A general idea about GIS Maps preparation for the students working with GIS

1. PLAN 5331 –GIS
WORKSHOP
Making Presentable Maps
Dr. Jianling Li
Dhawal Kataria

2. POINTS TO PONDER
The following list provides things to be kept in mind for
making presentable maps:
1. Elements of the maps
2. Visual Differentiation
3. Hierarchy and Standardization
4. Self Explanatory

3. ELEMENTS OF THE MAPS
• Do not forget to add
Legend, North Arrow, Map
Title, Scale, etc. to your
map.
Without Elements

4. With Elements

5. http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0112/graphics/designprinciples_3-lg.jpg
Font Size

6. VISUAL DIFFERENTIATION
• Use different colors, line widths, transparency, etc. So, it
will be easier for the people to differentiate between
similar layers such as city boundary and roads.

7. Visual Contrast
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0112/graphics/designprinciples_2-lg.jpg

9. HIERARCHY AND
STANDARDISATION
• Try to maintain the Hierarchy of layers such as roads,
state and city boundary.
• Also, try using the standard colours usually uses to
represent maps feature e.g. residential = yellow. Here, is
the link to LBCS:
https://www.planning.org/lbcs/standards/

11. SELF EXPLANATORY
• Try making maps that are self explanatory, easy for
even layman to understand your topic.
• You can use this Map Evaluation Guideline, If you are
not sure about your map:
http://downloads.esri.com/MappingCenter2007/arcGISR
esources/more/MapEvaluationGuidelines.pdf