Advanced Digital Cartography

One more thing...

2009-05-05T20:34:00.002-04:00

In addition to the presentation on Thursday, I also want a copy of everyone's final project. I want 3 files this time around: the big flash file (.fla), the movie (.swf), and the .html. If you have major supporting files not contained in those 3, I'd like them too. I will accept them via email (if the .fla isn't excessively big), on a CD, or you can give me your memory stick during class and I will save it directly to my laptop.

Oh...and I can't resist. One more "map" (you do know I'm a hockey fan, right?)

Best of luck! Hang in there!

End is near!!

2009-05-05T10:55:00.004-04:00

Final Projects are "due" this Thursday, May 7th at 10:30 am. What exactly is due? A functioning copy of your project, exported from Flash and posted to your class blog. Links are not specifically required on the blog this time, but they do help those interested in more details or sources of data. A paragraph about what you did would be peachy.

At 10:30 we'll start Final Project Presentations. Similar to 310, I'll take volunteers to come up to the IN 320 lectern and demo their project. Tell us what you set out to make (and why) as well as what you actually produced (often a strange tangent from the start). What steps did you take? What obstacles did you face? What worked swimmingly? What drowned instantly? Give us all the details. We'll ask a few questions, marvel at your handiwork, and then you're done. Easy as pie!

Please make sure you arrive on time to Innovation on Thursday -- we'll wait for all to be there to start.

Need help with your project? Please contact me. Emailing me your .fla file is an easy approach. I'm also around campus the next 2 days -- just email me and I'll swing by the lab.

Good luck!!

Creative fuel..

2009-04-30T11:48:00.007-04:00

You're in the midst of your project design and need to look at something else for a bit? Perfectly understandable. Check out the following links. Maybe one of these will spark your interest...

Interactive Map of Parking Tickets in New York City (don't you want to see a version for campus?)

NPR's visualization of the U.S. power grid

Council on Foreign Relation's interactive Crisis Guides. I stumbled on these looking for interactive pieces for my world regional class. The guides all have some maps and graphics (climate is more video based) -- they are very nicely done especially considering the amount of content they contain. Some bits, like the Chapter III map in the Darfur Guide, use clever tricks to show multiple symbols that are clustered together (...they show both symbols simultaneously, but class them on separate active layers so you can easily click on the symbols to get additional info). And if you wondered about adding video and narration...more professional design there.

The growth of Target stores in the US. A simple design that lets the data drive the visuals. I love seeing the invasion of Southern California in the mid 80's (an essentially Walmart-free area at that time).

Proof!

2009-04-29T22:28:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow (Thursday, April 30th) is the Final Project Proof. You MUST come to RA113 and show me the status of your final project. You need to be beyond data and basemaps. You need to be mapping and applying the interface design. It does not have to be finished, but you need to have serious work underway. Warning: it takes more time to pull off a good Flash project than an Illustrator map (all of your interface components have to be functional and intuitive). Do not procrastinate!

Next week we have one additional class work block on Tuesday, May 5th from 10:30-11:45. This is right before final exams begin. Yes, I know you are swamped with papers and projects and exam prep....but please fit some Flash in there as well. The 5th is only 2 days from the 7th...just barely enough time to troubleshoot Flash scripting issues (oh yeah, you'll probably have some). Come the 5th, I'd suggest pausing on the graphic manipulation so that you can get the interface and movement of the project functional. You can always go back and polish the bits and pieces.

Thursday, May 7th (10:30am-1:15pm): **Final Exam time block.** This will be our Final Project Presentation time. Your finished Flash project is due at 10:30am. Each person will have 6-8 minutes to present their work. Similar to 310 last Fall.

If you have questions on any of this or need more clarification, Please let me know!
Keep clicking!

Reminder

2009-04-21T10:13:00.002-04:00

We're meeting in Innovation today. Yup, it is final project time, but I have exams to hand back and I want to thrown some additional Flash techniques at ya.

Cartograms

2009-04-07T08:34:00.014-04:00

Cartogram examples:
How the World really Shapes Up has examples of the quick to generate automated cartograms. Not great, but interesting.

