Brown County online GIS
Three tips on how to make a better map
The GeoPrime web map has many layers. There are “base map” layers accessible via two buttons on the upper right, and there are many “overlay” layers accessible with the Layers button on the upper left. Certain key layers are turned “on” by default when you first go into the map, but you may want to adjust settings to make a better map that communicates your intended message.
Below are a few of ways you can manipulate these map layers to make a better map. It is always important to keep your map’s purpose in mind as you design it, so that it’s main purpose is easily understood by your map’s audience.
- Remove clutter: Click the “Layers” button > expand the ‘Addresses,Parcels,Surveys & PLSS’ layer group by clicking the white triangle to the left of the group layer > uncheck the “Parcels” layer to remove extraneous parcel map text and lines. You may also want to turn on/off other overlay layers to help reduce clutter. Also, see step two:
- Change the base map: Go to the Base Map buttons on the upper right, click the triangle drop-down, and choose “No Base Map” from the list of base maps. Then, turn on only the overlay layers that you need (such as street names) using the Layers button. The “Standard Base Map” (the base map that’s on by default when you first go into the GeoPrime site) is references a lot of information to help you get your bearings, but may be more information than you need for your final map.
- Adjust Layer Transparency: There are “slider” bars next to every layer which will let you bring a layer more to the forefront or set it more to the background. Adjust the transparency to make your primary map features stand out. You can adjust transparency on the base map layers using the slider that appears when you move your mouse cursor over the base map buttons. It is often helpful to adjust the aerial photo transparency so that your overlay layers stand out more and aren’t overwhelmed by the photo.
More information:
- See also: http://maps.gis.co.brown.wi.us
