Web Mapping Illustrated

Chapter 9. Create and Edit Personal Map Data

Some projects have more than enough data available to create a useful map, but there are often times when you need to create your own data. This chapter will help guide you through the process of creating your own data from scratch. A few simple tools are all you need to get started. You will learn to use OpenEV with a simple base map to create your own map layers.

Planning Your Map

Planning your map at the outset can save you tremendous amounts of time later. Evaluating what you want to do, what you have to work with, and what you need to collect will help you make realistic decisions about your project.

Choosing a General Scale and Extent

The size and scale of the map you are making will affect various parts of your project. If you want a wall-size map covering your neighborhood, you will have very different requirements than someone planning a world map for a small book. You need to ensure that the data you create will work well with your intended map. Here are some questions to consider:

What part of the world do you want your map to cover?

You may need global, regional, or local-scale data.

What size of map do you want?

The larger the size, the more detailed the information you will probably want. A small map doesn't show a lot of detail. A large one does.

Will it be interactive or designed for a hardcopy print?

An interactive map gives the reader more options and flexibility. You have to make sure your data can support those options. ...