These are ones with lots of human manipulation. It is possible to make very nice looking cartograms:
What Your Neighbors are Buying by the NYTimes
Who has the Oil? static cartogram (bivariate)
Show USA and Show World are discontiguous cartograms (which are easier to produce).

What about cartogram generators? We're starting to see more online. They are not as nice as hand made versions, but much, much easier. ScapeToad is one that looks promising (haven't experimented with it yet).

And finally, linear cartograms ala Subway maps:
NYC and London subway maps and modifications
Discussion and links about the new Madrid subway map
Actual new Madrid maps-- both simplified and with traditional basemap.
Please read through these 3 links -- the issues they touch on might be on the exam next week...

(and not on the exam but interesting in a mapping sort of way: Royksopp music vieo)

One month left!

2009-04-07T08:03:00.004-04:00

Our final projects are due on Thursday, May 7th so the end is in sight. Before you get too excited, we still have some key things to accomplish.

This week we are going to discuss some unique classes of maps: Cartograms and Multivariate Maps (see other post). We will also start our last regular lab (#10). We will be playing around with Adobe Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is a raster based graphics program. I personally feel it is the best piece of graphics software out there -- the range of uses and the breadth of options in Photoshop is seemingly endless. Every time I use it I find a new effect or technique. For Cartographers, Photoshop is a powerful tool for creating, cleaning, and/or customizing your graphic elements. It is perfect for both print and digital media, and accepts (and exports) a wide range of formats. In essence, it is amazingly helpful. I use Illustrator for detailed map making and Photoshop for making all the elements of the end product come together.

For Lab 10, we will be using Photoshop Elements. It is a "light" version of the program. For our purposes, it is just fine -- all of the key components are there. It is optimized more for photo manipulation, but working with maps and visualizations is not all that different. If you are familiar with the regular version of Photoshop, you will find some of the options in different places. If you have access to a full version of Photoshop and are more comfortable with that, I have no objection to you using that instead. Unlike Flash and SketchUp, Photoshop Elements is on all of the Innovation computers so we will actually **meet in Innovation 320 on Thursday.** Photoshop is not on the computers in RA113 (maybe one?) but can be found in the large Innovation computer lab as well as the Johnson Center computer labs.

The other key info is that we have the exam next Tuesday in class (April 14th). The exam will cover the content we discussed each Tuesday in class. Look through the Topic Briefs your classmates have presented as well as the content I've covered on the class blog. I won't ask technical questions from the labs (such as how to convert text to a button), but will assume you remember the general goals of each lab. I'm looking to see if you have broadened your scope on maps and the changes that non-static mapping present. The exam will be short essay format. I'll provide the paper...you bring a pen or pencil. Questions? Please post a comment!

Lab 9: SketchUp

2009-04-02T10:21:00.003-04:00

Today we are officially starting SketchUp -- should be a refreshing change from weeks of Flash. Below are some links referred to in the lab write-up:

New User Video Turtorials
Hints specifically for Google Earth
GMU Campus Map

SketchUp 7

2009-03-31T09:41:00.003-04:00

This week we are building on to Google Earth (literally) with Google SketchUp. It is a 3D modeling program that allows us to generate models that are easily placed into the Google Earth sphere.

One of the great features of SketchUp is the price....free! Feel free to download the latest version (7) at home or use it in the lab. (note: the standard version is free, the Pro version has a free 8 hour trial. For 411, the standard version is fine). As for Google Earth, the latest version 5 is now on the machines in the lab. Yay!

In lab 9 you'll be asked to go through a few intro video tutorials to familiarize yourself with the tools and options. If you want to get a head start head here .

And lastly, here are some visualizations to critique:
Open Street Map 2008
Flowing Data's top 5 Visualizations for 2008 (I am particularly interested in the trio of BBC videos
Facebook Data Visualization
Tracking the Box by the BBC. This is the info page, for the map click on Where is the Box Now?

