While anyone can use GIS tools to make a map, not everyone has a background in proper map design and cartographic theory. If decisions are based on inaccurate or misleading maps, the results can be disastrous. Creating and Publishing Maps with ArcGIS is a new instructor-led course from ESRI that prepares GIS users to successfully complete a variety of realistic mapping projects, including designing maps for the Web.

In the interview below, course author Eric Gillett shares his thoughts about the course and how it reflects current trends in GIS mapmaking. Eric is an education specialist in the Education Content group.

First off, what is your background and cartographic experience?

Eric: I started with ESRI in 1999. I was an instructor for almost 10 years and moved to Content one year ago. Prior to coming to ESRI, I managed the cartographic production for a regional map company in the Seattle area. Much of the map production was done using ArcInfo Workstation and other desktop publishing software. My academic background is in geography with an emphasis in cartography. Like many ESRI customers, I’ve had a personal interest in maps since I was very young.  

Creating and Publishing Maps with ArcGIS replaces an older ESRI course called Cartography with ArcGIS. Obviously this new course doesn't have "cartography" in the title. Does this reflect a shift in thinking about GIS maps and the skills needed to create them?

Eric: This is a great question. Cartography is the art and science of creating maps and involves many academic aspects of how we see and interpret different forms of graphic communication including colors and symbols. Cartography is also a term that not everyone is familiar with, especially those that may be new to GIS and have not had any experience with the mapmaking process.

Creating and Publishing Maps with ArcGIS includes the necessary cartographic concepts one needs to know to produce high-quality maps in ArcGIS. Also, many people using ArcGIS need to understand the production workflow necessary to produce a high volume of maps, such as a map book or atlas, as well as other production-oriented tasks, such as printing and working with maps in digital files or served online. These topics go beyond cartography and really focus on how the map will be delivered as well as the tools and software needed.

The course description references a standard process that can be applied to map projects. Can you briefly describe this process? Is it complex? One size fits all?

Eric: This is definitely a workflow-oriented course. The workflow is not complex—it is a very logical progression of steps, starting with evaluating your audience, making your data ready for cartography, designing symbols, map layout, and output formats. The concepts of cartography and map production are presented in a logical order just as if you were in your office making a map. This is what the students will have to do after taking this course, so we really wanted to give them a set of specific steps and guidelines to follow when creating maps in their own organizations.

Each organization will certainly have a workflow specific to the data and maps that they produce. The workflow presented in this course forms a foundation for students to take back to their office and apply when creating their own maps. Additional detailed steps can easily be added to this workflow as needed. This is actually encouraged and discussed throughout the course.

Creating maps is a huge topic—how did you determine what the course should cover?

Eric: We wanted this course to be meaningful to anyone needing to have knowledge of cartographic design principles and also the workflow and ArcGIS tools used in the map production process. Because many people use many different types of data and map scales, there needed to be a variety of different data and maps presented throughout the course, both in the student exercises and in class discussions and activities. All the topics presented are part of a cartographic workflow.

We used feedback from students who had taken ESRI’s previous cartography course to understand how this course could better meet their needs. Students will get to spend much more time working with their data, including applying the correct use of map projections and generalization techniques. Also, students spend a considerable amount of time in class activities and exercises focusing on map element design and page layout.

This year, it seems like all the headlines have been about Web GIS and making killer Web maps. How is this course relevant for organizations that want to do Web GIS?

Eric: You’re correct, the emphasis in distributing maps and data is now through Web-based applications and this topic is covered in the course, including design differences between printed maps and Web maps. Students are also exposed to ArcGIS Server and learn methods to maximize the performance and usability of maps served online. This applies to static maps, such as a JPG or PDF file, and also to interactive map applications that allow for the use of GIS tools. While some of the design considerations are similar for both types of maps, there are also many differences. These are covered throughout the course. 

We're in an economic environment where training budgets are extremely tight. Why should a manager should approve a staff member to attend this course? What benefits can the manager expect to see from the training?

Eric: This is a great question and applies to so many people in our user community. Maps are one of the deliverable products in almost all GIS projects and they need to be understood and easily interpreted. I can tell you, being an ESRI cartography instructor for many years, that most people using ESRI software have never had any formal education in how to design a meaningful and useful map. Maps are vitally important to anyone working in a field in which GIS software is used. Cartography and map production techniques should be considered as fundamental knowledge and skills of anyone using GIS software in their work. It’s that important.

This course covers tools and techniques that are needed but not well understood by many ArcGIS users. Many time-saving techniques are taught throughout the course that will make students more efficient when creating their maps and also result in better-quality, more readable maps. 

Do you have a favorite section of the course? Are there any examples in the course that reflect your personal interests?

Eric: I would have to say that the tools and techniques of text placement are one of my primary areas of interest. There are so many tools and settings that can help students with the placement of text on their maps. This is an area that a lot of ESRI software users are not very familiar with. Historically, text placement has been a time-consuming process. However, ArcGIS has many tools that will greatly speed up the process of placing text on your maps.

Another topic covered in detail in this course is the use of elevation data. Several techniques are discussed and students get a chance to create and work with different types of elevation data, including hillshading, relief tinting, and contours. Most people really enjoy working with elevation data and this section should be very useful and informative.

I think one of the most exciting parts of the course is the project on the final day. This is a self-directed project where students use the skills they have learned to create a map on their own. They will apply the cartographic workflow to this project just as they have throughout the course. Students are provided with the data and we give them hints to complete their project, but much of the design of symbols and map layout are left up to the individual.

This is where students can get creative and also spend time with their instructor on the portions of the map design process that are important to them. I think students will also find this is one of the most meaningful and beneficial portions of the course.