"},{"ID":395154,"user_firstname":"Vanessa","user_lastname":"Knoppke-Wetzel","nickname":"Vanessa Knoppke-Wetzel","user_nicename":"vknoppkewetzelesri-com_esriinc-2-2","display_name":"Vanessa Knoppke-Wetzel","user_email":"vknoppkewetzel@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/vkwcarto.github.io\/","user_registered":"2025-08-25 12:50:19","user_description":"Vanessa Knoppke-Wetzel is a Solution Engineer that supports nonprofits and global organizations in all of their organizational mapping needs. \r\n\r\nShe has years of experience supporting organizational requirements small and large, including identifying long-term, strategic, operational geospatial plans that support multifaceted needs across an organization. This may include strategic planning, funding, marketing, operations, logistics for the business as well as geospatial analysis, visualization, and communication requirements for projects on the ground. \r\n\r\nVanessa is also an award winning cartographer and is known for her expertise in map aesthetics over time, and what affects technological shifts has on design and product workflows; cartography and branding; mapping tools' UI\/UX, product design, and user research; equity and inclusion; and accessibility design. \r\n\r\nCartography also informed her expertise beyond the geospatial, informing her work in product and app builds, UI\/UX, project management, and operational leadership.","user_avatar":"
"}],"short_description":"Discover how 3D-printed tactile maps are making geographic stories more accessible to blind and low vision communities","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2987412,"id":2987412,"title":"Grenada_DigitalTwin","filename":"Grenada_DigitalTwin.png","filesize":932961,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Grenada_DigitalTwin.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/grenada_digitaltwin","alt":"A 3d map visual on the web showing cricket fields, an area in the island of Grenada that is flooded. The area shows buildings that have been flooded by the ocean due to sea level rise. The fields and valley are completely flooded, and on the left, the area containing the island of Grenada's on the web of an area of the island of Grenada","author":"395154","description":"Climate resilience work includes leveraging digital twins to determine areas of high impact from sea-level rise, like this Grenada Digital Twin.","caption":"A 3d map visual show cases the potential future of the island of Grenada with sea level rise, visualizing a heavily flooded area. A valley has been completely flooded, showing cricket fields covered in water. On the left of the image, the island\u2019s power infrastructure has been completely flooded. ","name":"grenada_digitaltwin","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-11-05 17:07:34","modified":"2026-11-06 18:30:24","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1098,"height":464,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Grenada_DigitalTwin-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Grenada_DigitalTwin.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":196,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Grenada_DigitalTwin.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":325,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Grenada_DigitalTwin.png","large-width":1098,"large-height":464,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Grenada_DigitalTwin.png","1536x1536-width":1098,"1536x1536-height":464,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Grenada_DigitalTwin.png","2048x2048-width":1098,"2048x2048-height":464,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Grenada_DigitalTwin-826x349.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":349,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Grenada_DigitalTwin.png","wide_image-width":1098,"wide_image-height":464}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Have you ever thought about how you experience and take in the world around you? When you visit a new place, what helps orient you? What information do you rely on to understand your surroundings and build a sense of place? How much of that comes from a map, a sign, a landmark, or simply being able to see the landscape around you?<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
For most people, maps are used on a daily basis. From pulling out our phones and immediately accessing map apps and navigating in real time, to reviewing critical geospatial information in the face of disaster. We can monitor what areas might be impacted by hurricanes, floods, fires, and other disasters so that we can evacuate, move, respond, and adapt. High speed internet, live data feeds, and mobile phones give us access to so much immediate information that shapes the way we automatically move through and respond to the world.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
While many of us have experienced this level of access to important information our entire lives, print and web maps have historically not provided equal access to it. Globally, about 1.1 billion people live with visual impairments<\/a> according to The National Institute of Health. From that amount, about 43 million<\/em> people<\/em> are blind and 295 million<\/em> people<\/em> live with moderate to severe vision impairment. That is nearly 340 million people<\/strong><\/em> who cannot quickly access important information from print and web maps, roughly the population of the entire United States\u00a0(Worldometer<\/a>).<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2985429,"id":2985429,"title":"Tactile Mapping Book Cover","filename":"tactile-mapping-book-cover.jpg","filesize":119048,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tactile-mapping-book-cover.