Julieta's GIS Blog

This week we explored different data classification methods and basic procedures to classify data. We were provided with data from the U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Census Tracts for the state of Florida, in Miami Dade County. With this data from the FGDL , we were tasked with classifying it based on percentage of population above 65 years of age and population above 65 years per square mile. For the lab, we had to apply the provided Census data to four different classification methods: Equal Interval, Quantile, Standard Deviation, and Natural Breaks. Below is 1 of 2 maps required for this assignment. This map focuses on displaying the senior population distribution in Miami Dade County, FL by percentage over 65. Each method used 5 classes and data was rounded to two decimal places. Due to color hues playing a significant visual part in this exercise, I decided to remove the borders from each class to better display the distributions.

This lab required to complete the Explore Spatial Patterns in Your Data Using ArcGIS  web course via ESRI training. It consists 5 exercises in order to determine which areas in western and central Europe should issue a freeze advisory based on the current readings provided by weather monitoring stations across the region. Ex. 1- Explored the spatial distribution of data: I learned how to calculate the mean center, median center, and examine directional trends of a spatial data set. Ex. 2- Explored the values of the data: this consisted of learning how to interpret data from a Histogram and Normal QQ plot in order to determined that the data set consists of characteristics of normal distribution. Ex. 3- Explored spatial relationships on data: here I used a Voronoi map to identify outlier data points. Ex. 4- Validated spatial autocorrelation using a Semivariogram to determined that there is an outlier in the data set by analyzing the data points in 3d space as means to better ide

This week we continue our saga in learning and applying key cartographic design principles. Last week was a crash course in typography, so this week we focused on map design. The task at hand was to create a map of public schools in Ward 7, Washington D.C. while complying with Gestalt's Principles of Visual Hierarchy, Contrast, Figure-ground, and Balance. Not having any graphic arts training before, I can assure you there was plenty time spent testing out colors... Before launching ArcMap, I made a list of visual features from most to least important. Ward 7 and schools should be the key highlight of this task. With that in mind, color choices were next as well as deciding what features to exclude. It was clear that Ward 7 should contain the most information. I applied contrast by means of color vibrancy. The area for Ward 7 is the brightest while the colors for the rest of Washington D.C. and surrounding states are dull in comparison. I think the use of a dull pastel green helps

In this lab we learned some basics in typography and how to apply typographic principles when crafting our maps. The main objective in this exercise was to properly label Marathon, Florida and its surrounding islands. To begin, I created a basic map of Marathon, FL in ArcMap. The only elements added were the inset map of the state of Florida, major roads, Marathon and surrounding islands as the main feature, a north arrow, scale bar, date, cartographer, and data sources. The hard work came in after exporting it to touch it up in Illustrator. All labels, symbols, effects, and legend were done in Illustrator. At first, it appeared like a simple enough exercise to label a few islands off Florida. But a lot of thought went into how to label all of these items in trying to follow guidelines outlined in the reading. Before starting to label items, I broke down the number of fonts needed, tiers of a site's importance which would determine the font size used, and type colors. A few