Google Earth

2009-03-26T10:23:00.003-04:00

Here are some links that are in the write-up for Lab 8:

Homepage and download site
Basic Guide to Google Earth
some video tutorials by the Google Earth team if you're stuck
Image overlay instructions
and finally, some excellent examples

Week 10 (only 6 more to go!)

2009-03-24T09:30:00.003-04:00

This week we shift gears and experiment with 2 different programs: Google Earth and Google SketchUp. Many of you have used Google Earth (and if you haven't now is your opportunity). SketchUp, on the other hand, is probably new to most everyone. It is a simple, yet rich 3D modeling program that outputs models suitable for dropping into Google Earth. Pretty sweet.

Before we get into the new programs, I want to look at this interesting website:
Tall Buildings

More visualizations to look at....

2009-03-24T09:14:00.002-04:00

Shaded Relief and Draping :
Tom Patterson is the shaded relief guru (he's a Cartographer at the National Park Service in Harper's Ferry). He is also a really nice guy! This is his site.
And this is another great site.
Another good source of info: Hunter College Guide
Tufte on Imhof

FAA flight visualizations
Red Sea
U.S. home prices adjusted for inflation and plotted on a roller coaster. Really.

Not a map per se, but you might find this video as neat as I do. Might make you feel a bit small in the grand scheme of things.

Web posting assignment for this week: Select and comment on one of the following:
More than 1100 static images. Try and find the actual site for the graphic you like. Explain why you picked it!

Final Project Proposal

2009-03-24T08:07:00.001-04:00

Here is what I'm looking for with the proposal:

In 2-3 typed, double-spaced pages, propose an idea for your Final Project. Explain the topic, the reason you've selected it, the audience of the map(s), the type of visualization you envision, the data source (and if it has been acquired), the production steps (data processing, software, etc.), and a schedule. Also discuss any issues/obstacles you foresee. The Final Project Proposal is due next Tuesday 3-31 at the start of class (note: the proposal is worth 30 points so take it seriously).

There are a variety of visualization options: smooth, temporal animation, motion and shape tweening animation, step-by-step "book-like" animation, "faux" GIS (where the user gets to turn layers on and off -- like lab 4), 3D modeling in SketchUp and Google Earth, and animations in Google Earth (coming soon!), and any combination of the above. The one requirement is that the project is presented in Flash as a link off your blog (or possibly Google Earth). You can choose to use any combination of software programs for the development (ArcMap, Illustrator, Photoshop. etc.) but you must use Flash or Google Earth as the display medium.

At this point you should have a decent grasp as to what you can do in Flash. We're just starting the 3D side but it is not too hard. Go ahead and propose your ideal project (what you'd *really* like to see) and we'll discuss what is doable. My hope is that this project can be used for potential employers (or grad schools) as an example of what you can do. And there are even student map competitions for visualizations!

An assortment of final projects from the past...

2009-03-24T08:01:00.000-04:00

These span a wide range of topics and several of them I have not shown before. They are in no particular order and range from decent to good (I'll spare you the poor ones):

U.S. Territorial Expansion
Battle of Aldie Mill
Vikings
Mobile Phone Networks (uses Google Earth)
Territorial Expansion in Africa
Family Lineage

I'll post some more later this week.

Hyperlinks -- much easier in CS4

2009-03-19T11:41:00.004-04:00

I want to pass along a much simpler way to do the hyperlinks courtesy of CS4 (thanks Kelsey).

Select the text you want to use for the hyperlink. In the Properties panel, click on the Options side-ways arrow. This will reveal a field called "Link:" Simply paste in your webpage (http://www.something.com) in the empty field.

Roll-overs

2009-03-18T21:23:00.001-04:00

Adding roll-over (pop-up) windows:
There are a couple of ways to do this (either initiated as a roll-over or a button click). Here's the easiest.

