Final Exercise of the whole lesson

Assignment 1 – Google Maps

The challenge

Create a new shareable map by using the information described in the theory part you’ve just completed. Fill it with at least 10 outdoor locations worth visiting or spending time by adding spots, zones, and clear directions on how to get there. Choose locations from one town/city only – it’ll be easier to view a map and manage data. 

Take your smartphone or digital camera and get going! Gather photos of locations your map is going to be filled with and upload them to your map. You can add places and descriptions later or on the go. If you can’t reach some places at the moment –  look for photos online or if you have old pictures on your smartphone or computer you can use them instead.

Create a CSV file which has to contain all spots (no zones) used in your map. As you will be done with Step 1 at this point – the coordinates of each spot will be available on your map. In the document there must be the following information included: 

• Location (Latitude, Longitude)
• Name 
• Description
• Accessibility (Summer, Winter, All year long)
• Price (Free, Paid)
• Visitors: up to (Preliminar number of visitors recommended: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, etc.)
• Best for (Choose the best activity, for example, meeting friends, reading, camping)
  Ps. you can add more activities if you can’t see the category you need.

Next, create a new layer in your map and import a CSV file you’ve created. Add photos and style it with a Stylize tool and edit information in case you made a typo or a mistake. Then review information. Don’t forget to choose a base map, appropriate markers, colors, and overall make your map readable and easy to understand.

Share your map with a friend, colleague, or family member and ask them to contribute by adding at least one place relevant to your map. Explain how they can do it on their smartphone or computer and let them help to populate your map with more places.

Export your finished map as a KML document and upload it on moodle together with the CSV file you’ve created. Apart from this make your map available for public viewing and share the link to your map by putting it in a comment box.

Ps. If you have trouble with certain tasks please check the Additional learning material – Google Maps document for information regarding your struggle or if you just can’t find the answer there – ask us a question in the forum of this course. Good luck!

Assignment 2 – Mapbox

The challenge

Create a Mapbox account and develop your first custom map. You can either start to style from scratch by using the Blank style template or choose any other template with pre-loaded components. Import and use the data you’ve gathered from the Google Maps lesson and the first assignment in order to visualize this data to suit your goal. After completion of this assignment share the map you’ve created by submitting a link and a review document.

So the first thing you’ll need to do is to either grab a pen and paper, or open a blank text document on your computer, or mobile device, and start brainstorming. Think of at least three ways in each of these areas where the information you gathered for your Google Maps assignment could come in handy:

• Journalism
• Business
• Personal use

Shortly describe each idea by pointing out the usefulness of each of them. Then choose an idea you strongly believe would bring the most benefit for you or your targeted audience and elaborate on why you believe it’s the best choice and how you will achieve this goal with the Mapbox tool. Describe in your own words, then transfer it to an MS Word file (you can also use a Google Documents file and download it as a Word file to your computer) and submit together with the second part of this assignment.

After you decide on what information you would like to emphasize and in which area it will be used (presumably), you can start working with the Mapbox tool. Create an account and start to create a map. Be sure to use or implement these Mapbox functions:

• If a non-blank template is used – styling must be done not only to the components but separate layers as well.
• Upload data from a document generated for Google Maps assignment. If corrections or more data is needed – use Datasets.
• Import at least two new layers.
• Use text formatting to highlight descriptions of the highest importance.
• Style your map by using zoom ranges.
• Add a custom background layer if possible. If not – add a comment right beside your idea description of what you believe it’s not possible or not needed.
• Use data filters to create visually represented data clusters in your map which would let a viewer easily see and understand the results of your data.

After you’re finished with the second part of this assignment download the whole maps package to your computer and save a png image of your map ( Print > png > Export). Then submit these files for evaluation:

• Word document with ideas and explanations
• png file of your map
• .zip (compressed folder) file of your entire map
• Provide Preview only link in a comment box

Ps. If you have troubles with certain tasks please check Additional learning material – Mapbox document for information regarding your struggle or if you just can’t find the answer there – ask us a question in the forum of this course. Good luck!