Final Project

Yesterday in the Great Smokies
Webcam archive

GEO 109: Digital Mapping

Announcements

Remaining classes

• 2 more lectures, ~1 recitation, and numerous open labs.
• Due Dec 8: Final project draft & reflection.
  • Dec 19: Final submission.
  • Opportunity to collaborate 🎈
  • Dec 12: Lab will be in maintenance mode

Our primary tool

• QGIS might not be your jam
• but there are ways to make it better.
• Pro tip: use a mouse for precise control, right-clicking, scrolling, etc. 💯
• Skills are transferable to other software applications.

Tom's mental map

• focused on walking paths.
• Dense network of ancient paths in old city.
• Portugal led in the Age of Discovery
• when mapping technology aided colonialization.

Colonizing today?

• Ride-share and housing apps
• give you digital maps
• to aid in your colonization.

Lab 5 examples

Powers earned 🐉

• Collect observations (a.k.a. data)
• Analyze observations
• Make a map of observations
• Design to hold someone's attention

This is the arc of map making

What's missing?

Your story

What brings you joy?

What makes you angry?

Show us on a single page.

Proposal

Final Project Proposal

• What's your topic? Why does it need a map?
• Methods of getting data? Area of interest?
• Audience for your map? "Vibe" of your map?
• Documentation

Base maps

QGIS XYZ tiles

• Get (many) more base maps than OpenStreetMap.
• Load these connections into QGIS
• 6-min video 🔗

Getting detailed spatial data

QuickOSM

• A QGIS plugin that allows you to download OpenStreetMap data directly into QGIS.
• OpenStreetMap key/value pairs are used to filter data.
• 6-min video 🔗

Other sources of data

Local

• Lexington: 🔗
• Louisville: 🔗
• UKy: 🔗
• Kentucky: 🔗

World & National

• Natural Earth: 🔗
• USGS: 🔗

14-min video

• Watch 🔗
• 0-min: Kentucky Geo Network
• 6-min: Point clouds in QGIS
• 10-min: using Natural Earth data for world/continental maps

You

• Pull observations from existing maps.
• Make observations in the field with your phone.
• Draw new features inside QGIS.
• 6-min video 🔗

Completing the proposal

You don't need data yet, but it's good to have a plan.

6-min video 🔗

🚨Alert🚨

If you're stuck

reach out for help.

Draft

Final Project Draft

• Using your proposal as a guide, create a draft of your final project.
• Two layers: base map and your observations.
• At least two classes or symbols for your observations.
• Documentation

Instructor's example

• Note different base map and vector features.
• Short demonstration videos showing crucial steps 🔗

Submission

• Export layout as a JPG, 300px dpi.
• Write a reflection from these prompts.
• Submit the JPG and reflection to this Canvas Assignment.
• Submit only the JPG to this Canvas Discussion.

Improvement?

• You will have time to improve the map.
• Final submission on Dec 19th.
• Instructor will be highly available for feedback and help.
• Think of it as an opportunity to collaborate.

Your proposals

Common challenges

• Finding/creating data – observations.
• Making that work in QGIS
• likely means editing the data
• to add attributes for symbology, labels, etc.

Common steps

• Often, you can't edit data
• unless it is in certain formats.
• Export to a GeoJSON
• and edit attribute table.

Your proposals with example solutions

30-min video 🔗

GPS data

• Export features as KML and load into QGIS.
• Export GeoJSON from QGIS.
• Edit layer attributes in QGIS.
• Applies to Google My Maps KMLs.
• 4-min video 🔗

Eclectic CSVs

• Look for odd-ball data sources.
• Retired people and hobbyists collect and share weird data.
• Sites like POI Factory.
• Might have to edit attribute table.
• 10-min video 🔗

Download data

• Look for conventional spatial data sources
• as given in previous lectures and recitations.
• Look for attributes for symbology: categorical or quantitative.
• Might have to edit attribute table.
• 9-min video 🔗

Create data

• Add aerial imagery as a base map.
• Add points, lines, and polygons
• using the digitizing tools in QGIS.
• Might have to edit attribute table.
• 6-min video 🔗

Selected data

• Find leisure areas on the water.
• Parks, swimming areas, and natural reserves
• using QuickOSM in QGIS and adding attribute for dog-friendly as 'yes' or 'no'.
• 10-min video 🔗

Analyzed data

• Create new data from analyzing existing data.
• An ambulance leaves the hospital driving 70 mph. How far can it get in 30 minutes?
• Doable with QGIS Network Analysis tools but slightly advanced.
• 7-min video 🔗

Joined data

• Combine attributes with spatial layer.
• Map of parks by state from Playground equipment company.
• Scrape data from site to get CSV.
• 4-min video 🔗

Fantasy maps

• are fine, but still must meet project requirements.
• Middle Earth even has GIS data available.
• Did Frodo take the best path? An analysis.
• Example of how GIS concepts can be used to analyze fictional worlds.

Impact

• These two proposals can make maps
• that reveal patterns and conditions
• that no other single image can.

Summary

• Add a base map that is not OpenStreetMap.
• Add your observations and be able to symbolize them with at least two classes.
• Make sure the projection is not EPSG code 4326.
• Add additional map elements.
• Style it for your audience.

Final

Before we start, let's explore some maps in the news.

Symbology

• How does the use of color and symbology influence the message?
• Could there be more than one class for this data?
• 🤢
• The point is to influence your opinion. 🔗

Projection

• Did they get it right?
• How can you make sure you get it right?

Analysis

• Size of hexagon: number of attempts.
• Color: success rate compared to D1 average.
• Analysis techniques can be applied outside of conventional maps.
• Interactive map 🔗

Usefulness

• Maps whether or not it exists.
• What people really want to know: how much is there?

Your map classes

• A least two classes for your theme.
• Difference of
  • type: Layer styling is Categorized.
  • quantity: Layer styling is Graduated.
• Or multiple layers for theme with different symbology.

Your Superpowers 🐉

• Make a single-page design
• with immediate visual impact
• and long-term usefulness.
• You are a cartographer.

Three levels of engagement

• First impression: good graphic design.
• Understanding the map: good cartographic design.
• Usefulness: accurate observations and analysis.

Final project submission

• After completing the draft,
• refine it to meet the deliverables.
• Documentation
• Extra credit opportunity.

Feedback

• We're working through proposal and draft feedback.
• If your draft is good, minimal feedback.
• If your draft needs work, a list of deliverables will be given.
• Want more feedback, please reach out.

Draft examples

A parting message

Your superpowers

• are transferable to other disciplines.
• Collect & visualize your observations ☑️
• ChatGPT-proof ☑️
• Build your portfolio ☑️

Mapping & GIS Minor

• GEO 109 meets first requirement.
• Spatial applications are everywhere.
• Get your minor.

Keep in touch 💖