The Power of Simple Maps

Web based mapping has turned into a big deal these days. ESRI has released their new GIS Server technology that moves beyond simple GIS functions to actually allow the developer to make it possible for visitors to run custom spatial analysis functions on the fly. This is pretty exciting stuff to us GIS geeks but for most folks, it’s a capacity that isn’t necessary to get their point across.

Google Earth/Maps and other great tools (e.g. UMapper, Yahoo Maps, and GeoServer) are bringing some pretty exciting mapping and spatial analysis tools to broader audiences every day. This is an exciting trend; the making of geography into something so commonplace, we barely think twice about it.

We’ve seen trends like this before. Before computers and computer based printing were commonplace, articles and reports were, frankly, pretty boring (even before you got to the reading part). There just weren’t a lot of option besides the litteral cut and paste. Now that anyone can insert a graph or image, use spot and full color, add captions and customize the wrap of the paragraph text, we have some pretty high standards for professional products. Professional graphic designers can really show their worth today.

In effect, having all the right tools doesn’t make you an artist.

We’re seeing the same thing in the mapping world. Great maps are a craft; an art form. They require someone who understands the art, technology and science.

At Green Space, we like to see ourselves as cartographic craftsmen