by Jack Dougherty, Stacy Lam, and David Tatem, last updated March 21, 2017
Maps entice readers to explore your data story and develop a stronger sense of place. But good maps require careful thought about how to clearly communicate spatial concepts with your audience. This book features free tools to create interactive maps that you can embed in your website. In this chapter, you will learn how to:
- Practice key principles of map design.
- Choose a map type that matches your data story and format, with tutorial links in the table below. Beginners may start with easy-to-learn tools such as BatchGeo or Google My Maps, then move up to more powerful tools, such as Leaflet, which require you to Modify and Host Code Templates with GitHub or other web servers.
See also related chapters in this book:
- Draw and write your data story to capture your ideas on paper
- Improve spreadsheet skills, Find and know your data, and Clean your data
- Transform your map data
- Embed your interactive chart on your website
- Detect bias in data stories, including How to lie with maps
- Tell your data story, including its most meaningful insights and limitations
| Basic map types | Best use and tutorial chapters |
|---|---|
Point map  |
Best to show specific locations, such as addresses with geocoded coordinates, with colors for different categories. Easy tools: BatchGeo tutorial or Google My Maps tutorial Power tool: Leaflet Maps with Google Sheets and other Leaflet templates |
Polygon map  |
Best to show regions (such as nations or neighborhoods), with colors or shading to represent data values. Also known as choropleth map. Easy tool: ?? Power tool: Leaflet Maps with Google Sheets and other Leaflet templates |
Polyline map  |
Best to show routes (such as trails or transit), with colors for different categories. Easy tool: ?? Power tool: Leaflet Maps with Google Sheets and other Leaflet templates |
Combination map  |
Best to show any combination of points, polygons, or polylines. Easy tool: ?? Power tool: Leaflet Maps with Google Sheets and other Leaflet templates |
** TO DO **
- story map
- heat map
- tab-view map for historical change
- synchronized side-by-side map
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