NACIS 2019

Abnormal Cartography with Normal Maps
Presenter: Charles Preppernau, Esri
Normal maps are rasters in which the xyz components of the surface normal are written to the RGB channels. They are a map of surface orientation like the slope-aspect map, but without the discontinuity between 360° and 0°. Because of this, normal maps are well suited for use in raster analysis methods and relief representation. Up until the last few years they have not seen much use in cartography, despite the potential benefits that can be gained from working with orientation space in addition to height space. This presentation introduces some methods for using normal maps in relief shading, along with a Python toolbox for ArcGIS Pro for employing these methods

User Testing Techniques for Map Designs
Presenter: James Miller
Explore different types of user testing from quick and crowdsourced to long and moderated to underground and guerrilla. View results that show how testing small design decisions can lead to big impacts. Take part in a user test and see the results live during the session.

The why, what and how of ArcGIS Maps for Adobe
Presenter: Madhura Phaterpekar, Esri
We just turned 2.. well, 1.4. Since releasing ArcGIS Maps for Adobe, we have received a lot of great constructive feedback, including feedback from NACIS goers. In this talk, I'll share how we incorporated some of this feedback by sharing with you our capabilities that now include more content, visualization tools, and the ArcGIS Pro integration!

Mapping for Mobility
Presenter: Jon Bowen, Uber
The simple idea of hit a button get a ride has revolutionized how we get around cities, travel, and urban mobility as a whole. Unlocking and providing new forms of urban mobility has not only redefined how people perceive spatial information but has radically transformed how the maps that power these experiences are designed and built. I will walk you through how maps power our two sided marketplaces and explore why there is more opportunity now than ever before for cartography and maps in the growing world of on-demand marketplaces.

Pyro Globis
Presenter: Jeremy Goldsmith
Artisanal globe-making with a wood-burning pen, open source data, wooden spheres, sandpaper, and stains. Pyrographic globe-making, techniques grounded in traditional globe manufacturing and folk art, involves the burning of wood after transferring a charcoal/pencil stencil of data on to the sphere. A new and novel approach to the globe making process that encourages creativity, patience, dexterity, and crosses the digital divide.

Mapping and Positionality: A call for reflection and action
Presenter: Meghan Kelly, UW-Madison
Co-author: Amber Bosse, University of Kentucky
Positionality is a feminist term that recognizes the context, subjectivities, privileges, and biases that we bring to our work. Energy is building around feminist perspectives in design in areas like data feminism and design justice. Yet, there's a need for more feminist influence in cartography. In this talk, I'll introduce positionality, its impact on our work, and why we should care. Lastly, I'll present questions for us to reflect on and tangible actions to help us grapple with our cartographic positionality, both individually and as a community of mappers.