Crater Lake National Park
Methods
Cartography, Design, Geoprocessing
Software
ArcGIS Pro 3.2.2, Adobe Illustrator 28.5, GIMP 2.10
Data
LiDAR Survey Digital Elevation Model Dataset (USGS, DOGAMI)
year
2024
METHODS
1. Oblique Geoprocessing: I imported and utilized Kenneth Field's "Terrain Tools" geoprocessing suite into ArcPro 3.2.2 for the oblique perspective of this DEM. Employing this, along with a Patterson projection, I was able to significantly exaggerate the appearance of the terrain elevation.
2. Layer Blending: The strikingly colorful terrain representation for this map was accomplished by the stacking and blending of numerous color ramp and hillshade layers.
3. Detailed Labels & Contour Annotations: Most of the time spent on this project was spent creating the labels and contour annotations. After deciding to manually place each of the map labels, I used historic USGS and NPS maps from the late 19th and early centuries as references. The distribution of all contour lines and annotations were determined by what felt best aesthetically. Nearly all of the colors used in the haloing effects of contour annotation were manually and individually chosen as a means to further bolster the map's visual aesthetic.
4. Map Elements & Layout: The map elements were greatly inspired by early 20th century USGS maps, particularly those made by John H. Renshawe. The aged paper image used in the layout's background was sourced from the Dave Rumsay Map Collection, and was modified with Adobe Illustrator 28.5 and GIMP 2.10 to work with the layout.
This map was created as a final project in my college cartography course. I wanted to create something a little different from the past examples I had seen submitted for this project. My goal was to create a map that felt modern by manipulating a DEM, but was also very much linked to the design and aesthetic of historical National Park and USGS maps. Richard Edes Harrison, John H. Renshawe, John Nelson, Tom Patterson, and Herbert Bayer were some of the cartographers who greatly inspired me while working on this project. This involved learning and using new geoprocessing tools and cartographic techniques for the map's creation. I feel like I ended up being just as satisfied with the result as I am with what I was able to learn working on this project. Click the above image to see the map at a higher resolution.
