INTRODUCTION TO DIGI TAL CARTOGRAPHY
Geography 310-001 78999; Lab 79000
George Mason University
Syllabus for Fall 2010: Innovation Hall room 336
Lecture: Tues & Thurs 10:30-11:45am
Lab: Tues & Thurs 12:00-1:15pm
Professor Hallden
Email: [email protected]
Office: Robinson B, room 477C
Phone: 703-993-4242
Office Hours: after class, 11:30-12:30 Wed and by appt (email and we’ll find a time)
Please contact me if you have a question or concern. Talk to me before or after class, swing by
my office, or send an email. The sooner I know about an issue the better I can help.
Course Description:
This course introduces the core geographic discipline of Cartography: the art and science of
designing and producing maps. In the lectures and readings we will examine established
cartographic design principles including scale and projection, symbolization and classification,
the use of tones, colors, and typography as well as effective visual display. In the lab, students
will produce a variety of maps using digital techniques that illustrate the design issues presented
in the lectures. A final project will consist of a personal web site displaying a digital map
researched, designed, and developed by each student.
Class websites:
Blackboard: https://gmu.blackboard.com/
This will serve as the formal website for the class. It will hold the syllabus, review sheets, grades,
and pertinent class information.
Posterous: http://geog310.posterous.com
The blog is the real heart of the class – the place to look for answers, to post questions, to interact
with the rest of the class. Have a question? Discovered a time saving trick? Post a comment on
the blog. I will check the blog daily (and I receive emails each time a comment is posted). If you
know the answer to someone’s post, please take the initiative and post a response. Check the blog
for news and updates (key messages will also be sent out via email to your GMU account).
GMU email: You must activate and check your GMU email account. Important class and
university information will be sent to this email account over the course of the semester. If class
is cancelled or the university is opening late, I will send an email as soon as I hear. If you do not
wish to use your GMU account as your primary email, you can set it to forward all emails to a
preferred address. Go to http://itusupport.gmu.edu/help/keywordcontent.cfm?contentid=23
Please verify that your email forwarding is working throughout the semester!
Computer Rooms:
Both lecture and lab will be held in Innovation 336. Since the Innovation classroom locks after
class time, we will also be utilizing the department computer lab (Robinson A113) for non-classtime production. Each student will receive a unique door code and a computer account for
RA113. This lab is available 24/7 (unless reserved), which is extremely helpful. Be prepared to
spend several hours each week to complete assignments.
Required Text:
Dent, Torguson, and Holder, Cartography: Thematic Map Design, 6th edition, 2008, McGrawHill. Additional readings will be posted on the class blog.
Supplies:
For the lab component, you must bring memory stick for saving your assignments. I implore you
to save your work frequently while working in the lab (lab2a, lab2b, lab2c, for example) and
definitely keep a backup copy of finished exercises (investing in a separate, backup memory stick
is good if you’re prone to misplacing things). Saving your work to a local machine is not a
reliable method. Don’t risk losing what you’ve worked on….
Software:
Adobe Illustrator CS5 is required for this course – it is used for lab assignments as well as the
final project. Although maps can be easily created in GIS programs (such as ArcMap), the
majority of professional cartographers turn to graphics programs for more design flexibility. No
prior knowledge of Illustrator is expected. If you have little or no experience with computers,
please see me.
Lab Assignments:
Lab assignments are handed out each Tuesdays during lab and are due the following Tuesday at
noon (the start of lab). No late assignments will be graded! Emails, faxes, and assignments
placed in my mailbox or under my office door will not be accepted. If you are unable to make it
to class the day the lab is due, you must make special arrangements with me prior to the due date.
If you are having problems with your lab, please contact me as soon as possible! Don’t wait until
the last minute! There will be no lab “makeups” or “redos.” Labs constitute half of the total
course grade so invest time in them each week. Feedback can be provided at any point.
Exams and Exam Policies:
1. There will be two exams.
2. No makeup exams will be given.
3. The exam begins and ends as indicated– there is no additional time for late arrivals.
4. Once a completed exam is turned in, no more exams will be offered for late arrivals.
5. No help of any kind may be given or received by students during an exam.
6. Exam material will be based on lectures, reading assignments, and lab assignments. A
review sheet will be handed out prior to the exam.
Final Project:
In place of a final exam, there will be a final project. It will consist of a digital map that you
research, design, and develop. It should be your highest quality work. Specific details will be
discussed during the semester along with examples from prior semesters. The Final Project is due
on Tuesday, December 14th at 10:30am. During the final exam blocks for the lecture and lab,
students will present their projects to the class.
