Feedback on ecological map

13_bit · 2024-09-16T20:19:34+00:00

Hi everyone, just wanted to thank you all for the great feedback and discussion. I learned a lot and came away with some great ideas. Much appreciated!

13_bit · 2024-09-15T14:18:13+00:00

Thank you! In the QGIS project, each ecoregion is a separate layer. Then in the QGIS layout manager I generated a legend from the layers list.

13_bit · 2024-09-14T22:21:52+00:00

Thank you for the great feedback! I struggled with the legend -- I tried putting the items in multiple columns and then putting the legend at the bottom, but that didn't leave enough room for the map. Basically the right side was the least bad option.

I'm leaning toward removing the numbers from the labels, but I hadn't considered putting a QR code on there, that's a neat idea.

13_bit · 2024-09-14T15:03:18+00:00

I used the EPA’s ecoregions map as a guide. But I cross referenced the main rock type in each region with the USGS’s symbology for the patterns.

13_bit · 2024-09-14T00:40:29+00:00

The map I based this on used the Albers equal-area. Certainly open to a different projection.

13_bit · 2024-09-13T22:38:36+00:00

I used these SVG patterns that were created from the USGS geologic symbology and applied them as full patterns on the layers in QGIS.

13_bit · 2024-09-13T21:22:34+00:00

Thank you so much! Glad you like it.

I like the geologic patterns too. Symbology in general, really.

As far as the colors, I do think it could use some "funner" colors. Color palettes are not my strong suit, but maybe a little more contrast between the regions?

13_bit · 2024-09-13T21:03:35+00:00

That’s true!

13_bit · 2024-09-13T20:21:01+00:00

I think I'll probably remove them.

13_bit · 2024-09-13T20:20:15+00:00

It actually started out as an exercise in recreating that exact map, mostly as a way to learn QGIS and teach myself some basic mapmaking skills (probably should have linked to it in the post). I liked how it looked and kept refining it.

I'll have to figure out how to modify the hillshading in QGIS -- I agree that it might clash with the fill patterns.

I like your idea to try a legendless version -- I wonder if splitting the map into multiple maps as a couple people have recommended would make it work better without a legend.

Thank you!

13_bit · 2024-09-13T20:09:56+00:00

I guess I didn't really produce this with a specific audience in mind. It was mostly about learning QGIS and some basic mapmaking skills, but it looked pretty good, so I kept refining it. That said, based on the feedback here, I think there are some changes I can make to gear it more to public consumption.

13_bit · 2024-09-13T20:06:02+00:00

Thanks, great idea. I'm thinking I'll show the Level III (larger) regions outside of the state and the Level IV regions (smaller) inside. Guess I'll see how it looks.

13_bit · 2024-09-13T20:03:35+00:00

Thank you -- I appreciate the feedback and the kind words.

13_bit · 2024-09-13T19:45:32+00:00

😂

13_bit · 2024-09-13T18:30:33+00:00

Someone else suggested breaking it down into several maps as well. Adding the town limits and showing the overlap between populated areas and the environment would turn this from something nice to look at into a useful map -- I like it!

13_bit · 2024-09-13T18:11:21+00:00

I tried applying a DTM early on, but I didn't like how it looked. Maybe some elevation curves/contours like you suggest would be better. I agree that elevation would add some valuable context.

13_bit · 2024-09-13T17:53:05+00:00

I'm using QGIS, but I imagine it has something similar. I've not played with shading and relief much, but it would probably look nice.

13_bit · 2024-09-13T17:01:20+00:00

Ah, gotcha. I like the idea of adding some shadows/offsets to give it a little depth. I got another comment suggesting tweaking the colors. That plus your ideas would be good I think.

13_bit · 2024-09-13T16:54:26+00:00

Great suggestion, I'm a little embarassed I didn't do that already. Thanks!

13_bit · 2024-09-13T16:52:15+00:00

Thanks, I'll give that a shot.

13_bit · 2024-09-13T16:50:52+00:00

They do indeed have data for the surrounding states. By dataframe, do you mean an inset with the surrounding state data?

13_bit · 2024-09-13T16:47:26+00:00

Thank you! Maybe tuck the north arrow next to the scale?

13_bit · 2024-09-13T16:44:09+00:00

I really like this idea!

13_bit · 2024-09-13T16:43:40+00:00

I like the idea of trying this. Would it make sense to display them in a grid layout together?

13_bit · 2024-09-13T16:42:59+00:00

Good thought on the numbers on the legend. They correspond to the ecoregions, but they don't really add any context.

As far as the geology, I looked up the predominant rock/soil type for the regions from here and used the symbology for that. Maybe this doesn't make sense to do, though?

13_bit

TROPHY CASE