1. Click on whatever symbol you want to turn into the roll-over, then "Modify->Convert to Symbol..."
2. Double-click on your new button to edit the "states" of that button (the states are the different phases of the button as determined by the user's cursor).
3. Insert a new keyframe in the "Over" frame (in playback, "Over" is when the cursor is positioned over the button)
4. While in the "Over frame," edit your button as desired. Also add your popup note generally where you want it to appear relative to your button. You may need to come back and tweak this location to get it to appear exactly where you want it on stage.
4b. In the "Hit" frame, designate what you want to be the "active" area. Generally, you only want an area around the button to be active (not the graphic appearing on roll-over). Flash will make everything it sees on the "Hit" layer the active zone, so delete things and you can even draw a new box for the active zone (good to do it is just a piece of text).
5. Save your document!
6. Click on the "Scene 1" link at the top of the timeline to exit button editing.
7. There is no step 7.

A more complicated way, but potentially more powerful, is to script the button as you did your layers and checkboxes in the faux-GIS -- but this time use an "on (rollOver)" event rather than the "on (click)". Remember, you'd be changing the "visible" property of your pop-up note with the script, and your pop-up note would have to be it's own movie clip symbol (on whose "visible" was set to "false" in the first frame, as you did with your map layers). With this method it's probably easier to get the positioning of your popups, but again, more complicated to get all the scripting down.

And lastly, another approach is described in a mouse-over tutorial Javier posted on his blog. It walks you step by step through a method somewhat similar to the first one above. Check it out!

Hyperlinks

2009-03-18T21:22:00.000-04:00

Adding hyperlinks to Flash buttons is pretty easy.

1. Create your button.
2. Click on the instance of the button on the stage and edit its actionscript.
3. With "Script Assist" turned on (click the "Script Assist" button in the script window), double-click on "on" under the "Movie Clip Controls."
4. Select the "Event: Release" checkbox. Then under the "Browser/Network" functions, choose "getURL." In the fields presented, enter the url you'd like to open (in the form "http://myurl.com"), then select a window for it to open. If you'd like to pop-up a new window, choose "_blank."
5. That's it.

Second half of the semester begins...

2009-03-17T10:09:00.005-04:00

Hope you had a good break!

This week we are wrapping up the shape tween of the invasion of Russia. The completed Lab 6 is due this Thursday. If you are having issues, *please* let me know. With this lab I want you to create your first "rich" movie in terms of content, design, and functionality. Spend enough time to get it looking good (and working correctly).

This week we are also learning about smaller effects that can add considerable polish to your Flash projects. Splash screens, rollover effects like pop-up windows, hyperlinks, camera effects, preloaders, among other things add a professional feel that elevates the entire project.

Finally, this is our last full week of Flash so please ask any questions that you have. Next week we are going to jump into Google Earth. I will still be showcasing a few more Flash effects so if you have a particular interest in an effect or skill let me know and I'll include it. We will be using Flash as the presentation program for the final projects so I want you to be comfortable with it and have a wide range of options for tackling your project.

Here is a nice final project from 2 years ago: Vikings

And here is a new visualization from the NYTimes: Interactive Immigration Map

Splash Screens in Flash

2009-03-17T08:19:00.001-04:00

Splash screens are essentially introductions. They are generally 1 screen that gives the map reader basics about the map before they are visually stunned by the map itself. Users generally have to click somewhere to leave the splash screen and view the actual map. Some can be more complicated and include sounds and such. I find splash screens make a more professional package -- they help set the theme of the map and give insight and instruction before the map itself. It can also be used as a tease.....

There are 2 ways to approach a splash screen.
1. A splash screen can be an extra frame at the beginning of your animation that holds non-map content. If your map begins on frame one, click on that frame and add a few extra frames (insert -> frames). I usually do a few extra frames so I can read and separate it from the rest of the timeline. (Note: if you have scripts that refer to frame numbers instead of frame labels, all of your links will be off if you add new frames at the beginning -- use variation instead).

In addition to your title, make sure you include some form of a button to allow the user to get to the map. If you put important info on the splash screen (info the user may want to see again), also allow the user to return to it on the main map pages. Check out some of the other maps from Wisconsin for ideas (at the bottom of the page). Remember that the aesthetic character and "feeling" of your map is conveyed in that initial splash screen so don't simply slap a title and your name on the stage. Use it to set the tone.

