![]() ![]() Projections: Typical web maps are limited to the Web Mercator projection. I don't want viewers to have to figure out how to use the map they should just be able to look at it and figure out what's going on. Instead, I stick to static maps for a few reasons: Simplicity and ease-of-use: Interactive maps are great, but I want the maps I make to be straightforward to read and understand. Sure I use the web as my primary medium (it's a great way to find an audience fast), but I've never published a truly interactive "online" map with embedded data behind it. How did you come to online mapmaking? I'm not sure if what I do is proper online mapping. So I do maps on my own to keep my skills sharp, try new tools and techniques, and settle my own curiosities. I am constantly working with geographic data–evaluating its quality, performing analysis, making corrections and so on–but very little of what I do on a daily basis involves any cartography beyond basic visual inspections. My day job involves data wrangling and product development around the oil and gas industry. ![]() Do work with maps in your day job? Not maps per se. And of course, as a last resort, some commercial vendors have data for purchase. Occasionally, I must create my own data using old-school GIS techniques like digitizing from maps or photos or geocoding addresses. Depending on the quality of the portal, these can be tedious to sort through. ![]() A lot of government-provided data sits inside un-indexed data portals or clearinghouses. Sometimes though, finding data requires a deeper search. There's *so much* data just sitting on servers that if you can imagine it, it's probably out there somewhere (often for free). When I need to find a particular data set, it's often as straightforward as a search for the topic with the word "shapefile" or "gis" attached. Mapping/GIS/dataviz forums, plus Twitter for announcements, are probably where I stumble on data most often. So in this regard I'm always on the lookout for new data sources that might be useful one day. A while back, I stumbled on some 60,000 reported UFO sightings that I've been trying to make something interesting out of. For example, I don't live in New York, but I still grabbed the NYC PLUTO data last year just to see what I could do with it (nothing worth publishing yet). If I run across a potential data set, I'll save it even if I don't have an immediate need for it. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |