Mapping with Altitude - by Nathan C Shephard (Paperback)

About the Book

This resource will help readers deliver clear, compelling cartographic representations in 3D that are both eye-catching and informative. Learn such 3D concepts as surfaces, base heights, texturing, and lighting model, and discover new twists on well-defined 2D cartographic principles.

Book Synopsis

Add an extra dimension to your maps.

You live in a 3D world--your maps need to be 3D, too. Representing and reviewing data on maps in 3D lets you explore complex spatial relationships in new ways, allowing you to identify patterns and potential problems more effectively. But creating digital 3D maps that are accurate, intuitive, engaging, and easily navigable can seem daunting, even to experienced cartographers.

Mapping with Altitude: Designing 3D Maps helps you create clear, compelling cartographic representations in 3D that are both eye-catching and informative. Written by Esri senior product engineer and frequent Esri UC workshop presenter Nathan C Shephard, this book uses a fun and enthusiastic approach to explore the concepts, challenges, and opportunities in 3D cartography.

Using easy-to-understand workflows, this book:

• Shows why some spatial content is best communicated in 3D.
  

• Explains 3D mapping concepts, such as surfaces, base heights, texturing, and lighting models.

• Introduces new twists on well-defined 2D cartographic principles, such as size, color, and text.

• Demonstrates how the z-dimension can convey time.

• Discusses the best delivery mechanism for your 3D content.

Mapping with Altitude focuses on the practical decisions and specific techniques you'll use as you boldly enter the world of 3D map authoring in ArcGIS.

From the Back Cover

Add an extra dimension to your maps.

You live in a 3D world - sometimes your maps need to be 3D, too. Representing and reviewing data in 3D on maps lets you explore complex spatial relationships in new ways, identifying patterns and potential problems more effectively. Yet creating digital 3D maps that are accurate and intuitive, engage users, and are easily navigated can seem like a daunting challenge.

Mapping with Altitude: Designing 3D Maps helps you create clear, compelling cartographic representations in 3D that are both eye-catching and informative. Written in easy-to-understand workflows, this book shows why some spatial content is best communicated in 3D, explains 3D mapping concepts, introduces new twists on well-defined 2D cartographic principles, discusses the best delivery mechanism for your 3D content, and more.

Mapping with Altitude focuses on the practical decisions and specific techniques you'll use as you boldly enter the world of 3D map authoring in ArcGIS.

Originally from Australia, Nathan C Shephard currently works at Esri headquarters in Redlands, California, where he leads a team of software engineers working on projects such as 3D and 4D navigation, flood simulation, and the authoring of animation videos. He acts as a 3D evangelist whenever he can, including presenting weird and wonderful 3D maps in technical workshops. In his free time, he writes fiction, shoots arrows, and spends time with his two daughters.

Review Quotes

"Overall, this is an excellent book. Shephard has assembled
an engaging text that skilfully touches, in effective depth and breadth, on
many of the key topics encountered in 3D mapping. The readability of the book
is enhanced by clear illustrations, informative highlighted text boxes,
succinct chapter summaries, and useful key tips."

--Shivanand Balram, Simon Fraser University "Cartographic Perspectives"

"Shephard
takes the reader on a journey about mapping in the third dimension ... Mapping
with Altitude: Designing 3D Maps is a thoughtful primer for GIS
students as well as a wonderful refresher for more veteran cartographers."--Sam Kim "Western Association of Map Libraries"