2. The other way to do it is to create a new scene (with a new blank stage and library). You then set up your splash screen as you like and use a button to script the opening of your "map" movie. It runs seamlessly and is an easy way to manage all your content. Most large Flash projects involve several scenes (helps especially when more than 1 person is working on the project).

Hang in there....just a few more days until the Break!

2009-03-03T10:01:00.002-05:00

This week we are discussing shape tweening -- animations that morph the shape of a symbol to convey the data change through time. With shape tweening, it is possible to do motion tweening at the same time (moving the symbol across the stage while it is changing shape).

Shape tweening is very engaging when done well (but it takes time to get it to work smoothly). Here are some examples to dissect:
Maps of War (we looked at these before but they are really good examples of morphing animations)
Imperial History
History of Religion
March of Democracy (not as good...rather flashy...but interesting from a design and interface standpoint)
American History (warning: it has narration)
A cartogram generator that uses nice shape tweens.

From a technical standpoint, here is the official Adobe page on shape tweens. Please read through the notes on shape hints. They help control the morphing Flash does by letting the program know where particular spots of the symbol need to be during the morph. For our Russian invasion, shape hints can help us keep our front line on land (it wants to bleed into water bodies).

This is not an animation, but you might find it interesting and/or amusing (as amusing as Geographers tend to get).

Motion Tween

2009-02-26T09:50:00.004-05:00

This week we are jumping into one of the best features of Flash: tweening. By defining starting and stopping points of a symbol, Flash will interpolate all the intermediate steps to create a nice, smooth animation. It can be a simple, straight movement, or a complex curve with color changes and rotations and lots of bells and whistles.

This new CS4 version of Flash has a new tool for creating tween in fewer steps and with potentially more control. If you have played around with motion tweens in the past version (now known as "classic tweens"), you can still do that. I will show you both approaches.

There are several nice video tutorials online that introduce you to the Motion Editor and tweening. I'd like you to view them before jumping into Lab 5.
Good startervideo.
Motion Editor and presets (though we're not using the presets at this point)
A different video on Motion Editor.

A bit about easing which is fine tuning the motion movements

How about some motion tween examples?
Historical Trade Routes
Hurricane Emily

And a teaser of the final Lab5/Lab6 combo
And lastly, a very nice professional version of the operation.

Invasion of Russia

2009-02-26T09:40:00.001-05:00

We're delving into historical cartographic animations today. The map we are using is a bit complicated since it is trying to portray a temporal component in a static map. I want to give you a link to a map that is a simplified version of the original. It does not have enough detail to make the animation, but it may assist in your interpretation of the original map. Here is also the Wiki reference on the event (with more graphics).

It is quite helpful to have a color version of the original map. You may use the color printer in the lab for this purpose.

Lab 5is much easier from a scripting standpoint but more complicated from a graphics/design/visualization standpoint. If you find handy tricks or hints, please post comments to this post for all to see. Thanks!!

NYTimes Visualization of Movies

2009-02-26T09:26:00.000-05:00

Here is the link to the very interesting visualization of movie box office receipts for 1986-2007. Very interesting. Check it out!!

Looking into Interfaces and Interactive maps

2009-02-17T09:59:00.003-05:00

This week we are examining more interfaces for map animations and visualizations. It is a complex interplay of legibility and intuitiveness versus graphic design and screen real estate. It is paramount that the user can quickly and correctly figure out what they can do (don't assume your audience is all that computer savvy). But do think creatively with regard to your topic and design theme. This website called Pattern Browser is an attempt to categorize a multitude of online visualizations with reference to the interface. It has a strong emphasis on geographic data and the needs of spatial info.

The other main component this week is learning a new approach for visualizing complex data -- the "faux-GIS." This is a layering technique where a static map image is overlaid with a variety of pre-made maps of the same geographic location. The user is given the ability to control the viewing of the maps (which layers to see and how many to overlap), but the maps themselves are all pre-made (dynamic maps are very doable and quite compelling...but we're not up to that level yet).

