Posted: September 13th, 2017

Web Map Critique

Paper, Order, or Assignment Requirements

WEB MAP CRITIQUE

Introduction 
You can apply some of the concepts you have learned about mapmaking to make critical evaluations of any map you encounter in your everyday life. Instead of simply saying “I like it” or “I don’t like it”, you can give specific reasons why a map may or may not successfully communicate its intended message. One place we encounter maps regularly, whether we are aware of this or not, is on the internet. Maps have proliferated on the web in part because the medium is so visually-oriented and web mapping software has become widely available.

Instructions
1. Find a map on the Internet that you find interesting. The term “map” is used in a broad sense as a “display of spatial information” and may include a variety of thematic portrayals. Maps from on-line services such as Google Maps or other interactive GIS maps are not allowed.

2. Create an image file to turn in, either using the Print function in your browser, or capturing the screen image, cropping it to just the map, and saving as a JPEG or PDF.

3. Note the source, including full URL and date you viewed the map on the computer.

4. Prepare a one-page discussion of the map, including:

a. An identification of what the map is attempting to show or the theme it is attempting to communicate;

b. A brief description of how the map-maker designed the map so as to enhance the message, or, conversely, how the map-maker designed the map so as to (inadvertently) obscure or dilute the communication of the message. Note that you have a choice here to either give the map a “good review” (“it works because . . .”) or a “bad” one (“it fails because . . .”), depending on how you personally evaluate it. In your critique, consider which map elements were used and which were not, the choice of visual variables, the scale of measurement of any thematic data, and the projection choice (if relevant).

5. Turn both the map and discussion in to the Lab 4 dropbox link. Be sure to include the full URL and date you viewed the map on the computer.