Map Creation from GIS datasets within GIS

Map Creation within GIS

With GIS, it is easy to create maps to convey your message. Indeed, most GIS provide several tools to put data on a map and display it in an effective manner. Furthermore, GIS gives you quick results without having to read hundreds of documentation pages. Thus, if your goal is to complete your tasks while investing a minimum amount of time and effort, mapmaking with GIS is your solution. However, as seen in the previous lesson, most of the maps created semi-automatically within GIS are disappointing, or even false.

As for each map creation process, before you sit down to create a map, you need to think about its purpose:

• What do you want your map to show?
• Does the map need to stand on its own, or will it be part of a larger presentation?
• Who is the audience for the map?
• Etc.

Answering these questions will help you determine how to organise and present the information on your map. You can find some further information about the map conception stage in the unit “Map Conception ” of the lesson “Cartographic Data Representation”.

No matter what kind of map you want to make and what kind of GIS you use, you always begin the same way, by creating a new map document. Then, you can either create an empty map with nothing on it or use a map template as a starting point. Map templates typically contain a predefined page layout that arranges map elements such as North arrows, scale bars, and logos. This means you just have to add your data and can then immediately print your map. Otherwise, you have to follow the entire map creation stage.