Gretchen Peterson is a well-known geospatial professional who has run her own GIS consulting firm, Peterson GIS, since 2001. She has worked on a wide range of GIS projects including (just to name a few) solar energy site suitability analysis, stream restoration prioritization, wildlife corridor design, and an archaeological sensitivity […]
Cartography
Maps and Cartography
Cartographic Resources
Learn how to really display your spatial information and create well designed, informative maps. Access this collection of resources on how to display colors, create an amazing layout, and what information to show. Cartographic Design and Map Making What’s in a Map? What really makes a map? Find out the […]
GIS Learning
GIS 101: Learn About GIS
GIS is a multi-faceted discipline built that incorporates a variety of technologies and concepts. To really understand the capabilities of GIS, it is important to learn cartography, spatial and statistical analysis, database management, and programming. Looking to get started in GIS? This GIS 101 page is the launch page for […]
Maps and Cartography
Homeschool Cartography Courses
If you live near Portland, Maine and have homeschooled children, there is a cartography course being offered through the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education of the University of Southern Maine. The four-part homeschooling cartography course is offered at two levels: intermediate for children aged 10-12 and secondary […]
Maps and Cartography
Paula Scher’s Maps
Paula Scher, a graphic artist, has a book available highlighting 39 of her artistic map creations.
Maps and Cartography
American Mapmaking
AmericanMapmaking.com is a virtual exhibit of American maps from the late 18th century. Created by antique map dealer, Boston Rare Maps, the virtual tour is styled after the Harvard Maps Collection exhibit is entitled “Toward a National Cartography: American Mapmaking, 1782-1800” and seeks to explore the evolution of cartography after […]
Maps and Cartography
To North Arrow or Not to North Arrow
I started my GIS education back when hand cartography was still a course offered at UCLA. My early teachers drilled into me the standard of adding a title, north arrow, and scale bar automatically to all maps. The GIS manager at a place where I first worked was adamant that […]
Maps and Cartography
Ten Things to Consider When Making a Map
What makes a good map? When done well, a map is a vehicle for effective communication. There are many cartographic principles to help guide effective map making. Below are ten common considerations that all cartographers should incorporate as part of their map making process. This list isn’t meant to be […]
Maps and Cartography
Elements of a Map
Maps are the primary tools by which spatial relationships are visualized. Maps therefore become important documents. There are several key elements that should be included each time a map is created in order to aid the viewer in understanding the communications of that map and to document the source of […]
GIS Learning
Making Color Blind Friendly Maps
It’s estimated that about 7% of males are color blind in some form (as compared with 0.4% of females). While a very small percentage don’t see color at all, the most common form of color blindness is the inability to differentiate red and green colors. One area that color […]