Book Image

Mapping with ArcGIS Pro

By : Amy Rock, Ryan Malhoski
Book Image

Mapping with ArcGIS Pro

By: Amy Rock, Ryan Malhoski

Overview of this book

ArcGIS Pro is a geographic information system for working with maps and geographic information. This book will help you create visually stunning maps that increase the legibility of the stories being mapped and introduce visual and design concepts into a traditionally scientific, data-driven process. The book begins by outlining the steps of gathering data from authoritative sources and lays out the workflow of creating a great map. Once the plan is in place you will learn how to organize the Contents Pane in ArcGIS Pro and identify the steps involved in streamlining the production process. Then you will learn Cartographic Design techniques using ArcGIS Pro's feature set to organize the page structure and create a custom set of color swatches. You will be then exposed to the techniques required to ensure your data is clear and legible no matter the size or scale of your map. The later chapters will help you understand the various projection systems, trade-offs between them, and the proper applications of them to make sure your maps are accurate and visually appealing. Finally, you will be introduced to the ArcGIS Online ecosystem and how ArcGIS Pro can utilize it within the application. You will learn Smart Mapping, a new feature of ArcGIS Online that will help you to make maps that are visually stunning and useful. By the end of this book, you will feel more confident in making appropriate cartographic decisions.
Table of Contents (11 chapters)

Summary

In this chapter, we looked at how color is created and perceived, and how to harness it to improve our maps, not just make them colorful. We also took a few basic techniques and upgraded them using Pro's improved transparency handling. At the end of the day, however, it's not about whether or not you chose attractive colors, but whether or not it enhanced the readability of your map. Any time you apply color, it should be helping your message, not hindering it. 

In the next chapter, we'll look at further improving map communication through cartographic abstraction. We'll examine the relationship between scale, accuracy, and legibility, and learn ways to aggregate spatial data for maximum impact. For further information, you may refer to Robert E. Roth, Andrew W. Woodruff, Zachary F. Johnson, Value-by-alpha maps: An alternative technique...