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/tactile-cover-copy3","alt":"Dark blue book cover titled \u201cTactile Mapping: Cartography for People with Visual Impairments,\u201d featuring a bright green tactile-style world map and the editors\u2019 names at the bottom.","author":"396179","description":"A dark navy-blue book cover features the title \u201cTactile Mapping\u201d in large bright green letters near the top, followed by the subtitle \u201cCartography for People with Visual Impairments\u201d in white. The middle and lower portion contains a simplified bright green outline of a world map centered on the Pacific Ocean. Repeating dots fill the ocean, while a horizontal dashed line crosses the map. At the bottom, white text identifies the editors as Vincent van Altena and Jakub Wabi\u0144ski. The graphic uses high contrast and tactile-cartography-inspired point and line patterns to reinforce the subject of the book.","caption":"Cover of Tactile Mapping: Cartography for People with Visual Impairments, a reference on designing cartographic products for tactile use.","name":"tactile-cover-copy3","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-10-20 21:09:05","modified":"2026-11-03 17:09:03","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":454,"height":681,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tactile-mapping-book-cover-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tactile-mapping-book-cover.jpg","medium-width":174,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tactile-mapping-book-cover.jpg","medium_large-width":454,"medium_large-height":681,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tactile-mapping-book-cover.jpg","large-width":454,"large-height":681,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tactile-mapping-book-cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":454,"1536x1536-height":681,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tactile-mapping-book-cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":454,"2048x2048-height":681,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tactile-mapping-book-cover-310x465.jpg","card_image-width":310,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tactile-mapping-book-cover.jpg","wide_image-width":454,"wide_image-height":681}},"image_position":"right","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" For decades, cartographers, accessibility specialists, and members of the blind and low-vision community have worked to better address these challenges of making traditional print and digital maps more accessible. Raised-line graphics, braille labels, swell-paper maps, and physical models <\/span>provide<\/span> alternative ways to experience geographic information through touch. Recent efforts such as the Esri Press book<\/span>\u00a0Tactile Mapping: Cartography for People with Visual Impairments<\/em><\/a>, the ArcGIS learn lesson Create a Tactile Map<\/em><\/a>, and the international tactile mapping initiative documented in Making Maps Accessible to All<\/a><\/em>\u00a0have helped established modern best practices for creating more inclusive cartographic products.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Luckily, the mapping world continues to bring accessible standarrds and equivalents into our mapping software<\/a> and production<\/a> methods. We continue to research, document, and define accessibble mapping best practices<\/a>, while continuing to build, research, and test more possibilities across modern technologies. This R&D project does exactly that.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Vanessa Knoppke-Wetzel, a Solution Engineer at Esri, supports nonprofits and NGOs. When she received a request to create accessible, tactile maps for United Nations Ambassador Walton Alfonso Webson, the first blind or visually impaired person to chair a session at the UN General Assembly, she was excited and knew she wanted to do more than create topography and terrain maps in 3D.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Vanessa is a long-time advocate for accessibility in cartography, pushing for industry-wide change and teaching best practices through talks and workshops across organizations and conferences. In early 2026, she stood up an Accessibility Committee alongside Jakub Wabi\u0144ski and Vincent van Altena, co-chairs of the International Cartographic Association\u2019s Inclusive Cartography Working Group<\/a>, to build the first-ever central repository of accessibility and usability best practices for the geospatial industry. Given her expertise in accessible maps, Vanessa knew that the ideal outcome for these tactile maps would be an experience analogous to what sighted people have when exploring geospatial data on a web map: following the intended data story through touch, such as exploring flooding and landslide risk in Grenada to support climate resilience decisions.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" To bring these maps to life, Vanessa teamed up with Hannah Nisonson, a Solution Engineer in Esri’s Applications Prototype Lab, to determine what was actually feasible on the on-site 3D printer for initial prototypes and testing. As testing progressed, Brandon Biggs<\/a>, founder of Audiom, joined the effort and built a parallel interactive map that is screen reader accessible. Together, the prototyping and collaboration helped us define our goal for the future: accessible tactile maps that move beyond the limitations of a single 3D terrain model.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2986759,"id":2986759,"title":"Audiomm Map Interface for Grenada Landslide Risk","filename":"grenada-landslides-risk-audiom.png","filesize":242407,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-landslides-risk-audiom.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/grenada-landslides-risk-audiom","alt":"Screenshot of an Audiom interactive web map titled \u201cGrenada landslides map,\u201d showing Grenada with numerous map markers, accessibility controls, instructions, and a welcome panel for audio navigation.","author":"396179","description":"A browser screenshot shows an interactive map titled \u201cGrenada landslides map.\u201d Instructions above the map tell users to complete an Audiom tutorial, enable sounds, and navigate using arrow keys or buttons. The central map displays Grenada against a bright blue background with numerous blue location markers distributed across the island. Labels visible on the map include parish names, soil information, elevation ranges, and parish boundaries. Controls include \u201cEnable sounds and skip to map,\u201d \u201cInstructions,\u201d data-source and legend menus, zoom controls, a speech log, and audio controls. A panel on the right titled \u201cWelcome to Audiom!\u201d explains how users can browse the map and use keyboard commands. The interface provides a nonvisual, audio-supported alternative for exploring the mapped information.","caption":"Interactive Audiom version of the Grenada map, providing an audio-based method for exploring geographic information.","name":"grenada-landslides-risk-audiom","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-10-30 21:20:37","modified":"2026-11-03 17:26:47","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1901,"height":891,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-landslides-risk-audiom-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-landslides-risk-audiom.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":217,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-landslides-risk-audiom.