8. What’s the point? Communicating with maps – 1 map can convey many different meanings; information communicated is not always consistent Interpretation of maps – the same map viewed by 2 people cannot conclude that they will see the same things; Identify individual vs Collective Patterns – did some use more defined map parameters, such as a seeing the world as flat or more of a circular world? Or was there a pattern that involves more of an inclusive portrayal of the environment (flora, fauna)
Talking points: Thank you for participating in today’s mental map exercise. In front of you is a blank piece of paper and several markers and different colored pencils for your use. Your task is to draw from memory how you got to work today. There are no right and wrong answers in today’s exercise. Include features you think that are important to you from your memory that you want to include in your map. Be as detailed as possible. There will be a GIS/Mapping related prize for the best map (as determined by the GIS staff).Rules:You have 10 minutes to complete your map.
Questions to lead a quick summarizing discussion. Audience participation is required.
101 Lessons: Through a simple map exercise, we can conclude the wide spectrum of the way people define their place and their environment. This tells us that while we think about places and getting from point A to point B, each person has a different story to tell.
Segue from map exercise to map template to the work we doAsk for answers from the audience:Should hear: good use of color, standard map elements, appropriate hierarchy of data, simple, intuitive, comprehensiveSince the beginning of time we, humans, have used maps to tell stories. What property I own, where I ride my bike, where I went on vacation, where the closest grocery store is. We all use maps. There are fundamental requirements for a map, but even maps about the same data can often look very different. Next Slide
The stories SDOT tells. There are difference between each map here, some are subtle some are obvious. This can tell a story as well. Maybe it’s a story of lack of organization, or ambivalence. We are starting to change that, in small ways. Next slide
Why is this important? Media is being sent out at rates faster than we even know. Real time information streaming is a reality and the more unified our message is the clearer it is.
Example of the some of the element that have been standardized.
SDOT Standard Map Template
We are not the map police…or at least we don’t want to be. Tools have been made available to make it easier for the end user to not only make a map, but make it easily and quickly.
Location of the tools (maybe added to a cheat sheet)?GIS is more than maps.
GIS can inform the decision making process. It can help defend or justify decisions that may be unpopular.
What can GIS do for you?
MapsTraffic Flow Map (right)Sample average map in template (left)
Data visualizationGoogle Docs Load prior to presentation – picture is hyperlinked to iGoogle pageSecond image is created via GIS (ArcScene)
Analysis:Model BuilderWalking effort
Data Management including data review and clean up, posting to enterprise system, meta data.
Project PlanningUsing GIS strategically on projects through pre-planning and scoping with GIS team.
Seattle Parking Map
Recreational Walking Map
Map BookIncluding creation of website and entry in SDOT Blog
![Mental Map Exercise (person’s perceptions of portraying geographic relationships) ,[object Object]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)