Geographic Communication--Appreciating NIU's Cartography Lab

What distinguishes geography from other sciences is its attention to the production, interpretation and communication of geographic information. For geographers, maps are oftentimes the common semantic, the objects through which they communicate with each other and the broader community.

Mesoscale Convective Systems. Research by Bentley, et al. (Left)
Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Tornado Fatalities in the U.S. Research by Ashley (Right)

The NIU Department of Geography Cartography Lab is especially interested in high quality cartographic communication. Established in 1965, the Cartography Lab has an impressive history of producing elegant and functional maps for research, government and not-for-profit communities. The cartographic creativity of Leonard Walther and Jodi Heitkamp--the lab's full time personnel--is perhaps best exemplified in their large-scale maps depicting the research of NIU Geography faculty. These eye-catching posters adorn the walls of NIU Geography's Davis Hall, and encourage passersby to read the latest scientific findings.

Collaborations with off-campus entities have also provided opportunities for the Cartography Lab to distribute spatial knowledge and forward geographic literacy. One example is a map produced for the The Northern Illinois Food Bank which was used to inform the strategic placement of distribution centers and food pantries. More recently, the Cartography Lab allied with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to develop a series of bicycle maps. Over 800,000 of these maps have been distributed by IDOT over the past decade, making it a hit among Illinois' outdoor enthusiasts. The Kane County Bicycle Map (Figure on right), for example, is free to the public and features existing and proposed bicycle and pedestrian trails, bicycle level of service ratings for selected roadways, points of interest and major destinations, mile markers, and information on trail etiquette, sharing the trail (and the road) and bicycle safety. This map has been especially popular with the public and has received numerous awards including the Soles and Spokes Award for Excellence from the Chicago Area Transportation Study and an Honorable Mention in the planning category from the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association. The League of Illinois Bicyclists has also commissioned the Cartography Lab to produce similar multi-modal maps for the City of Aurora.

The Cartography Lab also shares its cartographic knowledge via teaching and other pedagogical activities. One popular independent study course (GEOG 467) centers around the design and production of a cartographic product such as a large-scale printed map, folded brochure, or small booklet. Students are encouraged to work with an outside organization who may want a map to fulfill a particular objective. In this way, students learn to work with real-world clients by co-designing geographic products that meet their needs. This independent study is popular not only because of its practical application but also because of its personalized instruction. The maximum course load of four means students are able to work closely with Cartography Lab staff on a regular basis, thereby acquiring valuable experience in navigating the rather complicated design and translation tools available in today's advanced cartographic software.