Chapter 1
The first chapter introduces us to many of the essential techniques used in mapping and display of geographic features. Beginning with the first section you realize that it is paramount that you be specific in defining the geographic features you want to display and their corresponding attributes. Next we examine the choices one must make when deciding the way you want to gather/ display the information in question. In terms of display we are presented with the ideas of vector or rather format that have different levels of scalability with the vector option being adapted to a wide range of scales the rather methods looses sharpness at smaller scales but is perhaps more adept at showing the blend between to regions. We also have ways of defining the data we aim to present/analyze. Very distinctly data can be modeled discretely while regions with similar conditions or qualities are modeled continuously. Lastly they can be summarized by areas where specific points are given greater importance by being defined to a distinct geographic location.
I find some confusion about how lines might be drawn with individual points. What sort of software might be used to generate points on a line or are the points created by hand to model larger phenomena?
What advantages might the Rather method have at a smaller scale. Would it be easier to demonstrate the pervading category within a cell using the rather model as opposed to showing the distinctive line used by the vector model?
Each feature displayed on the map is given different attributes which are not shown on the map but rather in the table of information but ultimately determine how each feature is represented. Geographic borders remain constant between different features.
Chapter 2
The text states “ The GIS reads these and assigns geographic coordinates.” This got me thinking. Are all GIS the same or do some have different capabilities and handicaps?
This chapter of the textbook seems to be more focused on what the GIS is capable of and is less focused on the specific geographic features and their attached attributes that the user implements into the GIS. It also dived into the aesthetics of mapmaking and gave some helpful tips on styling, shaping and color coding of various features as well as how you can make maps more simplified through multiple levels of map complexity. One essential point that I got from this part of the textbook is that your map should aspire to be readable by everyone but should also be helpful to experts in whatever subject they aim to map.
There was also some focus on what to display to convey information best to the reader. I am wondering if there will be a greater emphasis on what to include and not include in your map in one of the coming sections ex: what things not to input into your map to make it seem unprofessional(clip art, 3d graphics etc).
I thought it was interesting that the maximum number of colors you should include was 7. I hadn’t thought about mapmaking that way psychologically but it does make sense. Is there some fluctuation in this where people can comprehend more than 7 shades? It is also sometimes necessary to use more than 7 shades. How can you make this more user friendly?
Chapter 3
The idea of summarizing data from most to least seems somewhat elementary to me. Would it not be better to explain how these things are programmed into a map?
I think the distinction between count and amount is an important distinction to make but I feel like the words are so similar would other more technical terminology make definitions seem more distinct example #categories paired with amount, etc..
The 3D modelling looks complex and I had not thought about the use of a light source to create shadows and how the positioning of that light source might create a very different visual.
This chapter focused on display of variables and mapping things from most to least. It examined the different ways you can choose to group numbers or ways that you can have the GIS automatically separate numbers into different classes using things like natural breaks. It then talked about some more ways to distinguish between these different classes you have made, For example: using line width when showing quality of stream health etc. and introduced charts to show categorical data internal to the area on the GIS. The chapter also gave a very helpful breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of different types of display styles which I thought was really nice and simplified the earlier knowledge well and provided basis for comparison.