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Lecture12 BGTD

This document covers the principles of cartography, focusing on symbology, labeling, and classification in GIS. It emphasizes the importance of standardization in cartographic practices to enhance understanding and efficiency among different agencies. Key topics include symbol design, data classification methods, and the essential elements of map design.

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Shafiqullah Rahmani
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23 views27 pages

Lecture12 BGTD

This document covers the principles of cartography, focusing on symbology, labeling, and classification in GIS. It emphasizes the importance of standardization in cartographic practices to enhance understanding and efficiency among different agencies. Key topics include symbol design, data classification methods, and the essential elements of map design.

Uploaded by

Shafiqullah Rahmani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GEOL 403/503

Principles of GIS
Bhushan Gokhale
Ted Dunsford

Fall 2007
Lecture 8
Cartography: Symbology,
Labeling, and Classification
Why we need
Cartography?
 Time, effort and cost savings
 Increase common understanding
 Sharable symbology and guidance
among different agencies
Concept of Cartography?
Common map appearance
Common interactive map experience
across different agencies
Characteristics of
Cartography
Scale Dependencies
Symbology and Labeling
(Type, Color, Size, Fill,
Transparency, etc.)
Layer Display Order
Extents
How can you have good
Cartographic practices?
What layers?
 FGDC and National Map framework
standards
What symbology?
 Use existing cartographic standards when
they are available
USGS National Mapping Program
Publication Symbols
 What are other people using?
 What looks reasonably good?
Symbology Basics
 Maps - hardcopy or digital symbolic
representations of geographic phenomena

 Geographic phenomena include location,


distance, volume, movement, function, process,
correlation, etc.

 Four types of geographic phenomena


 Point (non-dimensional data)
 Line (one-dimensional data)
 Area (two-dimensional data)
 Volume (three-dimensional data)
Typical Symbology
Symbol Design
 Select the geographical features you want on the
map

 Define scale of the map so that the intended features


are visible and legible

 Avoid congestion and sparsity

 Two types of symbol design


 Pictorial map symbols
 Abstract map symbols
Symbol Design in Different
Environments
 General Considerations
 Screen resolution - for digital
 Map scale
 Color
 Size
 The level of detail
 Features you want to represent
 Intended audience
Data Classification
 When a data set is large, it is not practical to
assign a unique symbol to each data record
 Therefore, it is essential to group the records
 Several methods of classifying data in ArcGIS
 Check for
Qualitativedata
Quantitative data
Nominal data
Ordinal data
Constructing Data Classification
 Statistical
methods for the classification or
ranging of interval/ratio data

 Classification could be based on


 Equal interval
 Defined interval
 Quantile
 Standard deviation
 Natural breaks (Jenks)
Data Symbolization
 Nominal data
symbol
 Ordinal data
symbol
 Interval and ratio
data symbol
 Color palettes
Labeling a Map
 Look for neatness of the map
 Some features need a labeling but some don’t
 Use proper font size and color for clarity in reading
labels
 In a particular feature look for which attribute is a
good representation of the feature and should be
used for labeling
 Do not use repeated labeling
 In some cases, halo effect is required to bring
prominence to your label
 In many cases, scale rendering function need to
used to show labeling at a particular scale while
zooming
Base Elements
 Internal
 External
Internal Base Elements
 Geographic features
 Physical and cultural
landmarks, boundaries, roads, rivers, topography.
 Textual labels
words and numbers identifying or describing
features.
External Base Elements
 Titles
 North Arrow
 Legend
 Scale bar and representative fraction
 Source and credits
 Insets
 etc.
Designing a map
 Includethe base elements.
 Customized for the audience.
 Focus on the message
What is emphasized???
Generalizations

 Every map contains errors


 Primarysource of error in cartography is
Generalization
Generalizations
Scale
 Large-scale = relatively smaller numbers
(1:10,000), more detail, and less area
(smaller geographic extent).
 Small-scale = relatively larger numbers
(1:250,000), less detail, and more area
(larger geographic extent).
 These comparisons are relative.
Resolution
 Absolute resolution
 Relative resolution
Accuracy
 Absolute accuracy
 Relative accuracy
Precision
 Measure of repeatability

Accuracy
versus
Precision
MMU

 Minimum Mapping Unit


DEMO

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