topic Re: Line Symbology in Mapping Questions

Line Symbology

RickeyFight — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 20:03:24 GMT

I have 6 different line types that I need to indicate clearly on a map.

At the most 3 will over lap at a time.

Does anyone have a good example of line types that overlap and would be able to display clearly?

WesMiller — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 02:30:44 GMT

You could offset the lines with symbology.

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 03:51:34 GMT

what are the combinations that are likely to occur out of the permutations? You can work with the types listed above plus color, thickness

RickeyFight — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 13:17:38 GMT

Dan and Wes,

What do you think of this?

There are three lines here. Can you see them?

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 13:57:33 GMT

Yes I can...look fine to me...but I am not a cartographer

NICOLAPEDDIS — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 14:00:39 GMT

The lines are visible but are too close each other. You have to choose one

WesMiller — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 14:01:01 GMT

I can see the 3 lines. I don't know that i wouldn't exaggerate more where it would be more apparent that they are 3 separate lines.

RickeyFight — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 15:15:08 GMT

Alright I think this is what I might go with what do you all think

WesMiller — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 15:30:58 GMT

You may be well beyond this but it never hurts to review the basics. Design principles for cartography | ArcGIS Blog

ChrisDonohue__GISP — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 15:51:58 GMT

One idea - if you forsee using this overlapping data often, you may want to look into Representations:

However, if this is a one-time map, it's probably not worth doing Representations, as there is a learning curve and some time needed to set it up.

Chris Donohue, GISP

ZackaryKing — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:00:04 GMT

I find playing with line width and transparency the best way to work around maps where there can be a lot of line overlap.