Lab 9: Map Layout Export Animation

 Above is a gif image of my choropleth maps. To create this, I exported all my maps from ArcMap into JPG files and then uploaded them to a gif image creator. This made my map presentable in a different kind of way that just a stagnant image. This is obviously more effective as an online resource because you can put a gif on a regular poster (yet), but I like that at least on here I can have an animated version of my maps. I personally think it is a very cool yield from this semesters work on this project.

Below are some examples of the other maps I made. The top one is a dot density map in which one green dot represents 1000 people in that county. The middle is a graduated symbol map, in which the different sized blue circles represent the raw population data rather than the percent change of population between decades. The bottom is a proportional symbol map in which once again raw population data is shown by different sized red circles.

Lab 8: Data Classification & and Map Production

For my Choropleth Map, I used an equal interval classification method for the most part. My classes are all 20% (i.e. 1-20%, 21-40%, etc) except for the first and last classes which include outliers such as a very negative percent change in population or a very positive percent change in population. I believe that this method of classification works the best for multiple reasons. One, because it is very uniform and easy to understand. Two, because most of the data falls withing the middle, uniform classes making more of my data accurately represented than if I accommodated the outliers more in my classes.

For my graduated symbol maps, I kept the classification that ArcMap generated because the classes were very specific and there was far to much variability in data to make overall effective classes.

For my proportional symbol maps, I changed the classes to numbers that would have distinguishable sizes with them. I did not want any of the symbols to be of too similar size, otherwise people may have had trouble distinguishing between them. I did, once again, accommodate the largest amount of data, excluding the outliers, because this way would represent more of my data more accurately.

For my dot density maps, I chose each dot to represent 1000 people. This, in my opinion, was the best way to keep the same class from 1900-2015 as well as most effectively show the data. The years where this was least effective was the later years because some counties are just completely green because the dot density is so high. Earlier years, however, have a manageable amount of dots and most data is very understandable.

On my Choropleth Maps, I chose my color ramp to be a very faint pink leading up to a very deep red. I believe that this color ramp works best because the different tones are very easily distinguishable from each other, more so than a yellow to red ramp where you have different tones of different colors. I also believe this ramp was the best one to choose because sticking with shades of red makes it more uniform and very easily understandable, with clear distinctions between each of the tones.

For my graduated symbol maps, I chose a solid blue color for my symbols as well as sizes to distinguish the different number of people per county in each of my states. The blue is easy to see and the sizes are easily distinguishable.

For my proportional symbol maps, I chose symbol of varying sizes that are easily distinguishable from one another and a deep red that is very easy to see for each of the symbols.

For my dot density maps, I chose a green dot, each representing 1000 people, for my symbol. This is very easy to see and the number of people each dot represents, for the most part, keeps the data easily understandable for the average person.