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":360,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-landslides-risk-audiom.png","large-width":1901,"large-height":891,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-landslides-risk-audiom-1536x720.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-landslides-risk-audiom.png","2048x2048-width":1901,"2048x2048-height":891,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-landslides-risk-audiom-826x387.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":387,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-landslides-risk-audiom.png","wide_image-width":1901,"wide_image-height":891}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/xrnavigation.io\/grenada-landslides-map\/"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" While we continue to explore how to bridge the gap between physical tactile models and the dynamic, information-rich experiences available through modern digital apps and ArcGIS web maps, this blog documents the R&D process for identifying ArcGIS Pro to 3D printer workflows that move us toward richer tactile experiences for blind and low-vision users. We are excited to share what we have learned, and we would love to hear from you if you create, test, or build your own versions. Share them with us using #FeelTheMap<\/em>!<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" The most fundamental question of this project needed to be answered first: could geographic data from ArcGIS Pro be transformed into a complete<\/em> tactile map?<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" To test the ArcGIS Pro to 3D printer workflow, the initial model combined two datasets from the island of Grenada: a 1-meter digital elevation model (DEM) and the island\u2019s major road network. The goal was not simply a terrain model, which shows the shape of the land and little else. Instead, the objective was an object that works the way a map does: it tells a story through selected layers of data and gives the reader the cartographic elements needed to orient themselves, such as a title, legend, north arrow, and scale bar. For a tactile map, every one of those elements also has to be readable by touch, so braille labels were added to the title, legend, and scale bar alongside the terrain and roads.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2986774,"id":2986774,"title":"Grenada Layout Reference Map","filename":"grenada-layout-scaled-e1793401242109.png","filesize":3120152,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-layout-scaled-e1793401242109.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/grenada-layout","alt":"Map of Grenada showing elevation with a multicolor topographic surface and major roads as black lines. Elevation ranges from 0 to 840 meters, with higher terrain concentrated in the island\u2019s mountainous interior.","author":"396179","description":"A portrait-oriented map shows Grenada surrounded by a light blue ocean. The island\u2019s elevation is represented with a continuous color ramp ranging from purple and blue at lower elevations through green and yellow to orange-red at the highest terrain. The highest areas are concentrated along the mountainous interior of the island. Major roads are drawn as black lines, with a dense network around the southern coast and additional roads extending along the east, west, and northern portions of the island. A legend on the left identifies \u201cMajor Roads\u201d and \u201cGrenada Topography Value,\u201d with an elevation range from 0 to 840 meters. A north arrow appears in the lower-left corner and a scale bar extending to 6.1 kilometers appears along the bottom.","caption":"Reference map of Grenada used to represent topography and major roads before translating the geographic information into tactile form.","name":"grenada-layout","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-10-30 23:00:09","modified":"2026-11-03 17:27:23","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1924,"height":1822,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-layout-scaled-e1793401242109-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-layout-scaled-e1793401242109-276x261.png","medium-width":276,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-layout-scaled-e1793401242109-768x727.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":727,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-layout-scaled-e1793401242109-1140x1080.png","large-width":1140,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-layout-scaled-e1793401242109-1536x1455.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1455,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-layout-1583x2048.png","2048x2048-width":1583,"2048x2048-height":2048,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-layout-scaled-e1793401242109-491x465.png","card_image-width":491,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/grenada-layout-scaled-e1793401242109-1140x1080.png","wide_image-width":1140,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"right","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Each element was designed with touch in mind. The road network was printed as continuous raised lines sitting on top of the terrain, so that fingertips could find a road and follow it across the island without losing it in the surrounding relief. The terrain kept much of the DEM\u2019s original detail so that the island\u2019s central mountains, ridges, and valleys could be felt rising from the coastline. The north arrow and scale bar were printed as simple raised lines, and braille was modeled directly into the print as raised dots, giving the team a first test of whether 3D-printed braille could be read at all.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" The resulting all-black PLA print was a major milestone, proving that the workflow itself was viable. When touching this tactile map, fingertips can follow the raised roads as they weave through the island, while the topographic relief tells the story of the landscape itself. Together, these layers give the reader a greater understanding of Grenada and the many geospatial connections it contains, from major terrain features to traditional cartographic elements like orientation and the legend, all communicated through physical touch.