Advanced Digital Cartography @ Mason

Advanced Digital Cartography is **cancelled** this Tuesday, Feb 26th.  Sorry about this, but I have a feverish, contagious kid. Can't leave him with a sitter.  

Here's the scoop on class this week:

Lab 4: You can take until Wed 27th at noon to complete lab. If you are having any issues, send me an email and I will help. If you have already sent me a message, I will be tinkering later tonight and in the morning. 

Lab 5:  I did a demo on the basics of Motion Tweens last Thursday. I will upload the lab files to Blackboard early tomorrow. I will go over it in class on Thursday but if you wish to begin feel free. 

The Topic Overview group scheduled for Thursday is still on for Thursday. 

Please spread the word to your classmates! I don't want anyone to be surprised. Thank you!

http://blog.posterous.com/thanks-from-posterous

Wondering what Lab 4 can look like? Here are three examples from last year. 

Here are the two scripts you need for Lab 4 (you can copy these and paste them directly into the Actions panel)

Election1988Map._visible = false;

on (click) {

if (this.selected) {

_root.Election1988Map._visible = true;

} else {

_root.Election1988Map._visible = false;

}

}

We are examining more interfaces for map animations and visualizations. It is a complex interplay of legibility and intuitiveness versus graphic design and screen real estate. It is paramount that the user can quickly and correctly figure out what they can do (don't assume your audience is all that computer savvy). But do think creatively with regard to your topic and design theme. This website called Pattern Browser is an attempt to categorize a multitude of online visualizations with reference to the interface. It has a strong emphasis on geographic data and the needs of spatial info.

The other main component this week is learning a new approach for visualizing complex data -- the "faux-GIS." This is a layering technique where a static map image is overlaid with a variety of pre-made maps of the same geographic location. The user is given the ability to control the viewing of the maps (which layers to see and how many to overlap), but the maps themselves are all pre-made (dynamic maps are very doable and quite compelling...but we're not up to that level yet). The issues with this visualization approach stems with the concentration of data symbols. It is challenging to produce multiple maps that retain legibility when layered together (as if a stack of overhead transparencies). Simplicity is key. It is possible to retain detailed info, but you have to think carefully.

Below are some examples of this layering approach:

A "faux-GIS" style animation

Here is one on Sudan by the Washington Post which is very nice.

And Iraq animation has layers in addition to temporal content (could inspire a final project)

2008 Campaign Finance Tracker has a variety of ways to search through the data.

And this is just an interesting way to search for news geographically

If you are using Blogger for your class blog, you need to upload your swf Flash movie to a hosting site before you link it to Blogger. I handed out directions on how to do this hosting using Dropbox, but I have been sent alternative approaches using Google. I want to pass this technique along as it may prove easier for you. I have no preference as to the approach you take...I just need to see the end product (your movies and weekly maps posted to your blog). If you find another way to do the hosting, feel free to comment to this post with info. 

http://www.dipinit.com/how-to-s/embed-swf-flash-animations-files-blogger/

Mexican-American war: http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/timeline_flash.html

Hurricane Irene: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/08/27/us/preparations-for-hurricane-i...

Gulf Oil Spill: http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/deepwater-disaster/index.ssf

Evolution of Vegas Strip: http://www.lasvegassun.com/history/map/

Middle Earth: http://lotrproject.com/map/#zoom=2&lat=-1455&lon=1468&layers=BTTT

and Lab 3's from the past:

This week we are pushing farther into Flash and will be analyzing one of the key design components of an animated map: the timeline. No, I'm not referring to the "timeline" in Flash but rather a component of the animation that relates temporal information and controls. A poorly designed timeline is difficult to use and interpret, and takes away from the animation regardless of how nice the maps are. The goal is to have dates and buttons and visuals that are intuitive, integrated, and functional. You want the viewer to spend their time on the map, not figuring out how to play it!

Check this out: http://bmander.com/dotmap/index.html#7.00/39.764/-78.104

Fantastic, simple new dot map of North America. Each dot represents *one* person! (be glad I'm not having you do that in Illustrator). 

Each week as we launch into a new theme in interactive and/or animated mapping, we will have a group give us an informal introduction. The "Topic Overview" consists of a few summary paragraphs along with 3-5 example maps that help highlight the topic (all of which are posted on the blog of one of the presenters). Near the start of class, the group will explain the topic to the class and will demo the web maps they selected using the lecturn machine. The goal is to kick-start the discussion and begin feeding ideas for design and production.

These are the topics for this semester. Groups of two. 

1. 2/14  Interactive Interfaces -- Matt
2. 2/21  Objects that move...   -- Renee and Scott
3. 2/28  Objects that morph...   --  Will and Jazzy
4. 3/7  Professional effects  -- Elena and Erin
5. 3/21  More effects -- Pete and Zach
6. 3/28  3D maps and modeling  -- Jared and Kristin
7. 4/11  Cartograms -- Bridget and Gelisa
8. 4/18  New Directions -- Jeff and Eric