The issues with this visualization approach stems with the concentration of data symbols. It is challenging to produce multiple maps that retain legibility when layered together (as if a stack of overhead transparencies). Simplicity is key. It is possible to retain detailed info, but you have to think carefully. Below are some examples of this layering approach:

A "faux-GIS" style animation
Here is one on Sudan by the Washington Post which is very nice.
Another one about Michigan
And this one has layers in addition to temporal content (could inspire a final project)
And one from Discovery channel that incorporates real-time data on a 3D globe (and brings my laptop to its knees)

And this is just an interesting way to search for news geographically

Lab 4 Notes -- Transparency and Layers lab

2009-02-17T08:05:00.002-05:00

Wondering what Lab 4 is supposed to look like when you have it all scripted?
Check out these 2 examples
Republicans
Democrats

Note that these examples display 8 maps...but we'll be showing 6. Also note the "checkbox" is a set size and font...but you'll need to allocate space for it on your image. You can also decide if you want the map to appear blank or have the initial 1976 year visible (your call).

There are 2 main scripts for the lab. They are printed in the write-up...but there are digital copied you can cut and paste into your action window (read the instructions to get it in the correct place). Remember to modify the name of the maps...

Election1988Map._visible = false;
(which makes that map invisible when the movie starts)

on (click) {
if (this.selected) {
_root.Election1988Map._visible = true;
} else {
_root.Election1988Map._visible = false;
}
}

(which directs the checkbox to turn the map on or off if the box is checked or not)

Timeline Design

2009-02-10T10:00:00.001-05:00

This week we are pushing farther into Flash and will be analyzing one of the key design components of an animated map: the timeline. No, I'm not referring to the "timeline" in Flash but rather the component of the animation that relates key legend information and controls. A poorly designed timeline is difficult to use and interpret, and takes away from the animation regardless of how nice the maps are. The goal is to have buttons and dates and visuals that are intuitive and easy. You want the viewer to spend their time on the map, not figuring out how to play it!

Here are some links to some animated maps with timelines from a similar class at Univ of Wisconsin:
Poverty in America
History of the UW Campus
Central Africa's Rainforest
Peak Oil
School Finance in Wisconsin
FEMA Disaster Declarations

We'll discuss these in class today and will have our first Topic Review. See you in IN320!

Topic Reviews

2009-02-09T21:51:00.003-05:00

Here is the list of the Topic Reviews:

2-10 Timelines: John
2-17 Interactive Interfaces: Jeremy
2-24 Objects that Move: Tori
3-3 Objects that Morph: Kelsey
3-10 [spring break]
3-17 Professional Effects: Javier
3-24 Shaded Relief and Draping: Sara
3-31 3D Maps and Modeling: Virginia

This info can also be found in an updated version of the calendar in the class syllabus. It is posted on Blackboard.

Census Map examples

2009-02-09T20:43:00.000-05:00

Please take some time to check out the Census Atlas of the United States. It is a comprehensive atlas covering data all the way back to 1790 (the first decennial census). The maps are very nice (slightly different than the 2000 Census maps we looked at in 310) and cover a wider range of map styles and areas. Even the Intro is nice -- it has a short guide to the different map styles.

I encourage you to use these maps for ideas -- they follow all the conventions and are visually pleasing. Look at all the map details -- how they show no data, the scale bars, the layout, the legend numbering and orientation, labeling, etc.

And also look at the topics mapped -- so many animation ideas in there! The historical comparisons between 1900-1950-2000 are always interesting.

Lab day!

2009-02-05T10:03:00.001-05:00

Just want to remind everyone that we are meeting in RA113 this morning for Lab 2.

See you then!

Uploading your Flash movie to your Blog...

2009-02-04T23:52:00.000-05:00

Blogger accepts pictures and movies and hyperlinks, but it does not like Flash movies (I'm guessing they are used as advertisements too much). Therefore, we need to use a different website to store our .swf and .html files (the 2 files generated when you Publish your movie) and then link to that site from our blog.

I've searched for the best online options and I've struck out over and over (sites I have used in the past are either gone or no longer accepting new accounts). The best approach right now is to use your Mason webspace account. Simply ftp the 2 files to your public.html folder and then link to them in you blog post (follow the instructions in the lab). The good things with your Mason webspace are: reliable, individual, no ads, and a good chuck of server space.

