Lab 1- Computer Cartography

Campus Map

Your assignment is to produce a thematic map of campus. The theme for this lab is to provide a map depicting the location of a local (campus or nearby) site you find particularly interesting and how a map user could reach it from Dean Hall. Do not make the map overly simplistic (eg - one building to the next). Be sure to include landmarks, obvious buildings, roads, etc. In short, assume that your life is dependent upon the map reader being able to follow your map.

This lab will be done using Corel Draw. Feel free to use color. Have Kristen print it out for you. However, and this applies all quarter, be sure to give Kristen at least 4 hours prior to the due date/time. Check her office hours. Her job is not to be around at your last minute. Do things in advance, and all will be good. Pull them together at the last minute, and printing is your problem, not her's.

Kristen will be able to print the corel files - however, if you want a more portable file, export your corel file to pdf (file - publish to pdf). We'll go over some details of graphics export during the second week.

Some questions to think about when designing your map

• How much detail do I need to show? Particularly which elements are required and what can be ignored.
• How should I symbolize things? (use standard USGS colors and symbols whenever possible: many details at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1999/of99-430/ or a shorter brochure at http://edc2.usgs.gov/pubslists/booklets/symbols/topomapsymbols.pdf )
• How much does my audience know about the area? (assume they know very little about campus, if anything at all)
• what aspects about the area might the audience be interested in? Or things that are exceptionally noticeable as someone travels between points A and B.

Be sure to include the following map elements: title, scale, neatlines, legend (if necessary), north arrow, your name, the class name, and the date the map was created.

This lab is due on monday, 5 April. By 5:00 PM in Bob's mailbox. 4 points.

(note, the basis for this lab swiped from a lab by Andrew Klein at Texas A&M)

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