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The Uprooted

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Why we love it

Since 2011, the world’s refugee population has increased by 45%. This story map examines the causes of forcible displacement and how it affects millions of people across geographies. We love how this map treats an inherently sobering topic with clarity and composure. The Uprooted tells a deeply human story, on global and local scales, in a way that is informative and evocative. Yet, it does not resort to bombastic or sensationalistic language and graphics.

Why it works

The linear, scroll-driven layout of this story map works to deconstruct a highly complex issue into manageable chapters. We are drawn into a richly immersive experience by a combination of maps, photos, videos, charts, and text. A consistent color palette brings all of the visual elements into harmony. The judicious use of bright colors evokes a sense of solemnity and gravity—emotions that are central to this narrative. Learn more about the cartography used in 'The Uprooted.'

The Cartography of ‘The Uprooted’

Important steps

  • Aggregate data and use flow maps

    It can be difficult to collect and verify data about refugees and internally displaced persons so it helps to aggregate data at a country level. Show migration using flow maps since the lines encode direction and magnitude for many places simultaneously.
    Generate flow maps using XY to Line tool

  • Choose the right basemap

    The right basemap is critical since it sets the tone of the map. The muted palette sets a somber feel. Hillshading, borders, and water show the physical barriers refugees must contend with in their migrations. Publish basemap as a hosted tile layer to improve performance.

  • Alternate between static and interactive maps

    Static maps can be more effective than interactive maps, so switch between the two to tell the story.

  • Add a donate page

    This map concluded the story with a call to action, so it collaborated with Esri’s nonprofit team to compile a list of organizations with links to “donate” pages.
    Learn more about Esri’s Nonprofit team
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Requirements

  • Data and software

    Three key data sources are United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Airbus Defense and Space, International Organization for Migration. Software used: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Illustrator CC.
    View UNHCR database

  • Analysis

    The challenges migrants face while travelling to and through Europe were rendered as a sinuous flow map atop an interactive 3D scene with descriptive annotations. Static illustrate the origin/destination nature of refugees in both diaspora maps and proportional symbol maps.
    Use proportional symbols

  • Time

    The Uprooted was the combined effort of a team of storytellers, specializing in data capture and analysis, visual media, written narrative, cartographic illustration, and web development. Overall the team invested several weeks in crafting the finished story.
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Tips and tricks

  • Move the readers forward through the story

    Rather than present everything at once, build in details as the reader moves forward, such as bar charts that grow as the story advances.

  • See smaller symbols

    Hollow proportional symbols allow us to see smaller symbols that might otherwise be covered.

  • Key locations focus the reader’s attention

    Oblique 3D views centered on key locations help to focus attention to parts of the story.
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Resources

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Map Author

The Story Map Team

The Story Maps team at Esri makes tools that enable you to tell digital stories harnessing the power of geography, maps & GIS. And we use the tools too!

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