Story Maps
2015 Southeast Region GIS Training
Cookeville, Tennessee
Created by Roy Hewitt
Slides: http://bit.ly/1HhdIpY
Roy Hewitt
Job: Regional Web Dude
Background: Biology, GIS
What is a Story Map?
“Story maps use geography as a means of organizing and presenting information. They tell the story of a place, event, issue, trend, or pattern in a geographic context. They combine interactive maps with other rich content—text, photos, video, and audio—within user experiences that are basic and intuitive.”- ESRI
Reimagine Storytelling
“Have you ever taken apart a map? Worked with a map as a critical part of your design?”- Young Hahn, ‘Hack Your Maps’
Why a Story Map?
Control the Data
Change basemaps, add/remove data layers as your the viewer works their way through your narrative.
Control the Interaction
Allow panning/zooming the map to allow viewers to explore data only at appropriate zoom levels.
Get your story out in an engaging way
Give the public an alternative to a scientific publication or report.
Use limited real estate to your advantage
Designing for smaller screens can help to hone your message down to what is most important.
Engage a different audience
Capture the imagination of the next generation of conservationalists.
Wrap your analyses in context
Share more than a map.
Potential Project Ideas
Interesting Life Cycle of an At-Risk or Endangered Species
- Keenan Adams, USFWS
Recovery History/Timeline for a Delisted Species
- Tom MacKenzie, USFWS
Mapping Service Butterfly Gardens
- Robin Koch, USFWS Volunteer
Annual Program/Field Station Accomplishments
Migration Events
Insert the Amazing Work you do Here!
How?
Know your Message
You're the expert; you know the story you're trying to tell.
Know your Audience
Write clearly so anyone from eight years old to eighty can understand your message.
- USFWS Mountain Prairie
Know your Resources
Wired Magazine CC BY-NC 2.0
Demo Time!
Resources!
You don't have to do everything on your own
Technological Resources
- Free Data Hosting: Post your layers to USGS Science Base
- Free Web Hosting: southeast.fws.gov
- Free Map Plugins for common tasks like editing, clustering, geocoding, etc.
Your Regional External Affairs Digital Team!
Pitch us your story!
- Roy Hewitt: Web Development
- Katherine Taylor: Social Media
- Jennifer Strickland: Content Development/Storytelling
Online Resources
Questions?
Roy_Hewitt@fws.gov
Slides: http://bit.ly/1HhdIpY