Map Design Guide

[Wayward-O]

On a recent foray to the BO(F) website (for subscription renewal) I poked around a bit and found the Map Design guide document that would appear to have been recently added.

http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/d ... Design.pdf

Having read it, I just hope that this will set the standard for event map presentation in the future. As someone new to orienteering, the variablility and variation in quality of the maps (cartography aside) has been noticeable.

There are just a couple of things that I'd like to see added to a future update.

Legend - This is not provided for the education of competitors, but to explain the map. Therefore i) symbols not used on the map should not be included in the legend; ii) feature and vegetation symbols in the legend must be reproduced at the same scale as the map.

Control Descriptions - some discussion should be included about the inclusion of control descriptions into the layout of the map. From personal experience, if no allowance is made for them then, when the courses are planned, these are positioned wherever possible without too much care or thought for what is obscured.

My expectations of the maps at higher level events has just increased and I hope that this document is now compulsory reading for all people preparing maps.

[mharky]

no irony lost on the front page...

[EddieH]

I decided to look and see what is SOOOO important about this document, and actually waded, then scanned through it all

Yes his 2worst case scenario "Swindale"? doesn't look as neat as the other, but would you REAlly be unable to read the map? The few genuinely vald points, (few of which I see broken anyway,) get lost amongst pages of largely subjective, and I suggest totaly irrelevant detail.

Another example of the fashion culture which in a year's time will no doubt have changed so we throw away all these maps and create a new image.

Anyway a massive number of events take place on a cut down area of much larger map - I suppose that the author would want the planner to spend over half an hour designing the presentation of his extract

[Gross]

Interestingly the author is NOT an orienteer.......

[RJ]

The guide would appear to largely focus on the Permanent Course maps for the MDOC area. Yes they should all have a 'corporate' image, be clear and informative to the users of the PCs.

In general terms, for most of your 'local' orienteering, a clear map with good cartography, good survey and good reproduction is the main issue. Control descriptions should be prominent on the front of the map, appropriately placed. Scale bar, mag lines, name of map, event/date(?) should be there. A border, legend, logos, mapping details are all 'good' if there is room..... but leave them off if they clutter the space and draw the eye away from the course and the navigation. The 'orienteering' is the important thing here, not a 'design award' competition entry.

A top level event should have a showcase map with all the trimmings, although the legend, once again, is not necessary if space is limited. Usually there will be logos of the club(s) and sponsors and..... Fine, no problem.

Producing maps for local events should give a clear, up to date (survey) map with mag lines set to current year. A lot of clubs update all maps just before an event, incorporating all the map corrections before printing for an event. OCAD is wonderful!!!! At this level the maps are printed on a laser (most likely).

[EddieH]

RJ, a concise summary of the basics I'd say - far more likely to be taken notice of than a multiple page document

[Red Adder]

Brian did a very interesting session at the 2007 Mapping Conference. As with all things artistic there were different views expressed but in general most of the principals in the document give very useful tips to producing a map that is clear, well laid-out and attractive. The last adjective may seem shallow but iI think its a shame wo spend ages to produce ages producing a top notch survey and then produce cartography and design that lets it down

I also suspect its easier to attract new orienteers with a well laid out map than something that looks scruffy - it shows we are professional and care, and that it may therefore be worthwhile spending a few hours and pounds on a new activity.

[RJ]

........ ages producing a top notch survey and then produce cartography ....that lets it down.

Absolutely no argument about the cartography. The terrain should be represented as clearly, concisely, and as readable as possible. The race map should have all the elements necessary to allow good navigation at speed.

...... all things artistic ...... and design ...... shows we are professional.

Here we can draw the line. The map is needed for a job... to help navigation during a 60 minute race. End of story.

Fancy title, border, logos, mapping survey details..... not needed for the job in hand!

[Nails]

to be perfectly honest I am sickened - what a complete waste of time.

I saw mharky's comment and thought he was just being his usual self, then i saw the cover for myself, threw up and closed my pdf viewer.

[ryeland of doom]

There is a fair bit to disagree with in there. The point has already been made that we tend to run on extracts now. I get the impression that the article belongs to the era of printed map stocks, not running off an extract at A4. White space is all well and good - but a luxury when trying to fit Stirling Survey's laser printer.
And who looks at the design of the map anyway - pick it up from the box, fold it to fit your leg and concentrate on your run - OK have a good look afterwards, but it is the clarity and accuracy of the depiction of the forest that counts.

And please - lets not have every map looking the same.