Syllabus

Computerized Map Design (Fall 2012)
(Maps and Graphic Methods)

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Web site à http://geography.sdsu.edu/People/Pages/tsou/geog381/

Blackboard (for email and lecture notes only): https://blackboard.sdsu.edu/

FaceBook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Geospatial-Technology-at-SDSU-GEOG104-GEOG381-GEOG583/129010146571

Lectures: Tue. / Thur. 8:00am - 8:50am                                  Location: GMCS- 314

Lab Section#1: Tue. / Thur. 9:00am - 10:20am (TA: Elder)     Lab room: GA (Geography Annex) - 122 (SAL)

Lab Section#2: Tue. / Thur. 11:00am - 12:20pm (TA: Seidl)   Lab room: GA (Geography Annex) - 122 (SAL)

           

Instructor:        Dr. Ming-Hsiang (Ming) Tsou

                        Geography Annex Room 119

                        mtsou@mail.sdsu.edu  

Office Hour:     Thursday 10:30am- 12:30pm

                          or by appt. (619) 594-0205

Philip Elder (Section#1 -  TA)

Email: pelder@projects.sdsu.edu
Office Hours:  Tue. Wed. Thur. 1pm - 2pm.  
 
Dara Seidl (Section#2 – TA)
Email:  dseidl@mail.sdsu.edu 
Office Hours:  Tue. Wed. 12:30pm - 1:30pm.

 

 

Overview:

Cartography is a synthesis of science, techniques, and art.  This course introduces students to cartographic design and principles.  The lectures will emphasize the construction of maps with modern methods by using computers and GIS software.  The map construction includes scale, projections, generalization, symbols, classification, color scheme, and visualization.  The lab exercises will provide hands-on experiences (ArcGIS) and equip students with the fundamental skills for advanced GIS courses and computer mapping.  Besides the basic training in cartographic techniques, the major goals of this class are to:

 

1.      Understand the principles of cartographic design and map construction.

2.      Generate maps with appropriate cartographic skills.

3.      Encourage students to explore advanced cartographic issues, such as visualization, on-line mapping, and cognitive science.

 

Required Textbooks:

·        Dent, B. D., Torguson, J. S., and Hodler, T. W. (2009),  Cartography:  Thematic Map Design, 6th ed., New York, McGraw-Hill.

·        Tsou, M. 2012, GEOG.381. Lecture notes: Computerized Map Design (Maps and Graphic Methods) (available at SDSU Book Store).

Additional readings are available on the digital archive of  Y:(VORTEX_geog381)/readings folder. (using the machines at SAL lab).

 

Lectures:

Lectures focus on the introduction of principles of cartographic design, including map construction, projection, visualization, generalization, and uncertainty.

 

Lab Exercises:

Students must attend and sign-in for each lab session, meeting twice every week. Lab exercises focus on the training of cartographic skills by using the ESRI ArcGIS software package.  Students are required to attend full lab periods to receive a passing grade.  To encourage good attendance, TWO points will be taken off the whole course final grade for EACH missed lab.   Lab assignments are due at the beginning (8:00am) of the lab due date.  Late assignments will be docked 20% per day, and will be effective at the lab on the due date.  Students must hand in all assignments by 5pm, December 14, 2012 to receive a passing grade (D- or above) regardless of how many points have been docked.

 

Grading:          Class participation (lectures): 5%;       Lab exercises: 50%; 

                        Midterm Exam: 20%;                         Final Exam: 25%

 

WEEK                         LECTURE                                       READING            LAB EXERCISE

1

28  Aug

30

Introduction - Cartographic Process

(library reference assignment)

Ch. 1

No lab on first week

(create ESRI global accounts)

2

04 Sep
06

Map Functions and Types

Map Design: Abstraction/Constraints

Ch. 2

ESRI Virtual Campus (Lab-1):

The 15-Minute Map: Creating a Basic Map in ArcMap

(Please bring a headphone with you)

3

11 Sep
13

Map Projections

Generalization Controls and Elements

Ch. 3

Projections for Map Design (Lab-2)

4

18 Sep
20 ***

Sep 18: Guest Lecture (Harry Johnson).

Sep 20:  No Lecture, Lab continues

Imhoff

Cartographic Design (Lab-3)

Big Picture Design

5

25 Sep
27

Remote sensing and GPS

Generalization Methods

Ch.13, ESRI

Ch. 4

Cartographic Design (Lab-3)

Big Picture Design

6

02 Oct

04

Map Scale and Typography

Map Composition and Visual Variables

Ch. 4

 

Cartographic Design (Lab-4)

Type Basics.

7

09 Oct

11

Thematic Map Symbols/ Point symbols Line and Area Symbols

 

Cartographic Design (Lab-4) Type Basics.

8

16 Oct

18

Color

(Oct 18 - Distribute Exam quest.)

 

Cartographic Design (Lab-5)

Effective Type in Map Design

9

23 Oct

25

(Review Exam)

Mid-term Exam: Oct. 25 (20 points)

7:50AM – 9:00AM (GMCS-314)

Ch.14

 

Cartographic Design (Lab-5)

Color Basics (Lab-6)

10

30 Oct
01 Nov

Graphing

Ch. 17

Color Basics (Lab-6)

Color Basics (Lab-6)

11

06 Nov

08

Data Processing

 

 

Choropleth Mapping ONE (7)

12

13 Nov

15

Choropleth mapping

Ch. 5

 

Chorpleth Mapping TWO (8)

13

20 Nov

22

Thanksgiving Week 

(NO Lectures, NO Labs)

Fisher, Evans Ch. 6

NO  LABS (SAL open to students, but no TA).

14

27 Nov

29

Dasymetric mapping

Mapping Uncertainty and GIS

Buttenfield

 

Choroplethic Mapping THREE (9)

15

04 Dec

06

Internet Mapping and Multimedia

Map Use and Misuse

Ch. 16

Choropleth Mapping THREE (9)

 

13  Dec

Final Exam (25 points) 8:00am-10:00am  Location: GMCS- 314

 

14  Dec

All Missed Labs Due Date  (by 5pm in the Instructor’s mailbox --  TSOU)

 
Additional Readings: (located in Y:(Vortex_geog381)/readings folder. in SAL lab)  

Brewer, C. A. 1994 Color Use Guidelines for Mapping and Visualization. In MacEachren, A. M. and Taylor, D.R.F. (eds.) Visualization in Modern Cartography. New York: Elsevier: 123-147.

Buttenfield, B. P. 1999 Visualizing Ecological Uncertainty. Chapter 6 in Hunsaker, C., Goodchild, M.F., Friedl, M. and Case, T. (Eds.) Uncertainty in Spatial Data for Ecological Analyses. New York: Springer-Verlag.

ESRI. (2009). Maplex for ArcGIS. An ESRI White Paper. Redlands, California.

Evans, I.S. 1977 The Selection of Class Intervals. Transactions, Institute of British Geographers, 2: 98-124.

Fisher, W.D. 1958 On Grouping for Maximum Homogeneity. Journal of the American Statistical Association, vol. 53(Dec): 789-798.

Imhoff, E. 1975 Positioning Names on Maps. The American Cartographer, vol. 2(2): 128-144.

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Last updated: May 10, 2013.