the map.
 Technical specifications, like projection, symbolization, and classification.
 Conclusion that is made from the map.
 Problems that occurred in making the product and how they were resolved.
Project Presentation: August 16
1) The presentations aim to report your work and receive feedbacks.
2) During the presentation, you need to at least present the subject of the map, why you choose it, the
purpose of the map, data collection, results, discussion.
3) Complete the majority of your work BEFORE the presentation since it will be graded.
4) The presentation will be roughly 10-15 minutes. Powerpoint slides will be used.
5) Schedule of the presentation: TBA.
Project Grading
Total points=44. Proposal =4 points. Presentation=5 points. Map product=30 points. Report=5 points.
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Schedule of Topics
Lecture
Introduction; Symbolization; Scale;
Generalization
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Week
Date
1
7/10
7/12
2
7/17
Color; Typography; Cartographic Design
7/19
3
7/24
Internet Mapping; Choropleth Mapping;
Dasymetric Mapping
7/26
4
7/31
Isarithmic Mapping; Proportional Symbol
Mapping; Dot Mapping; Flow Maps
8/2
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab and Homework Due
1: ArcGI, Map frames, Projections
2: Scale, Symbolization
1 & 2 due: 5:30pm, on ELMS
3: Color & Typography
4: General Reference Map
3 & 4 due: 5:30pm, on ELMS
Project Proposal due: 5:30pm, July 26, on ELMS
Lab 5: Internet Mapping
Lab 6: Choropleth Mapping
Lab 5 & 6 due: 5:30pm, on ELMS
Lab 7: Proportional Symbol Mapping, Dot Density Mapping
Lab 8: Flow Mapping
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Geog475: Computer Cartography, Summer 2017 II
Instructor: Dr. Naijun Zhou
5
8/7
Multimedia; Animation; Multi-variate
Mapping; Cartograms
6
8/9
8/14
Conclusion; Review
8/16
Lab 7 & 8 due: 5:30m, on ELMS
NO LAB. Work on course project
Project Presentation
Project report due 11:59pm August 18 on ELMS
Grading
The numeric points of student’s work will be evaluated as:
Assignment Type
Number of
Assignments
8
1
1
1
Points Per
Assignment
7
4
5
35
Total Points
(sum to 100)
56
4
5
35
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Homework/Lab
Course project: Proposal
Course project: Presentation
Course project: Result and Report
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My baseline grade for the course, which assumes that you complete the work in good faith, on time, with
serious effort, and with a certain degree of success, is an "B" To do better, you need to give something extra;
to do worse, you need to give something less.
The final letter grade is based on the calculated numeric points in the table, and will be graded as (with
variations): A: 85.0-100, B: 75.0-84.9, C: 60.0-74.9, D: 50.0-59.9, F: <50.
Academic Honesty
Within our class, students may work together on assignments, however, each student must turn in their own
work, and any work must be theirs alone. The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally
recognized Code
of
Academic
Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council
(http://www.shc.umd.edu). This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all
undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for
this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation,
and plagiarism.
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Online Learning
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1) We will meet online at the announced time for a live audio/video lecture using Adobe Connect. The
online classrooms for all lectures is: https://webmeeting.umd.edu/geog475summer2017lectures , and
the online classroom for all labs is: https://webmeeting.umd.edu/geog475summer2017labs
2) Before each lecture and lab, you will copy/click the URL to a web browser and enter the classroom. You
should download the lecture slides and the lab instruction and data before each lecture and lab.
3) During the lectures, the instructor will introduce the materials, and students are welcome to ask
questions.
4) During the labs, the TA will demo the use of GIS to make maps; students can follow the lab instruction
to do the lab exercises together with the TA, and ask questions.
5) The lectures and labs videos will be archived for anyone who absolutely must miss the class, but I
encourage you to login at the appointed time so that you can participate in the class and ask questions.
Hardware and Software. The online live lecture and lab classroom is on Adobe Connect which is a web
conferencing software. You may use either a PC or a Macintosh computer to access the live classroom
(Adobe Connect). Whichever you choose, it must be equipped with the following hardware: Internet and
speaker (or earphone). Very rarely (it never happened during the past few years), the optional equipments
are web cam and microphone if you really would like to communicate with the instructor/TA/class via video
and/or audio during the lecture and lab.
This course will use ArcGIS. Students can get a free 1-year license to install ArcGIS on their personal
computer. ArcGIS is also available on geography server that you can access remotely.
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