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2987035,"id":2987035,"title":"First print, dampened terrain","filename":"iteration-1.jpg","filesize":439271,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/iteration-1","alt":"First 3D-printed tactile map of Grenada with dampened terrain relief, raised major roads, braille labels, a tactile north arrow, and a legend. Overhead and angled views show the relatively subtle topography.","author":"396179","description":"Two photographs show the first black 3D-printed tactile map of Grenada from overhead and oblique perspectives. Grenada is represented as a raised landform in the center of a square base, with major roads traced by raised lines across the island. The terrain has been dampened, producing relatively shallow elevation differences and a subdued representation of the island\u2019s mountainous interior. The angled view on the right makes the limited vertical variation especially visible. Raised braille, a line symbol, and print labels form a legend in the upper-left corner. A raised north arrow appears toward the lower right, with additional braille near the bottom edge. All features are printed in black, so differences between terrain, roads, labels, and other map elements are communicated primarily through changes in height, shape, and texture rather than color.","caption":"First full tactile-map print of Grenada with dampened terrain. The reduced relief made elevation changes less prominent, particularly when compared with the raised road network.","name":"iteration-1","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-11-03 19:53:58","modified":"2026-11-03 21:55:36","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2160,"height":1131,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":243,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":402,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":1005,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1-1536x804.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":804,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1-2048x1072.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1072,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1-826x433.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":433,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1-1920x1005.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":1005}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2987036,"id":2987036,"title":"Second print, exaggerated terrain","filename":"iteration-1.1.jpg","filesize":436922,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.1.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/iteration-1-1","alt":"Second 3D-printed tactile map of Grenada with exaggerated terrain relief, raised major roads, braille labels, a tactile north arrow, and a legend. Overhead and angled views show the more prominent mountainous topography.","author":"396179","description":"Two photographs show the second black 3D-printed tactile map of Grenada from overhead and oblique perspectives. The map retains the same overall design as the first print, including the island\u2019s raised major-road network, braille and tactile legend at upper left, north arrow toward the lower right, and braille near the bottom edge. In this iteration, the terrain has been vertically exaggerated. Mountains, ridges, slopes, and valleys rise more prominently from the map surface, creating a substantially more pronounced texture across the island. The difference is especially apparent in the angled photograph, where the central mountainous areas project visibly above the surrounding base. The increased relief provides greater physical separation between elevation changes than in the first, dampened-terrain print.","caption":"Second 3D-printed tactile map of Grenada with exaggerated terrain relief, raised major roads, braille labels, a tactile north arrow, and a legend. Overhead and angled views show the more prominent mountainous topography.","name":"iteration-1-1","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-11-03 19:54:27","modified":"2026-11-03 21:56:02","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2160,"height":1131,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.1-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.1.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":243,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.1.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":402,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.1.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":1005,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.1-1536x804.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":804,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.1-2048x1072.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1072,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.1-826x433.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":433,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/11\/iteration-1.1-1920x1005.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":1005}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" At the same time, the prototype exposed several shortcomings. The terrain surface contained significant textural complexity: at 1-meter resolution, nearly every small bump and ridge in the DEM was printed, creating a rough surface that competed with the roads for the reader\u2019s attention. Unlike the eye, which can take in a whole map at a glance and filter out detail, fingertips explore a small area at a time, so excess texture makes it much harder to tell a meaningful feature from background noise. The road network also created areas of high feature density. Where the network is densest, the raised lines sat so close together that individual roads became difficult to separate and trace by touch. Visual maps solve this with color and line weight; tactile maps have to solve it with spacing, height, and simplification. Additionally, while braille was successfully printed on the map, there was uncertainty about whether the 3D-printed dot size and spacing aligned with tactile graphics best practices. Braille that is too large, too extruded, or inconsistently spaced can be misread or unreadable, which would leave the title, legend, and scale inaccessible to the very readers the map was designed for.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Ultimately, this first prototype proved that the ArcGIS Pro to 3D printer workflow was possible, but it also reinforced a lesson frequently emphasized throughout tactile mapping literature: what looks visually appealing is not necessarily effective when experienced through touch.<\/p>\n The next challenge was determining how to communicate the map\u2019s information more intentionally for blind and low-vision users.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" To create tactile maps that better aligned with accessibility standards, the second phase shifted from testing the production workflow to experimenting with the 3D design of the features themselves.