Lesson 5 Lab

Lesson 5 Lab

Color and Choropleth Mapping in Series

In Lab 5, we will explore different ways of choosing color schemes and applying data classification methods for choropleth maps. As a cartographer, you will often have to choose between several of these options - many of which may seem at first glance to be equally appropriate. When creating statistical maps of demographic data, a good source for this data is the American Community Survey, provided by the US Census. In this lab, we use the same data source but focus on a specific variable frequently in focus during public policy debates: health insurance. Consider health insurance to be your base dataset. 

The first part of Lab 5 will focus on data classification. There are many ways to classify statistical data on maps, and you must understand them and be able to defend your choice of classification scheme to others. We will not only be classifying data but also adding that data to create maps, this lab will also focus on the use of color on maps. Finally, as suggested in the lesson content, we will explore ways of making comparable maps - in this lab, we will be making two pairs of maps.

This lab, which you will submit at the end of Lesson 5, will be reviewed/critiqued by one of your classmates in Lesson 6 (critique #3).

Lab Objectives

• Create two (2) pairs of county-level choropleth maps describing health insurance in New England. Again, health insurance is the base dataset.
• Develop similar legends to help readers understand the geographic relationships between pairs of maps.
• Use information about data distributions and health insurance rates in New England and the US overall to determine the shared data classification breaks.
• Understand the impact of different color schemes and classification methods on the information illustrated on each map and be able to reflect upon and write about these decisions.

Overall Lab Requirements

For Lab 5, you will create two (2) pairs of maps, each pair should be created as its own full-page map layout. In total, you will have two separate pages. Two maps will appear on each page for four individual maps in total. You will also write a short reflection statement about each pair of maps.

• For each pair, use the same map positioning and scale within each frame; one scale bar for both maps.
• Prepare visually balanced page layouts with all elements suitably sized and balanced negative space.
• Attend to the text hierarchy: overall title, subtitles, legend title(s), legend class labels, scale, data source, and name. Use thoughtful and efficient wording when labeling map elements.

Map Requirements

Map Pair One: Sequential and Diverging Color Schemes

• For this map pair, choose a variable of interest to map from the provided American Community Survey (ACS) data that will be used to show differences in health insurance. For example, one variable could be "unemployed individuals who do not have health insurance."
  • Do not just choose an age group (e.g., 18-under; 19-25 years).

• For the first map, choose one of the variables of interest (e.g., unemployed without health insurance).
• Select class breaks manually: Create dot plots in Microsoft Excel and draw appropriate breaks using your eye to judge where the data group numerically; enter these as manual breaks in ArcGIS Pro. Notice that different than what we include in the visual guide, your dotplots will only have one variable (just 1, not 1 and 2 as in Figures 5.5, 5.6, and 5.7 of the visual guide--we are currently updating them).
• Use a sequential color scheme and include a legend for your map.
• Include a short write-up (about 100 words) which includes a screenshot of your dot plot with lines drawn to demonstrate the breaks you chose, as well as a short description of how you selected these breaks. Include a screenshot of the symbology pane for your map.
• Next, create a second map using the same variable (unemployed without health insurance).
• However, for this map, use a diverging color scheme.
• Choose a critical break or class using external information – you can either use a value that is directly derived from your chosen data set (e.g., the mean of the data) or any logical dividing point that is calculated from an external source (e.g., the US national average); adjust other class breaks accordingly.
• Include a separate, well-designed legend for this map.
• Create a single layout that includes both maps side-by-side.
• Include a short write-up (about 100 words) describing how the two data classification methods presented unique patterns on the maps, the critical break or class you chose and why, and discuss why you selected this particular color scheme.

Map Pair Two: Unclassed vs. Classed Maps (Choose your own appropriate color scheme)

• Create two more maps of your chosen data: one of the maps should be an unclassed map; one should be classed.
• For the first map, choose the other variable of interest. Ideally, an opposite one to the one chosen for Map Pair One (e.g., employed without health insurance).
• For the classed map, choose a classification method available in ArcGIS Pro—do not manually adjust the class breaks created, but ensure that this method is appropriate for the data you are mapping.
• For the second map, the unclassed map, choose the same variable of interest you chose for the first map of this second Map Pair (e.g., employed without health insurance).
• Include a well-designed legend for each map.
• Include a short write-up (about 100 words) that describes why you chose the classification method you did, and how you think its effectiveness compares to that of the unclassed map. You should also discuss why you selected this particular color scheme.

In summary, each map pair should show the same variable of interest (e.g., Map Pair 1 shows unemployed without health insurance). The second map pair should show the other variable of interest (e.g., Map Pair 1 shows employed without health insurance). Both maps in each map pair should show the same health variable (e.g., without health insurance). One main difference between the layouts should be the data classification methods used to classify the data and the chosen color schemes.

Lab Instructions

1. Download the Lab 5 zipped file(link is external) (approx. 40 MB). It contains:
   • a project (.aprx) file to be opened in ArcGIS Pro;
   • a database that includes the spatial boundary and health insurance data needed to start this lab;
   • a spreadsheet containing New England health insurance data.
     • Data source: US Census Bureau - TIGER boundary files and American Community Survey (ACS) S2701 (Health Insurance Coverage Status) 5-year estimates for 2016.
     • For the purposes of this lab, New England is defined as the following states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
2. Extract the zipped folder and double-click the blue (.aprx) file to open ArcGIS Pro.
   • In addition to the ArcGIS Pro file, you will also be using the ACS_2016_NewEngland_HealthInsurance.xlsx file to explore New England health insurance data.
   • Note that you will need to join the included ACS_2016_NewEngland_HealthInsurance.xlsx into ArcGIS Pro. Once that join is made, then all of data is included and ready to create the different maps. The Excel file should also be used to visually explore the data in order to select class breaks for your maps.

Grading Criteria

A rubric is posted for your review.

Ready to Begin?

More instructions are available in the Lesson 5 Lab Visual Guide.