three maps showing colorful thematic symbols of different datasets

Smart Mapping: Introduction

Introducing the latest tutorials for getting the most from your maps and data.

I’m pleased to write the introduction to this wonderful set of tutorials about smart mapping at Esri. This collection shows you how to take full advantage of the new mapping and visualization power of the Map Viewer in ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise. This series of thirteen tutorials shows you practical hands-on advice and best practices for making amazing maps. Though they are structured around different kinds of thematic maps (what we call renderers), each one contains useful general advice for getting the most from your data and the software. Whether you’re new to mapping or have been doing it for years, I promise that you will learn something new reading these tutorials.

 Smart mapping  connects advanced mapping technology with streamlined workflows to help you create beautiful and informative maps, quickly. By using data-driven defaults, cartographic best practices, along with innovative ways of depicting your data, smart mapping helps uncover the stories inside your data.

Good mapping starts with good questions.

The key to smart mapping is to be curious! Good mapping starts with good questions. Ask questions like is there… or where does… or what’s the relationship between… For example, we might want to show places that are above and below the national average, or learn what the predominant tree species are in each county, or what percent of the population is within 5 minutes of a hospital, or where voting patterns are shifting and how do they relate to things like unemployment? Exploring one data variable is the cornerstone of thematic mapping and we offer many methods for univariate data exploration. But as you’ll see in this collection, mapping multiple data variables and exploring the relationships between them can lead really novel and powerful insights. 

View this map and see how it was used to learn more about housing patterns in  Smart Mapping: Predominance .

The second thing to know about smart mapping is there is no single right way to do it. Nor is there a standard set of steps that you must follow or simply memorize. Rather take the time to explore the UI options presented before you. Please just don’t use the defaults—as good as they might be—there is so much cartographic power at your fingertips. Many of the best maps I’ve made were happy accidents or unplanned detours. So, take a few seconds and try adjusting those slider handles or digging into those styling options. 

Think of smart mapping as an ongoing conversation with your data.

The third thing to know is that no one map can do everything, nor answer every question. Don’t try to chase down the “perfect map.” Instead, think of smart mapping as an ongoing conversation with your data. Visualizing the data changes what we know, which changes the questions we ask, which lead to new maps, which lead to new understanding…and so on. Often, I find myself working iteratively…what if I just focus on X, or filter out Y, and modify this by Z? Seeing the answers to those questions as a series of quickly authored maps is really rewarding. 

Dot density maps are one of the exciting new map types available in the Map Viewer and can be a great alternative to choropleth maps. Learn all about them in  Smart Mapping: Dot Density .

The team behind the Map Viewer has a deep belief in the power of geographic data visualization. This means we want to offer powerful yet easy-to-use tools and data-driven workflows for supporting that kind of exploratory thinking. We want the right tools in your hands at exactly the right moment. Interactivity is the heart of data exploration so look for and utilize the options we’ve embedded throughout the interface. The moment you start dragging a slider and the map springs to life to uncover patterns is pretty awesome. Research has also shown that the easier is it to modify the map—and the faster it responds—the more we will uncover. If 4 or 5 clicks into a map authoring session you are saying “wow, l’ve never seen this before, this is cool!” then we’re happy.

Of course, the Map Viewer and smart mapping are more than data exploration. Most of us make maps because we want to share them! When you’re happy with your map it can be published and shared with the world in seconds. Send it out on social media or embed it inside a multimedia story made with ArcGIS  StoryMaps . The lessons in this collection contain some great tips-and-tricks for making sure your map publishes well from nicely formatted legends to helpful pop-ups to logical uses of color and symbology.

This map of Florida streets uses size to show annual average daily traffic (width of the line), as well as color to show the district. As a result, the highways pop and the minor streets are more subtle. Learn more in  Smart Mapping: Types .

Cartography is a rapidly evolving field and I encourage you to try the new kinds of thematic maps we’ve created for you. If you haven’t already, try a predominance map, or a dot density map, or the above-and-below size map. See how gorgeous and powerful blend modes can be. Just don't be afraid to explore. And when you share use #smartmapping on social media.

We can’t wait to see what you create.


Additional Resources

View this map and see how it was used to learn more about housing patterns in  Smart Mapping: Predominance .

Dot density maps are one of the exciting new map types available in the Map Viewer and can be a great alternative to choropleth maps. Learn all about them in  Smart Mapping: Dot Density .

This map of Florida streets uses size to show annual average daily traffic (width of the line), as well as color to show the district. As a result, the highways pop and the minor streets are more subtle. Learn more in  Smart Mapping: Types .