Final Project

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/63038593/RAMSAR_final.html

For my project I decided to map U.S. Ramsar sites, which are wetlands that have been designated as being internationally important and in need of conservation.  I chose this topic because I have been working closely with the wetland ecologist on campus.  I also thought that the size of the project would be manageable, as there are only 36 sites in the U.S., however, I was not able to finish.  I have the buttons, roll-over locations, and description pages completed, but I never created "Links", "Credits" or "About Wetlands" pages and still need to add photos to about half of the sites.

Interesting Map

I wanted to find maps related to my project topic, Ramsar sites, to see what others came up with.  I found a few, some interactive and some not.

http://www.creativeinput.net/work/websites/peatlands/values/ramsar/ramsar.html

Sites in Northern Ireland.  Click on the yellow buttons to learn more about the sites.

http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/protected_areas_home/ramsar.htm

Another interactive Northern Ireland map.

http://www.egnatia.eu/page/default.asp?la=2&id=811

A map of Ramsar sites in Greece - not interactive.

http://www.ngo.grida.no/soesa/nsoer/resource/wetland/ramsar_map.htm

Interactive map of Ramsar sites in South Africa.

Lab 10 - Working with Google Maps Javascript API v3

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/63038593/googlemaps_lab2.html

For this lab I decided to map Kenya.  I was successful at getting the maps to appear, but the changes I made to the third map (red roads) did not show up.

Map using 3D

http://www.yellowstone.ws/3dmaps.html

This is from the Yellowstone Wilderness Outfitters website.  There are four 3D animated maps to view, each one following a backpacking trip that they offer.  It's not very interactive, but it shows the viewer where they will be hiking.  I think it's nice that they have provided these maps.  They note that the mountains are exaggerated, so I feel that they should have added something that tells the viewer how steep the slopes actually are.

Lab 9 - Tour Builder

Part 1:  Map overlay in Google Earth

Part 2:  Photo Overlay
I added a picture of the Black Cat venue in DC.

Link to KML files:
https://sites.google.com/site/lab9overlays/

Part 3:  Tour Builder

I chose to create a tour of the Swans 2012 U.S. tour.  They are sort of a droney experimental band.  They were active from 1982 to 1997 and then recently reformed in 2010.  I've seen other bands much later in their careers, and they all seemed to have lost their gusto, but not Swans.  I've seen them a few times and they are by far my favorite band to see live.

http://tourbuilder.withgoogle.com/builder#play/ahJzfmd3ZWItdG91cmJ1aWxkZXJyEQsSBFRvdXIYgICAsNmFkgkM

Map with panning, zooming, or camera effects

http://coriverbasin.org/maps/

This map is located on the Western Resource Advocates website.   Its purpose is to help people plan rafting trips on the Colorado River. I chose this map because it has pan and zoom features, but it also allows the user the to view layers like river gauges, points of interest, and businesses.

Lab 8b - Zooming and Panning

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/63038593/Lab%208b_1.swf

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/63038593/Lab%208b_1.html

Lab 8a - Virtual Camera

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/63038593/Lab%208a_3.swf

Project Proposal

            For my project I am proposing to create a map that shows the evolution of the dog.  I've chosen this topic because I find evolution interesting and I'm a dog lover!  As of now I'm thinking that I would begin with the development of an early carnivorous mammal 60 million years ago that eventually divided into the Caniformia and Feliformia (canines and felines).  If I begin so far back in history, I would need to be able to make the continents move.  If this proves too difficult, then I will begin with the earliest evidence of domesticated dogs 15,000 years ago.  My hope is that this map will have enough interesting and easy-to-understand archeological and biological information, as well as nice pictures, to appeal to both academics and simple dog loving adults.

            The PBS website has a map entitled "Dogs that changed the world: Discover ancient breeds" and is the map that shows information closest to my topic.  It is an extremely simple map that I would build upon greatly, by adding a timeline and much more content and information.  I would like my map to be similar in format to The Human Odyssey Map by the California Academy of Sciences.  This map has an interactive timeline and points to locations of important events in human history.  Additional pictures and information appear when the points are clicked.  I would include play and stop buttons to allow the user to watch the progression of dog evolution/domestication without having to move the caret.  As for style, I like to emulate that of the Human Evolutionary Highway map from National Geographic.  I also like that this map has a splash screen and would like to include one on my map as well.  I would also like to include links to relevant online articles.  I am not yet sure if I will include any motion tweens or take a more "book" style approach.

            I have found a lot of useful information from articles on science websites, including Science Daily, and other websites, such as PBS.org and AKC.org, as well as from a book called "How the Dog Became the Dog: From Wolves to Our Best Friends" by Mark Derr.  All of these sources have been acquired, but still need to be thoroughly combed through.  As I have no experience using Photoshop or other design programs, Flash will be the sole piece of software used for this project.  The obstacles I foresee at this point include moving the continents with geologic time, keeping the buttons in place with the continents as they move, and designing an aesthetically pleasing map. 

Schedule:

Week 1 - data processing

Week 2 - Design - where things will go, find base map

Week 3 - Scripting timeline and buttons

Week 4 - Content - pictures and information

Week 5 - Splash screen, final touches

A few days are left before the due date (5/13) to work on the presentation and catch up on anything I might need to. (Words: 498)

Inspirational Maps:

Dogs that changed the world

The Human Odyssey Map

Human Evolutionary Highway
Sea Monsters

Map with Splash Screen

http://www.cfr.org/interactives/GH_Vaccine_Map/#intro

This is the splash screen for a map of preventable disease outbreaks.  I think it does a good job of setting the tone for the map.  The close up of the single syringe signifies how all of these diseases are preventable with vaccinations.  The map page has checkboxes for specific diseases, but over our area having even just one disease on the map makes discerning points difficult.  However, you can click on any point to get information on the area and the outbreak.

Lab 7 - Splash Screen

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/63038593/Lab%207_Final.swf

Map with Shape Tween

https://www.eeb.ucla.edu/Faculty/Barber/Animations.htm


I actually had a really hard time finding maps that looked like they had shape tween effects incorporated in them that weren't already posted on the 411 blog.  The above maps both depict sea level/coastline changes of Southeast Asia beginning at the Pleistocene. Both maps lack a timeline.  The lower map at least tells you when you are at present day levels.  Neither map has any buttons to give the user control.  I still like them though - in addition to the shape morphs there are some color changes that are kind of hypnotic.

Lab 6 - Shape Tween

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/63038593/Lab%206_Final.swf

Here is my map of the German invasion of Russia with added shape tweens.  I had difficulty using Hints, so I decided to expand the shape tween beyond the left side of the map to cover the entire Nazi territory.

Map with Motion

http://www.africadreamsafaris.com/swf/maps/migration.html

This map shows the migration of the wildebeest in Serengeti National Park.  I think the map is aesthetically pleasing and I like how the legs on the wildebeest move.  I also like that the amount of rainfall in the park is displayed.   My only complaint is that the animation moves too quickly, which makes the movement of the wildebeest look really unnatural.