Module 10: Isarithmic Maps

I wish I could have had this new level of comfort with the pen tool, anchor points, and handles when I was working the previous module! Nonetheless, it was encouraging to feel a little bit better about it during this exercise.

One of my favorite features on this map has to be contour values that are incorporated into the lines. I used a small white background behind each one to make sure that these numbers did not get lost in other map traffic. It was just a matter of ordering the layers properly, and we were good to go.

I tried to give a meaningful legend a stab, so we will see. I could have pulled off shading or coloring in each precipitation zone relatively easily, but I am satisfied with black and white.

Module 9: Flow Maps

For this map, I wanted to pursue the look a classic textbook map. I ended up being very pleased with the layout and design of this map. One of my favorite highlights is the branch and trunk feature I was able to create for the flow lines coming from Central America and the Caribbean Islands.

This particular project was slowed by a few technical difficulties. A few of them were specific to my computer; however, I encountered one problem that I have yet to find a solution for. I posted about it in detail in our class discussion. To summarize, at some point during my work, I must have changed a default setting in Illustrator. Now, when I create any object, whether it is a line, or a shape, or anything else I get a small black line around it, whether I want it to have a stroke or not. I cannot even change the color, it stays black.

Unfortunately, this technical limitation influenced design considerations, and ultimately the final product.

Module 8: Dot Maps

I have dots that tend to coalesce and my map is probably not the best map for extracting data from; however, the strength of this map lies in the ability that an engaged reader will have to recall patterns in the data from memory. I devoted much of my time to locating dots in fashion that would reflect real-world locations of housing units within each enumeration unit (the counties). It was a manual approach that seems to be almost a hybrid of the geographically weighted and geographical based methods of dot placement. You might be able to recognize the I-4 corridor through central Florida, and you should see clusters of population densities around different metropolitan statistical areas.

For a while, I considered a black map with white dots as a means of creating a map that looked like you were looking down at Florida at night. I may go back and give this a look just out of curiosity.

While I feel like I am far from an expert on dot maps, I do feel like I have been properly introduced. I did not have trouble with the mathematical concepts, but I could use more experience.

I am very grateful for every one's input in the class discussion board. The wealth of knowledge there bailed me out of some confusion, and the shortcuts discussed are the best.

Module 7: Proportional Map Symbols

This was the first exercise where I felt immediately comfortable with the technical aspects of the assignment. In addition, I am feeling more and more confident with the nuances of Adobe Illustrator. As a result, I was able to devote the majority of my time to the design and appearance of my map. I hoped to establish a noticeable figure ground with the light blue background and purple circles for my proportional symbols.

One problem I encountered was with changing the color of my country labels. At first, when I attempted to lighten the labels to gray, my entire artboard would turn the same color. After a few moments of frustration, I realized that my label layer had imported a path shape from ArcGIS. As soon as I identified this, I was able to delete it and continue.

MS Excel's function features allowed me to calculate circle sizes needed quickly, and I ended up with what has been my favorite map project so far!