Here we are at the end of the work week. Is it just us, or do short weeks always feel longer? Regardless though, one thing stands true - We made it, folks! As you are winding down, sending out those last-minute emails you did not get around to yesterday, we wanted to give you a chance to procrastinate a bit more. No need to thank us, we are endlessly considerate. (Is it unprofessional to insert a winky-face emoji into a corporate blog post? Asking for a friend.)
To end out this short week, I wanted to round-up the #DailyBrainCandiii posts from this week, share them for you once again,and provide a bit more insight into them...as well as show-off our favorite #MapOfTheDay. Fun, right? Right.
The Universalis Cosmographia (1507): The First Time America Was Named On a Map
Light on words and heavy on images, this article showcases the earliest recording of when the word "America" was used in a document. This document happens to be a map, and we are not at all surprised. The map itself dates back to 1507 and is an incredible collection of twelve woodcuts. Read full post.
Best Practices Followed By Mobile App Users for a Successful On-boarding Experience
Onboarding does not always have to mean that pile of paperwork Human Resources forces you to fill out at a new job. Instead, this article details the pitfalls and areas in which to focus when it comes to providing the initial stages of interaction between your mobile applications and your consumer base. Although we have produced several mobile apps here at Integrated over the years, what I really enjoy about this article is that this level of detail is applicable to any type of application - web, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Online, you name it. Users thrive on simplicity and reassurance; the lesser the burden placed on them when meeting them for the first time, the better. Read full post.
The Multi-Faceted Career of Sarah Williams
It is always inspiring to read stories of regular people using their geographic powers for good. This profile on Sarah Williams is no different. An interesting read, one of my favorite quotes here comes from her speaking about her teaching at MIT:
"If your map highlights the story you want to tell, you will have a greater chance to convey the message contained in the data you used to create it. Good design helps make the map more accessible to the viewer."
How to Smart Map in Three Easy Steps
For those familiar with ArcGIS Online, you have likely experienced Smart Mapping without even realizing that there is term to describe it. This article walks you through using the basic features of this methodology within ArcGIS Online, relishing in the fact this may be used by cartographers and non-cartographers alike. Read full post.
Misleading Maps and Problematic Projections
Map projections may be one of the most interesting aspects of GIS. No, I am not being facetious...right now. They are the backbone of a good map and interesting enough to even perk up the eyes of a non-geographer. One of the most common projections? Mercator. You know the name. You have seen the maps. It possibly frustrates you. This article understands and is willing to give you a pat on the back, telling you why you feel the things you feel. Read full post.
Is Big Geospatial Data Analytics the Vision of the Future?
Big Data is a buzzword we always hear. Where you get it, where you store it, what you can do with it. Big Geospatial Data, however? It is something we have been quietly managing, possibly without even realizing that the same metrics apply. This article is an interesting read on the progression of this type of data and how we might pivot our sources in the future to better manage, store, and display information to give ourselves and our architecture a break from the massive stores. Read full post.
Map of the Day - The United States of Energy
Our favorite #MapOfTheDay post this week comes to us from SAXUM and the U.S. of Energy. This fun, interactive web map showcases energy resources in the United States. When it comes to energy posts, it is often hard to find a source that does not come from a politically-charged stance. Realizing the importance of energy, both on our economy and our infrastructure, this map seeks to not play favorites - instead, striving to stick to the facts. Besides, it really is a nice looking map with even cooler analytical tools. What more could you ask for? View web map now.
What Else is There?
Now that you have made it through the above articles and are not quite ready to get back to work, we have a couple more suggestions for reading with which to wash that coffee down.
This week, we highlighted our ever-growing Knowledge Management suite of applications for ArcGIS - Integrated Marco Studio - in our #MarcoMonday post. Offering an overview of products like Integrated Marco Desktop and Integrated Marco Commander, it is sure to be a hit for those looking for ways to better assess the health of the data on their network. This post may be found on our blog as well as on LinkedIn Pulse.
In addition to Integrated Marco Studio, we also thrust Integrated Portage into the limelight with this week's #MeetTheProduct post. This solution is ideal for those looking to easily convert their spatial data, like Feature Classes and Layer Files, from ArcGIS to Tableau - and vice versa. This post may be found on our blog as well as LinkedIn Pulse.
To learn more about Integrated Marco Studio and its individual software applications, visit the Solutions page or www.marcostud.io.
#DailyBrainCandiii and #WeekliiiRoundUp are inspired by brain candiii, a division of Integrated Informatics that delivers and develops Geographic Information System (GIS) training courses to meet the needs of Energy and Natural Resources professionals.