Cartographic guidelines for public health

The Geography and Geospatial Science Working Group (GeoSWG) has recognized the need for the development of cartographic best practices at CDC. With the audience and purpose of the map in mind, successful cartographers use map design conventions developed over time and supported by scientific research on human cognitive processes. In the design process, most cartographers will 1) define the map requirements, 2) prepare an outline based on the requirements and production considerations, 3) compile appropriate data, and 4) symbolize map data. Effective map design, or cartographic visualization, not only communicates spatial information, it also facilitates exploration and insight of geographic phenomena. These Cartographic Guidelines for Public Health outline thematic map design concepts, provide illustrated examples, offer links to definitions and relevant sites, and recommend further readings. The goal is to promote the production of high-quality, consistent map products to promote the mission of public health. With this end in mind, we expect the Guidelines will prove useful to CDC staffers involved in map design and production as well as to reviewers and journal editors.Overview -- Map elements -- Map scale and generalization -- Map projection -- Data types and classification -- Data symbolization using visual variables -- Type symbolization -- Visual hierarchy -- Selected thematic map type -- Confidentiality issues -- 508 compliance -- References and recommended resources -- Software resources for cartographic productionGeography and Geospatial Science Working Group (GeoSWG),The Geography and Geospatial Science Working Group (GeoSWG) is an organization of geographers, epidemiologists, statisticians, and others who work with spatially-referenced data at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In May of 2011, the GeoSWG Executive Committee formed the Public Health and Cartography Ad Hoc Committee "to propose cartographic guidelines and best practices to produce high-quality, consistent map products for the public health community." These Guidelines advance the application of geospatial concepts and methods within public health practice and research at CDC/ATSDR.August 2012Includes bibliographical references (p. 31-32)