The objectives of Cartographic Techniques are for the student to be able to:

• Understand and apply principles of graphic design to cartographic design and production;
• Apply cartographic communication theory to symbol design;
• Use visual perception techniques to improve legibility and clarity of purpose in map design;
• Employ ethics in cartographic design;
• Understand the differences between cartographic visualization and cartographic communication;
• Identify the influence of cartographic visualization vs. cartographic communication on map design;
• Use color theory in the application of color to symbol design;
• Create a graded color series based on hue, value and chroma using Adobe Illustrator;
• Create colors for multi-color qualitative and quantitative maps;
• Produce technically challenging maps on Adobe Illustrator;
• Import an ArcView map into Adobe Illustrator/mapPublisher for graphic enhancement;
• Scan photos, enhance them in Photoshop and integrate them with maps as part of map design;
• Explore the possibilities of Map Animation and Multimedia in cartographic design;
• Create a Web Home Page and place one map on the World Wide Web;
• Learn how to create animation and interactivity on the web using Animated GIF's and Java Applets;
• Design and give a presentation using Microsoft Power Point.

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Course Details: 

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Lecturer - Laurie Garo

• Laboratory Assignments (Exercises)     50%
• Class/Lab Participation (Discussions)   10%
• Presentation                                         10%
• Written Examination (3 hours)               30%

• .GIF images for viewing from University of Texas, Geographers Craft notes on Cartographic Communication.
• Table of Contents on Cartographic Communication from which to select appropriate topics (University of Texas, Geographers Craft notes on Cartographic Communication).
• Review Notes on Coordinate Systems (University of Texas, Geographers Craft notes on Cartographic Communication).
• Review Notes on Map Projections (University of Texas, Geographers Craft notes on Cartographic Communication).
• Color Theory Module from the Virtual Geography Department (by Laurie Garo)
• Color Guidelines for using Color on Thematic Maps, by Cynthia Brewer of Pennsylvania State University
• 1997 Geography 4100 Student Projects
• 1998 Geography 4100 Student Projects
• 1999 Geography 4100 Student Projects
• 2001 Geography 4101/5101 Student Projects
• Student Cartography Projects from George Mason University, Geography Department.
• USGS Map Animations
• Map Animations from University of Hawaii, Geography Department.
• Map Animation Examples from a NACIS paper by Michael Peterson (October, 1996), University of Omaha, Geography Department.
• Interactive Animations from University of Iowa.
• More Interactive Animations from University of Kansas
• Animation Projects from MIT
• More Animation Projects from MIT

• Black and white prints of required lab exercises are covered by the department. Color Prints can be made at $2.00 per print. If you wish to have color prints you must pay before printing.
• Backups of alll work should be saved onto Floppy Disk or Zip Disk (diskettes to be purchased by the student).

January 20
Lecture: Brief Review: Types of Thematic Maps; Graphic Principles for Design and Layout of Thematic Maps
Reading: Robinson, 11-16, 271-277, 316-338, 475-492; Browse through the Table of Contents from the UT Geographers Craft Notes on Cartographic Communication (look for relevant readings).
Lab: Exercise 1: Boston Map

January 27
Lecture: Visual Perception in Cartography
Reading: Robinson, 316-323, 397-398; Browse through the Table of Contents from the UT Geographers Craft Notes on Cartographic Communication (look for relevant readings).
Lab: Discussion on Ethics in Cartography with reference to Harley, 1990.
Complete Exercise 1 by February 1

February 3
Lecture: Cognitive Mapping
Reading for February 8: MacEachren & Ganter, 1990, and MacEachren & Monmonier, 1992 (click for Reading List)
Lab: Discussion on Mental Mapping (Chapter 1, Downs & Stea)
Exercise 2, continued

February 10
Lecture: Introduction to Color Theory; The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Color; Additive and Subtractive Primaries.
Reading: Robinson, 341-347; Color Figures 19.1, 19.2, and 20.1; Interactive Color Module; Color Theory Module
Lab: Exercise 3: Additive and Subtractive Primaries (due on February 15)

February 17
Lecture: Color Mixing for Cartographic Production and Printing; Color Specification Systems and Color Mixing: CIE, Munsell System, Pantone, & The ITC Color Chart.
Reading: Robinson, 347-379; Color Figures 19.2 through 20.2, 20.4 and 20.5; Color Theory Module
Lab: Exercise 4, continued (complete by February 22)

February 24
Lecture: Color as a Map Symbol; Color in Symbol Design
Reading: Robinson, 381-396; Color Figures 21.2, 21.5, 28.1 & 28.2;Color Theory Module, Color Guidelines for using Color on Thematic Maps, .GIF images
Lab: Exercise 6: Color Symbol Design based on Data Characteristics

March 2
Lecture: Integrating Maps and Images
Reading: .GIF images, 1997 Geography 4100 Student Projects, 1998 Geography 4100 Student Projects
Lab: Introduction to Photoshop;
Exercise 7: Integrating Maps and Images with Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator

March 20
Lecture: Improving Cartographic Quality of GIS Output
Reading for April 5: Campbell & Egbert, 1990; DiBiase, et.al., 1992; Dorling, 1992; Monmonier, 1992.
Lab: Exercise 8: Importing an ArcView Map into Adobe Illustrator using MapPublisher;
Map Project (Exercise 9) to be assigned to start during week of March 22-29

April 3
Lecture: Web Publishing (using Netscape)
Lab: Exercise 10: Placing a Map on the Web

April 10
Lab: Exercise 10, continued

April 17
Lecture: Preparing a Presentation on Microsoft Power Point
Lab: Exercise 11: Preparation of a Cartographic Presentation on Power Point

April 24
Lecture: Exam Review;
Lab: Exercise 11, continued (to be presented on April 30)

May 1 (Monday)
FINAL EXAMINATION -- 2:00 - 3:30 pm (in class) 

Last Modified: November 30, 2001