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)

Maybe changing it a little will help make it clearer

As faithful data stewards, GIS users try to keep their data untouched from the source we got it from. Changing data makes the data inaccurate, which will make the map that uses it inaccurate. This is a noble stance, but it is not necessary for a lot of maps. In fact, making the data spatially inaccurate will sometimes allow viewers to better interpret the data and most of the time faster too. A world-famous example of when legibility is prioritized over accuracy is Harry Beck's London Underground Tube map:

Figure 6.8: London Underground Tube map

This map, while inaccurate spatially to the real world, clearly and effectively shows the data and allows the viewer to easily determine which trains are needed to get to their destination. Having the linear features of the map make bends at 45° angles makes it easier for...