If you haven't set-up your account, follow the instructions at the ITU Support page or swing by the STAR lab in the Johnson Center (they are generally helpful). Setup is sometimes glitchy, but once done it is not hard to use. Let me know if you are having problems!

Links for Animation lecture

2009-02-03T10:07:00.000-05:00

Here are some sites we will be examining in class today:

Staring with some basic, old gif animations:
Illinois Land Records
USGS Earthquake animation
US Urban Growth
DC and Baltimore urban growth

Some nicer, but still simple time series ("flip-book") animations:
NY Subway History
Spread of Walmarts
2005 Hurricanes
Black Sea
US Election results

Just to get us started....

Lab 1: Flash Basics Hints

2009-01-29T11:50:00.000-05:00

To color several states at once, you'll need to ungroup the states first. For this USA-cs3.fla file, all the states open in a grouped status (except for Hawaii). To ungroup: select all the states on the map, then hold shift down, and click on Hawaii to deselect it. Then go to the top menu bar Modify --> Ungroup. Now you will be able to select and color multiple states by clicking with the shift key down.

Wondering if a state is grouped or ungrouped? Flash displays them with different colored bounding boxes. Group states appear with a thin teal bounding box and ungrouped objects are a thin black bounding box.

I really want to use this blog as a source of Flash hint and tricks for our labs. Please post any questions, comments, solutions you find. Thanks!

Topic review topics (I think I need a new name for these)..

2009-01-29T10:25:00.000-05:00

Timelines
Interactive Interfaces
Objects that move...
Objects that morph...
Professional effects
Shaded relief and draping
3D maps and modeling
Cartograms and multivariate maps

Topic Reviews

2009-01-29T10:19:00.000-05:00

Today we will discuss the Topic reviews and have sign ups. First, here is some info about what I'm expecting:

The aim of the review is to delve a little deeper into a concept we're talking about in class and gearing up to use in a lab assignment. I want you do some research, write up a short summary of the concept (what it is, how it applies to our class, tips you've learned to apply and/or avoid, etc.) and find sample animations and visualizations that demonstrate the concept. We want to learn more plus get creative ideas.

The written part does not have to be long -- 3 or so summary paragraphs plus a paragraph discussing each example. Post your comments and example maps on your blog. How many examples? 4-5 would be good (any theme is fine -- variety is good!). If you find numerous quality sites, pick the best and list the rest on the blog.

For the in-class part, you will give a brief introduction of the topic, followed by a "tour" of the examples you found. You'll use the blog as the presentation medium up at the lecturn. The whole presentation should last 10-15 minutes (2-3 minute intro, 2 minutes per site, any questions at the end).

My hope is that these briefings can help fuel our imaginations -- give us new ideas for presenting data and spatial info. And get us thinking more about some of the components that go into making maps that move and animate and interact.

If you have questions *please* ask! I want everyone to feel comfortable with the work you're doing.

Week 2 -- stomping through the ice

2009-01-29T09:40:00.000-05:00

We will be meeting in IN320 this morning. This is our typical lab day...but I need to give you an intro to Flash before we dive into the map making.

Remember to send me your blog web address for this semester so I can get them linked to the class site. Thanks!

Welcome Back!

2009-01-22T10:07:00.001-05:00

It may be the start of the "Spring" semester, but man is it cooold outside. Perfect mapping weather (especially in the well-heated RA113 lab).

I'm quite excited about this class this semester -- we'll be learning a bunch of new skills that will enable us to produce some exciting interactive and online maps -- finally making maps move through time and allow user interaction. We'll also be working more on design -- to bring the graphics even closer to professional quality work.

You've all been through 310 so you know the typical schedule (Tuesdays: talk, Thursdays: lab). We'll be working with a new suite of programs: Photoshop Elements (for a taste of raster), Google SketchUp (for some fun 3D), and Flash (as our main player).

Should be fun! Glad to have you on board.....