Geographical Information Systems

Geog 481/506                                                                                                  Tu Th 3:30-4:50pm
Fall 2011                                                                                                          Fillmore 170

Instructor: Ling Bian                                                                                          LabA: Tue:   5-6:20pm, W145, Chunyuan Diao
Office: 120 Wilkeson                                                                                        LabB: Thur:  6:30-7:50pm, W145, Tong Sun
Office hours: Tu Th 2-3pm  or by appt.                                                             LabC: Fri:  10-11:20am, W145, Tong Sun

GIS Output

1. Color theory
(1) Additive primaries: blue, green, and red

            Superimposing blue, green, and red light:

            Blue + green + red = white
            Green + red = yellow
            Green + blue = cyan
            Red + blue = magenta
           
            Yellow, cyan, and magenta are complements of blue, red, and green respectively.
            Various combinations of the three primaries produce different colors
 
(2) Subtractive primaries: yellow, cyan, and magenta
            Yellow  = white - blue
            Cyan = white - red
            Magenta = white - green
           
            Superimposing yellow, magenta, and cyan dye:
            Yellow + magenta + cyan = black
            Yellow + magenta = red
            Yellow + cyan = green
            Magenta + cyan = blue
 
2. Cartographic symbols
            Point symbols
           
            Line symbols
           
            Area symbols
 
3. Primary graphic elements
            Hue - color
           
            Value - lightness or darkness of a mark, tone

            Size - size of a mark

            Shape - shape of a mark

            Spacing - distance between component marks

            Orientation - directional arrangement of marks

            Location - location of map component s, titles, legends, etc.
 

4. Components of map design

            Clarity and legibility
                        Size, length vs. width, contrasting color and shape of symbols and map components

 

            Visual contrast

                        Sufficient difference among symbols

 

            Visual balance

                        Relative position and visual importance of map components

 

            Figure vs. ground
                        Differentiation, closed, small or continuous forms, brightness, detail of features and ground
 

            Hierarchical organization

                        Extensional - network of lines of varying significance
                        Subdivisional - internal relationship of a hierarchy

 

5. Reading: Chpt 7.