This document discusses how to take tabular nature reserve data and visualize it on maps to better understand relationships between data points and their external context. It recommends plotting the tabular data on a common XY coordinate space using latitude and longitude, then mapping the points to allow for easy comparison between reserves while showing additional attributes through cartographic techniques like labeling, coloring, and proportional symbols. This standardized approach to mapping tabular data provides an at-a-glance visualization with important external geographic context.

1. Tables to Maps
From Excel Graphs
via Graticules
to Maps

2. Nature Reserve Tabular Data
• Lots of Data
• Hard to visualize

3. Graph It!
• At-A-Glance
Visualization of
large amounts of
tabular data
• Can lack
comparative values
• No external context

4. Reserve Scatter Plot XY

5. Reserve Scatter Plot XY
Group & Colour By Altitude

6. Standardization!

7. A Common XY Coordinate Space
• Everything
Happens
Somewhere
On Earth
• Earth Has
Standard Axes
• Latitude/Longi
tude = Y/X
• Latitude
Range: -90 ->
+90 (180
Degrees)
• Longitude
Range: -180 -
+180 (360
Degrees)

8. Allows Context & Comparison

9. Looks better in a Map

10. Zoom In For Detail

11. Display Attributes (Altitude)

12. Display Attributes (Distance to Town)

13. Display Attributes In Context
(Distance to Town)

14. Display Attributes In Context
(Distance to National Roads)

15. Borrow Cartographic Expertise!