Communicating complex spatial data to the public through interactive web maps and digital stories.
Can a map tell a story powerful enough to change public policy? In the digital age, maps are no longer static images; they are interactive conversations that allow users to explore 'what if' scenarios in real-time.
A GIS Dashboard is a centralized interface that provides a real-time view of spatial data. Unlike static maps, dashboards focus on User Experience (UX) by allowing the public to interact with data through Dynamic Filtering. When a user adjusts a slider or selects a category, the map and associated charts update instantly via relational queries. This interactivity is essential for sustainable development projects, such as monitoring urban air quality or tracking reforestation efforts, as it empowers stakeholders to find the specific information they need without specialized GIS training.
Imagine you are building a dashboard for a city's recycling program. 1. You add a Category Filter for 'Material Type' (Plastic, Glass, Paper). 2. You set an Attribute Filter where 'Collection_Rate' > 50%. 3. When the user clicks 'Plastic', the map instantly hides all other points, showing only high-performing plastic recycling centers.
Quick Check
Why is dynamic filtering considered a core component of a GIS dashboard?
Answer
It allows users to drill down into specific subsets of data in real-time without needing multiple static maps.
While dashboards are for exploration, StoryMaps are for explanation. A StoryMap is a web-based application that combines maps with narrative text, images, and videos to tell a linear story. The most effective StoryMaps use a Visual Hierarchy to guide the reader's eye. Key components include the Sidecar, where text scrolls over a fixed map background, and Map Actions, which are buttons that trigger the map to zoom to a specific location or toggle layers. This format is ideal for spatial research, as it provides context to the 'where' of the data.
To narrate a study on urban heat islands: 1. Start with a Cover Page featuring a high-impact thermal image of the city. 2. Use a Sidecar to explain the correlation between lack of tree canopy and high temperatures. 3. Program a Map Action button labeled 'See the Impact' that zooms the map to a specific neighborhood with 0% canopy cover.
Quick Check
What is the primary difference in user intent between a Dashboard and a StoryMap?
Answer
Dashboards are designed for data exploration and monitoring, while StoryMaps are designed for guided narrative and education.
You are mapping CO2 emissions for three cities. City A emits 100 units, City B emits 400 units, and City C emits 900 units. 1. If you set the radius for City A () to pixels. 2. For City B (), the radius is pixels. 3. For City C (), the radius is pixels. Note that while the value increased 9x, the radius only increased 3x to keep the area proportional.
Which GIS tool is best suited for a government agency needing to monitor real-time emergency response locations?
If you want to represent a value that is 16 times larger than your base value using a proportional circle, by what factor should you increase the radius?
Scale-dependent styling means that a map should show the same amount of detail regardless of whether the user is zoomed in or out.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain the mathematical reason why we use the square root of a value to determine the radius of a map symbol.
Practice Activity
Open a free GIS online account and try to create one 'Sidecar' slide that uses a 'Map Action' to change the map's zoom level.