Final Project Proposal and Presentation:
A Final Project Proposal is due on Thursday, November 11th. In addition to the written proposal,
students will present a brief overview of their topic and concept to the class.
Final Project Critique and Comments:
During the last week of class, students will present their in-progress final project to the class for
constructive feedback. The critique stage is a key component of professional map development.
In addition to presenting, students will write constructive comments on the other maps.
Attendance is key.
Weekly Blog Posts:
Creative design is fueled through examination of other maps (both good and bad). In order to
build a large collection of examples, each student will search online for a quality example of the
map style or topic currently being discussed. The selected example will be posted to their
personal blog along with comments on the pick. Try to find an example no one else has posted.
Posts are due each week before Thursday’s class.
Academic Integrity:
Academic Integrity is essential and each individual is expected to do his/her own work; violations
of the University Honor Code will not be tolerated and will result in course failure. Student
members of the George Mason University community pledge not to cheat, plagiarize, steal,
or lie in matters related to academic work. Please familiarize yourself with the Honor Code
policies: http://honorcode.gmu.edu/
Classroom Expectations:
1. Come to lecture and lab each week. Be on time. Make sure you sign in.
2. Do not eat or drink in class or in the lab.
3. Please mute your cell phone.
4. When class is cancelled (for snow, for example), the class will resume where we left off.
Please check your GMU email, the class website, and the GMU website for
announcements and the current schedule.
5. When computer questions and/or problems arise, please work with your fellow
classmates to find a solution. Use the class blog to post questions as well as any tricks
you find. Ask the professor for help as well.
Student Responsibilities:
To successfully complete this course, you must attend class and lab, do assigned readings,
complete the lab exercises, and participate. Since the artistic component of Cartography is as
important as the technical/scientific side, you’ll need to spend time approaching your maps from
a creative perspective in addition to making them clear and accurate. This is especially true for
the final project. Class participation is also key – make comments, ask questions, help your
classmates! Each map must be individual, but the development process can be communal.
Grading Scheme and Policy:
Although there are separate lecture and lab sections for this course, there is only one final grade
(all 4 credits fall in the lecture CRN). Grades are based on the accumulation of points throughout
the semester utilizing the breakdown below:
Lecture:
Exam 1:
100
Exam 2:
100
Final Project Proposal & Presentation:
30
Final Project Critique and Comments:
50
Final Project & Presentation
150
Lab:
Lab assignments:
500
(10 labs at 50 points each)
Weekly blog posts
50
Participation:
20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------Total:
1000 pts (+ extra credit)
Tentative Lecture Schedule: (as of August 27, 2010)
Date
Lecture
Lab Assigned
Week
1
T 8-31
2
Th 9-2
T 9-7
Th 9-9
3
T 9-14
Th 9-16
4
T 9-21
Th 9-23
5
T 9-28
Th 9-30
T 10-5
Th 10-7
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Class Introduction;
What Makes a Map
Symbolization
Coordinate Systems;
Map Projections
Lab
Due
Blog
1: Earth
Shapes
Blog
2: Graticule
1
Map Projections;
Scale;
Typography
Generalization;
Elements of
Cartographic Design
Data Classification
3: Type
2
4: Boundary
3
Choropleth Maps
5: Choropleth
4
T 10-12
--
--
--
Th 10-14
EXAM 1
--
--
T 10-19
Th 10-21
T 10-26
Th 10-28
T 11-2
Th 11-4
T 11-9
Th 11-11
Proportional Symbols
6:Proportional
5
Dot Maps
7: Dot
6
Color
8: Color
7
Isarithmic Maps
Final Project
Proposal Pres.
Bivariate
9: Isoline
More FP
Prop Pres
10: Bivariate
8
New Directions
Final proj time
10
Th 11-25
--
--
--
T 11-30
EXAM 2
Final proj time
Th 12-2
Odds and Ends
T 12-7
Th 12-9
T 12-14
Final Project
Critiques
Final Project
Presentations both
Tuesday and
Thursday from
10:30am – 1:15p
T 11-16
Th 11-18
T 11-23
Th 12-16
Final Project
Critiques
Notes
9-14 is the last day to add
AND the last day to drop
without tuition liability.
10-1 is the last day to drop
with no academic liability.
Columbus Day - No Class!,
Mon classes meet on Tues
Final Project Proposal
Due
9
Thanksgiving: No Class!
Last regular class
Final Project Due
(for everyone)
TUESDAY 12-14 at
10:30AM!!