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The United States: Her Natural & Industrial Resources

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Why we love it

This striking, retro-style US resources map has generalized land use data to form a brightly colored backdrop for point symbols representing mineral and energy sources. In a world of standardized mapping we love to see some mapmakers develop a different look and feel to their work.

Why it works

When a map made in 2014 reminds you of your grade school wall atlas, you know it has transcended the informational realm of most modern maps. The shapes that form the background come from the USDA CropScape database, but look hand-drawn. The massive USGS Mineral Resources data is filtered to show a reasonable amount of points that are nicely distributed using Esri’s cartographic representation.

Important steps

  • Get your map layers ready

    Reclassify the USDA CropScape raster layer using the categories in the legend. Resample to 15 km cells using majority rule. Convert the layer to polygons. Smooth the output using the Smooth Polygon tool.

  • Group high-level categories

    Group USGS Mineral Resources data into high-level categories such as “precious metals” or “gemstones.” Use a definition query to filter map features and reduce density.
    Browse Mineral Resources Data System

  • Develop the symbols and distribute

    Utilize cartographic representations in ArcMap to develop vector symbols in the symbol editor. Use the Disperse Markers tool to distribute the symbols and reduce crowding.
    What are representations?
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Requirements

  • Data and software

    Land cover data from the USDA will need to be cartographically processed from raster to create the smooth vector background. Software used: ArcGIS Desktop.

  • Analysis

    The analysis on this map is all about filtering and generalizing the detailed data to a level that works for the small-scale map display. Limit the USGS minerals data to high-level categories to keep the map clear and reduce the number of symbols necessary.

  • Time

    This map took more than 100 hours to complete—including research, data collection, and design. Making the smoothed land use polygons was a long, manual process.
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Tips and tricks

  • Use a narrow color palette

    Limit the number of colors used. Having a limited palette will motivate you to think more about how to style your data.

  • Manually create the legend

    Create the legend manually instead of using the legend wizard. Design your own layout and swatches to give it a personal touch.

  • Customize further than basic choices

    Go beyond defaults to make the map unique and styled beyond the software choices.
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Resources

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Stephen Smith, cartographer

Map Author

Stephen Smith

I'm a self-styled GIS evangelist and cartographic connoisseur. I love working with the latest cartographic tools, using maps to send a message, and studying old styles to find inspiration.

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