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Rich Spencer, an Application Developer in Esri\u2019s Applications Prototype Lab, helped move beyond the first prototype by testing what an improved, accessible tactile experience could be in a 3D-printed map. He created a series of small test tiles to evaluate terrain exaggeration, smoothing techniques, road prominence, and braille readability. Each of these variables directly affects whether a reader can distinguish features clearly and consistently by touch, which is exactly where the first prototype fell short. Printing small tiles made it possible to compare options side by side, quickly and with little material, before committing to a full map.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2986766,"id":2986766,"title":"Digital Tactile-Design Iterations","filename":"blender-iteration-2.png","filesize":794566,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blender-iteration-2.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/blender-iteration-2","alt":"Eight digital 3D models compare tactile-map design variations, including different terrain exaggerations, road heights, colors, raised braille dots, and line thicknesses.","author":"396179","description":"A grid of eight square digital 3D model previews shows variations of the same portion of a tactile map. Each model contains raised terrain, a winding raised road or boundary, braille-style dots in the upper-left corner, and embossed test labels. The models vary in background and feature colors, including blue, teal, purple, green, yellow-green, pink, and contrasting line colors. Visible labels indicate experiments with dimensions such as braille dot width of 1.44 millimeters and height of 0.48 millimeters, as well as different terrain elevation ratios and raised-road heights. The sequence demonstrates iterative testing of tactile height, relief, line prominence, and visual contrast.","caption":"Digital design iterations used to evaluate tactile symbol dimensions, road heights, terrain exaggeration, and color combinations before 3D printing.","name":"blender-iteration-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-10-30 22:09:46","modified":"2026-11-03 17:30:38","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1416,"height":728,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blender-iteration-2-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blender-iteration-2.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":239,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blender-iteration-2.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blender-iteration-2.png","large-width":1416,"large-height":728,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blender-iteration-2.png","1536x1536-width":1416,"1536x1536-height":728,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blender-iteration-2.png","2048x2048-width":1416,"2048x2048-height":728,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blender-iteration-2-826x425.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":425,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/blender-iteration-2.png","wide_image-width":1416,"wide_image-height":728}},"image_position":"right-center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" The tile variations were built in Blender, a free, open-source 3D modeling application that gives precise control over a model\u2019s geometry. Using the same patch of Grenada\u2019s landscape, Rich produced versions of the terrain ranging from the full-detail DEM surface, with every small ridge and bump preserved, to progressively smoothed and simplified surfaces where only the broader shape of the land remains. The tiles also varied road width, from 1 mm down to 0.4 mm, and elevation scale, so the team could feel which combinations were easiest to read.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2986767,"id":2986767,"title":"Tactile road and terrain tests","filename":"iteration2_3.jpg","filesize":385614,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_3.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/iteration2_3","alt":"Eight black 3D-printed tactile test tiles compare different terrain exaggerations and raised-road heights. Each tile includes gray braille dots, a red raised road network, and embossed test specifications.","author":"396179","description":"Eight square black 3D-printed tactile test tiles are arranged in two rows of four on a white surface. Each tile represents the same geographic area and contains a red raised linear network over black terrain, gray raised braille dots and text on the left, and a small red circular symbol near the upper-right corner. The tiles test different tactile-map parameters. The upper row varies the terrain elevation from 1:1 to 1:2, 1:4, and 1:8 while maintaining a 1-millimeter raised-road height. The lower row uses a 1:10 terrain elevation and progressively reduces the road height from 1 millimeter to 0.8, 0.6, and 0.4 millimeters. The braille test labels specify dots approximately 1.44 millimeters wide and 0.48 millimeters high. Differences in terrain relief and the prominence of the red roads are visible across the eight iterations, allowing the tactile characteristics of each configuration to be compared.","caption":"Series of 3D-printed test tiles used to compare terrain exaggeration and raised-road heights while maintaining consistent braille dimensions.","name":"iteration2_3","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-10-30 22:10:03","modified":"2026-11-03 18:23:50","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1920,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_3-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_3.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":247,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_3.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":410,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_3.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_3-1536x819.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":819,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_3.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1024,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_3-826x441.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":441,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_3.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":1024}},"image_position":"right-center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2986769,"id":2986769,"title":"Terrain-relief comparison","filename":"iteration2_4.jpg","filesize":479491,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_4.