Maps at Varying Resolutions and Scales

Wisconsin Level 1

Wisconsin Level 2

Wisconsin Level 3

USA Level 1

USA Level 3

USA Level 4

USA Level 5

World Level 5

Google Earth

Google Earth

Google Earth

USGS 100K DLG

National Atlas 2M

CIA World Data Bank

North American Atlas

Comparison

Vertices National Atlas 2M

Vertices CIA World Data Bank

Vertices North American Atlas

USGS 100K DLG

National Atlas 2M

CIA World Data Bank

North American Atlas

Comparison

Map Essentials• Direction Indicator (True, Magnetic, Grid)• Scale (Miles, Meters, Feet)• Legend– Title, Purpose– Explain Symbols– Follow Convention

• Graticule (Latitude-Longitude, UTM)• Index map

Map Design

• Landscape or Portrait?• Legibility– Symbol and text size– Avoid clutter– Color Scheme

Good Idea, Bad Design

Why It’s a Bad Map

• Poor Color Scheme– Okay, it’s putrid

• Does not distinguish between low incidence and no data

• No information on number or location of data points

Worst Map Design of All