Geography 370: Introduction to Cartography

Maps are graphic arguments that facilitate a spatial understanding of things, concepts, conditions, processes, or events in the human world. This courses introduces the theories and techniques of vector-based map design and map production for the printed page or the web. You will use both ESRI ArcGIS and Adobe Illustrator software packages to process and transform geographic data into choropleth, proportional symbol, isoline, and other types of maps.

Suzhou蘇州

Created by Zhirou Liao

Zhirou says, “A hand-illustrated guide to Suzhou’s most iconic spots, inspired by my own memories of the city. Blending classical beauty, local food, and modern life, the map invites international visitors to experience Suzhou with poetic charm and personal perspective.”

A hand-illustrated guide to Suzhou’s most iconic spots

Top Flight United Kingdom Soccer Arenas by Home Game Attendance

Created by Ethan Engelken

Ethan says, “Soccer has always been a significant part of my life. Whether engaged in competitive matches, casual play, or simply spectating, soccer enriches my daily routine. My fascination with soccer extends to the United Kingdom, where I avidly follow the English Premier League. In my map project, I chart the locations of every top-level English and Scottish soccer arena. Each arena is represented by a symbol whose size corresponds to the average home game attendance for the 2023-2024 season, offering a visual insight into the popularity of each club.”

Map of the UK highlighting soccer arenas by home game attendance rates

Is There a Relationship Between Marriage and Happiness?

Created by Lily Reback

Lily says, “In psychology literature, there’s a significant correlation between marriage and happiness. Happier people tend to be married and married people tend to be happier. However, since you cannot manipulate either of those variables, there is no way to find insight into a cause and effect relationship. In order to show this correlation in a visual manner, I made a graduated symbols map layered on top of a choropleth map.”

Map of the United States with text describing the relationship between marriage and happiness