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/iteration2_4","alt":"Six tan 3D-printed terrain tiles compare different levels of vertical relief, ranging from strongly exaggerated mountainous terrain to much flatter, subtler topography.","author":"396179","description":"Six square tan 3D-printed terrain tiles are arranged in two rows of three on a white surface. Each tile depicts the same geographic terrain but uses a different amount of vertical relief. The terrain contains ridges, valleys, slopes, and irregular landforms, with the differences in height becoming apparent when the tiles are viewed together. Some tiles, particularly those on the left, have strongly pronounced peaks, ridges, and depressions that create a rugged surface. Moving across the comparison, other versions become progressively subtler, with lower relief and finer surface detail. Visible 3D-print layer lines trace the shapes of the terrain and emphasize changes in elevation. The series illustrates how different levels of vertical exaggeration affect the physical appearance and tactile prominence of topographic features.","caption":"Six 3D-printed terrain tests comparing different levels of vertical exaggeration and smoothing to determine an effective balance between tactile legibility and realistic topographic relief.","name":"iteration2_4","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-10-30 22:12:17","modified":"2026-11-05 20:09:38","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1920,"height":1301,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_4-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_4.jpg","medium-width":385,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_4.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":520,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_4.jpg","large-width":1594,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_4-1536x1041.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1041,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_4.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1301,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_4-686x465.jpg","card_image-width":686,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_4-1594x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1594,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"right-center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Braille dimensions and spacing were evaluated against recommendations from the Braille Authority of North America\u2019s Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics. We also reviewed design principles from Tactile Mapping: Cartography for People with Visual Impairments<\/a>, the ArcGIS Learn lesson Create a Tactile Map<\/a>, and several community-led tactile mapping initiatives. Across these resources, a consistent message emerged: tactile cartography depends on simplification, abstraction, feature hierarchy, and thoughtful generalization.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2986768,"id":2986768,"title":"Braille Test Print","filename":"iteration2_5.jpg","filesize":361227,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_5.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/iteration2_5","alt":"Black rectangular 3D-printed test plate with three rows of raised braille dots and raised numeric labels indicating different test dimensions in millimeters.","author":"396179","description":"A black rectangular 3D-printed plate rests on a light surface. Three horizontal rows of raised gray braille-dot patterns span the plate. At the right side of each row are raised gray labels identifying different dimensional test values in millimeters. The plate allows differences in raised-dot geometry and spacing to be evaluated physically rather than relying only on a digital model. Fine diagonal lines from the 3D-printing process are visible across the black surface.","caption":"3D-printed braille test plate used to evaluate raised-dot dimensions and readability before incorporating braille into the tactile map.","name":"iteration2_5","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-10-30 22:11:46","modified":"2026-11-03 17:27:57","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1604,"height":1198,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_5-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_5.jpg","medium-width":349,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_5.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":574,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_5.jpg","large-width":1446,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_5-1536x1147.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1147,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_5.jpg","2048x2048-width":1604,"2048x2048-height":1198,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_5-623x465.jpg","card_image-width":623,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration2_5-1446x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1446,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"right","orientation":"vertical","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" The research results aligned with the general tactile accessibility knowledge the team had at the beginning of the project. Excessive terrain detail introduces tactile noise: when every small variation in elevation is printed, fingertips struggle to separate meaningful landforms from surface roughness, and important features get lost. Roads needed to be clearly distinguishable without being overwhelming, meaning raised and wide enough to be found and followed, but not so wide or so dense that neighboring roads merge together or crowd out the terrain and labels around them. Braille dimensions required careful adherence to established standards, because braille readers rely on consistent dot size, height, and spacing to recognize characters quickly and accurately. In the first prototype, it was unclear whether the braille met these expectations; on the test tiles, the dots were sized at 1.44 mm wide and 0.48 mm tall so readability could be evaluated against a known baseline. Overall, the tests showed that an effective tactile map requires carefully selected features and intentional, specific design to improve comprehension and spatial understanding for blind and low-vision users.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" With these <\/span>additional<\/span> tests and lessons learned, the design moved closer to the goal of maximizing understanding through touch.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Armed with the lessons learned from testing, the third round of prototypes focused on creating a more deliberate tactile experience.