Comments on: Scrappy Maps for Cyclone Sidr

By: Paul Currion

Paul Currion — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:04:57 +0000

Only had a black and white copier…

By: Sanjana Hattotuwa

Sanjana Hattotuwa — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:28:08 +0000

Try photocopying colour.

By: Paul Currion

Paul Currion — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:20:40 +0000

Hmmm… I’d have to disagree that the maps aren’t helpful. For the people who the maps were designed for, they were very helpful indeed – remember, information products need to be targeted, and what’s useful for one group might not be useful for another group.

On the colourful and attractive point – maybe, but I tend to be an advocate of simplicity. Colour wouldn’t add anything to these maps – e.g. it wouldn’t give you any more information – and so (in my opinion) you shouldn’t add colour. What’s your thought on that – what would you change about them?

By: Madhubanti

Madhubanti — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:46:41 +0000

Impressive. But not enough helpful. Has to be a bit more colourful and attractive.

By: Janet O'Callaghan

Janet O'Callaghan — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:49:23 +0000

Information professionals need to be more creative on ways we use maps to present data. I am as guilty as the next GISer of wanting perfect maps since I feel that the maps represent MY work. I want them accurate, colorful, and did I mention accurate (aka perfect). It is hard to put out a map with questionable data and then listen to all the complaints. But we know that is the best way to get them to study the data and give us feedback. By using data presentation tools (like google earth) rather than full blown GIS I think we maybe able mentally to get away from the need to be perfect. This would allow us to be more flexible and creative in our data presentation and most importantly to quickly get the data out the decision makers and implementors.

By: Paul Currion

Paul Currion — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:04:57 +0000

There’s definitely a tension between the two schools of thought, but I think that the quality purists are on the losing side. I’ll use whatever I can get – Google Earth overlays, scrappy maps, tourist guides – if it will help to achieve our goal – in this case, cluster co-ordination.

However you raise an interesting point – how widely should such maps be shared? Mine are just going around the WASH cluster here in Bangladesh, and probably won’t get much further. Should they go further?

By: Nigel Woof

Nigel Woof — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:24:58 +0000

Yes, fast-and-dirty maps are often the answer. The trouble is, they are anathema to GIS people who often feel the visual quality of the map product reflects on professional standards. Our organisation (MapAction) has had our emergency field mapping rejected in the past by a leading web platform, on cartographic grounds. Maybe we could have an annual Scrappy Map Award to hammer home the message that it’s all about fitness-for purpose?!