Creating and Publishing Maps with ArcGIS

This course teaches how to employ the elements of good cartography as part of a standard cartographic process that you can apply each time you make a map. You will learn to create maps that are easy to interpret and properly designed for their audience and delivery medium. This course is taught with ArcGIS Spatial Analyst and Maplex for ArcGIS as some of the tools used in course exercises are provided in those products.

This course is designed for experienced ArcGIS users with little or no cartographic experience as well as experienced cartographers with limited ArcGIS experience who want to create database-driven maps.

After completing this course, you will be able to

• Plan a cartographic project.
• Evaluate data for cartographic purposes.
• Apply fundamental cartographic design principles to create a well designed map.
• Create labels and annotation that are easy to read by a map's intended audience.
• Apply a standard cartographic workflow to efficiently create maps using ArcGIS.
• Produce maps for a variety of delivery models, including a Web mapping application.

• The cartographic planning process: Advantages of GIS cartography; Map scale; Design controls; Overview of the steps in the cartographic workflow; Ensuring cartographic quality.
• Selecting and evaluating data: Nature of geographic data; Selecting the right map data; Accessing data; ArcGIS Online; Designing a cartographic database; QC tasks to evaluate data quality.
• Choosing a coordinate system: Geographic coordinate systems; Datums; Geographic transformations; Projected coordinate systems; Map projections; Selecting an appropriate coordinate system.
• Elements of map design: Types of maps; Visual weight; Contrast; Figure-ground; Visual hierarchy; Color in cartography; Perceptual limits.
• Qualitative and quantitative symbols: Classified versus unclassified data; Choropleth mapping workflow; Defining the number of classes; Designing color schemes; Symbolization methods; Designing symbols for different mediums; Designing for the color-impaired; 3D symbols.
• Advanced symbology techniques: Managing symbols with styles; Cartographic representations; PLTS Visual Specifications tool; Variable-depth masking; Symbol-level drawing; PLTS Views.
• Generalization: Benefits of generalization; Methods of generalization; Creating generalization models.
• Symbolizing elevation: Methods of symbolizing elevation; Three-dimensional views; Layer transparency; Raster considerations; Combining vector and raster displays; Image flattening.
• Working with map labels: Type basics for cartography; Legibility of text; Font style usage; Text placement guidelines; Overview of Maplex; Placement styles; Label stacking; Font size reduction; Abbreviations.
• Creating and editing annotation: Characteristics of annotation; Choosing between labels or annotation; Annotation editing techniques; Advanced effects using masking; Quality control; Designing type for Web maps.
• Map layout: Considerations for your layout based on output medium; Focus; Balance and symmetry; The map layout workflow; Adding coordinate grids.
• Map element design: Deciding when to add map elements and how prominent they should be; Adding explanatory text; Using inset maps; Implementing quality control for map elements.
• Map output: Using map templates; Using color calibration charts; Exporting maps; Printing maps; Serving maps on the Web; Using GIS services for visualization; Implementing quality control for map output.
• Final project: Reviewing the cartographic workflow; Applying the cartographic workflow and basic cartographic design principles in a self-directed project.

Completion of ArcGIS Desktop II: Tools and Functionality or Learning ArcGIS Desktop or equivalent knowledge is required.

This course is designed to work with the following software:

How do I know what ArcGIS Desktop software I have? [Flash] [Text]