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" In these iterations, the Grenada 3D model was updated with a focus on generalization and simplification. The terrain was smoothed, making it less visually dramatic but significantly easier to interpret through touch. The road symbology was refined: roads were raised significantly higher above the terrain and further simplified to improve traceability. Feature spacing was improved throughout, from repositioning labels to reduce interference with surrounding features to more thoughtful braille placement across the print.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2986748,"id":2986748,"title":"Finished Tactile Map of Grenada","filename":"3-scaled.jpg","filesize":708115,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/3-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/3-83","alt":"3D-printed tactile map of Grenada showing raised topography and the island\u2019s major road network in red, with braille labels, a north arrow, scale bar, and a marked location near St. George.","author":"396179","description":"A square, tan 3D-printed tactile map displays the island of Grenada in raised relief. The island occupies the center of the map, with mountainous terrain represented by textured elevation and a network of major roads represented by raised red lines. A small raised square near the southwestern coast identifies St. George Athletics. At upper left, a tactile legend includes braille and printed text for \u201cGrenada Major Road Network,\u201d \u201cSt. George Athletics,\u201d and \u201cMajor Roads,\u201d accompanied by raised symbols. A large raised north arrow appears in the upper-right corner. Along the bottom, a tactile scale bar is labeled from 0 to 10 kilometers in both print and braille. The combination of relief, raised lines, symbols, braille, and contrasting colors makes geographic information available through both touch and sight.","caption":"Finished tactile map of Grenada combining raised terrain, elevated major roads, braille labels, a tactile north arrow, and a scale bar.","name":"3-83","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-10-30 19:55:09","modified":"2026-11-03 17:29:59","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":2515,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/3-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/3-scaled.jpg","medium-width":266,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/3-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":755,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/3-scaled.jpg","large-width":1099,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/3-1536x1509.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1509,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/3-2048x2012.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2012,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/3-473x465.jpg","card_image-width":473,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/3-1099x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1099,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Beyond these accessibility improvements, the team expanded past the terrain and transportation datasets to explore how other map features could be represented through tactile textures in 3D. This testing focused on a smaller, more feature-rich area in St. George\u2019s, Grenada, which included athletic fields, water features, and different types of land cover.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2986751,"id":2986751,"title":"Tactile site model, overhead view","filename":"iteration3_1-scaled.jpg","filesize":903561,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_1-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/iteration3_1","alt":"Overhead view of a multicolor tactile map showing blue textured water, red raised roads, tan terrain, green textured areas, and gray raised structures.","author":"396179","description":"A nearly overhead photograph shows the same square tactile model from above. A dark blue, wave-textured water feature runs along the full left side. A bright red road follows the water\u2019s eastern edge before connecting with another red road crossing the lower portion of the model. Two green textured areas occupy the upper and central-right sections. The larger green feature is elongated and surrounded by several separate gray raised forms, while the smaller circular green feature sits within a large segmented gray ring. Fine raised terrain lines can be seen across portions of the tan base, especially in the lower half. The overhead perspective clearly shows how multiple textures, colors, heights, and shapes divide geographic features into distinguishable tactile categories.","caption":"Overhead view of the tactile prototype, highlighting the spatial relationships among water, roads, textured open areas, terrain, and raised structures.","name":"iteration3_1","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-10-30 19:58:02","modified":"2026-11-03 17:45:45","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2502,"height":2560,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_1-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_1-scaled.jpg","medium-width":255,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_1-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":786,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_1-scaled.jpg","large-width":1056,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_1-1501x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1501,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_1-2002x2048.jpg","2048x2048-width":2002,"2048x2048-height":2048,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_1-455x465.jpg","card_image-width":455,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_1-1056x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1056,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"right","orientation":"vertical","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" The 3D model for this focus area introduced texture-based symbology to distinguish different land cover and infrastructure types. Water was represented with a wave texture: closely spaced, parallel ridges that rise and fall in a gentle, repeating curve, so running a finger across the surface <\/span>feels like moving<\/span> over a series of small, rhythmic ripples. Vegetated areas, such as the athletic fields, received a grass-like texture: a dense, fine pattern of short, irregular raised squiggles that feels rough and slightly bumpy, clearly different from both the regular ripples of the water and the smooth base of the map. Buildings, such as the stadium seating, <\/span>emerged<\/span> as distinctly raised, flat-topped blocks standing well above the landscape. Roads stayed at the top of the tactile hierarchy: they <\/span>remained<\/span> tall, rounded, and continuous, so they could still be found and followed first, even with new textures surrounding them. Finally, the terrain itself became contextual rather than dominant. With the elevation smoothed and kept low, the gentle slope of the land provides background context, while the textured land cover, buildings, and roads carry the main story.