The document describes an interactive exhibit that uses an animated projected map and physical terrain model to educate visitors about elk migration patterns and how they relate to the landscape. A team from various organizations came together to create the exhibit, which faces two main challenges: effectively animating the elk migration and designing intuitive interactive controls for the map within a 1-3 minute time frame. The physical terrain model took over 300 pounds of material and 72 hours of CNC cutting to produce. The completed exhibit is on display at the National Geographic Society and Buffalo Bill Center for the West.

1. Elk Map Exhibit
Interactive Animated Projected Elk Map and Terrain Model
Alex Tait
atait@ngs.org
@taitmaps.com

3. Purpose
• Engage and educate users: autoplay
animation and interactive control
• Show elk migration
• Relate migration to landscape
• Provide the user tools to explore the map
and answer questions of where, when, why

4. Team
• International Mapping
• Split Rock Studio
• Buffalo Bill Center for the West
• Arthur Middleton + other wildlife
researchers
• University of Oregon Info-Graphics Lab
• National Geographic Society

5. Components
model
iPad controller
projected maps

6. Biggest Challenges
• Animating the elk migration
• Effective interactive design for a map on
public display and a 1–3 minute user

7. The Model

8. 2x vertical exaggeration
72 hours CNC cutting time
300 pounds with frame

9. The Projected Maps

16. Challenge 1: Animated Elk

24. Challenge 2: The Controller

25. Keeping it Simple

27. Map-Model in Use

31. Elk Map Exhibit
Go to NGS or Buffalo Bill Center for the West in Cody, WY to see it!
Alex Tait
atait@ngs.org
@taitmaps.com