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2986749,"id":2986749,"title":"Tactile site model, oblique view","filename":"iteration3_2-scaled.jpg","filesize":628240,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_2-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/3d-gis\/3d-accessible-tactile-maps\/iteration3_2","alt":"Angled view of a multicolor 3D-printed tactile map with textured blue water, red raised roads, tan terrain, green textured areas, and gray raised building or structural shapes.","author":"396179","description":"An oblique photograph shows a square multicolor 3D-printed tactile map on a white surface. Along the left edge, a dark blue area filled with repeating raised waves represents water. The main surface is tan and includes subtle raised terrain or contour-like textures. Bright red raised lines form roads, including one running vertically beside the water and another crossing the lower half of the model. Two textured green areas appear toward the upper center and right, including an elongated oval and a circular area. Raised gray forms surround these areas, including rectangular pieces and a large segmented circular structure. The differences in height, geometry, color, and surface texture distinguish feature types visually and tactually.","caption":"Oblique view of a multicolor tactile prototype testing distinct raised shapes, textures, roads, water, and built features.","name":"iteration3_2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2984990,"date":"2026-10-30 19:57:24","modified":"2026-11-03 17:46:08","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_2-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_2-scaled.jpg","medium-width":348,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_2-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_2-scaled.jpg","large-width":1440,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_2-1536x1152.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_2-2048x1536.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1536,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_2-620x465.jpg","card_image-width":620,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iteration3_2-1440x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1440,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"right-center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" This version represented an important evolution in the research and development, moving beyond the basic landscape of Grenada and aligning more firmly with tactile mapping best practices. Abstraction and purposeful design came together to transform raw geographic information into meaningful spatial understanding through 3D printing.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" These models shifted from communicating just a couple of features to communicating geographic relationships between features and the landscape: how roads interact with elevation, where buildings sit within the urban landscape, how vegetation relates to public spaces, and how different geographic features connect to form a larger environment.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" While the prototypes successfully demonstrated multiple ArcGIS Pro to 3D printer workflows, they also reinforced an important reality: tactile mapping is not solely about having the right technology at your fingertips \u2014 it is about user-centered design.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" With user-centered design as the driver, it is no surprise that some of the most valuable feedback came from members of the blind and low-vision community, as well as from accessibility experts. Their feedback gave the project valuable insights for improvement, such as refining braille implementation, simplifying tactile textures, improving legends, and focusing on specific locations, along with broader guidance on designing for how blind users conceptualize space, distance, and place.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Overall, we learned the following from user feedback:<\/p>\n Perhaps most importantly, these conversations reinforced that tactile maps should not merely replicate what sighted users see. They should support how blind and low-vision users understand and navigate the world.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" The project’s long-term vision continues to evolve beyond static models.<\/p>\n Future research will explore how tactile maps can become interactive experiences that combine physical touch, GIS data, and audio feedback, which is a common feature of accessible tactile exhibits in museums and a core accessibility support for websites and screen reader use.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Can you imagine a future where accessible tactile maps connect to digital twins, hazard data, environmental monitoring systems, or local storytelling experiences so that everyone has access to the same information? For us, what began as a simple map request became something much larger: an exploration of how geospatial technology can create more equitable access to knowledge, place, and understanding.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" The maps themselves may be printed in plastic, but the goal has always been far greater than the object. The goal is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to explore, understand, and connect with the world around them.<\/p>\n"}],"related_articles":"","show_article_image":false,"card_image":false,"wide_image":false},"yoast_head":"\nAccessible Equivalents: Tell Stories with Geospatial Data<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Feel-a-ment R&D: The Process and Workflows<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Iteration 1: Proving the Workflow<\/h4>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Iteration 2: Learning what to Remove<\/h4>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Iteration 3: Building a Tactile Language<\/h4>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
User Feedback<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
\n
Moving Forward<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"