-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Re: MAPS-L: Avoid 'geographical embarassment'
Date:   Wed, 17 May 2006 22:20:03 -0500
From:   Derek Tonn <[log in to unmask]>
Organization:   mapformation
To:     [log in to unmask]



Nat was spot-on in his comments here!  All of us map designers should be
pushing for the highest level of accuracy possible on all projects, as
rule #1 of any job.  However, Nat's points 1, 2 and 3 say it all.  If a
client is working on a very tight budget, a designer is not local to the
project area, and the client has very poor quality reference materials
to supply for the project, sacrifices in accuracy are often made.
Unfortunately.  I might even add a #4: When a client purposefully asks
you to misrepresent certain areas on a map that are less-desirable or
detrimental to their use of the piece as a promotional/recruitment tool.

We aren't doing the types of street/area maps that Nat and Dennis are
developing, for the most part.  However, we do pride ourselves in
developing the most accurate maps a campus/client has had....many times
from 1,000+ miles away.  Do I wish I could visit every campus/client and
spend 2-3 days walking the area to make sure that every last detail is
100% accurate?  Absolutely!  Can most of our clients afford the extra
costs of a flight, hotel, meals allowance and added time in meetings or
field work?  No.

It's tough.  All of those "hack shops" that Nat was referring to really
give the rest of us an indirect "black eye" at times.  I've had to "talk
people off the ledge" before after a horrible experience with another
designer/firm....convincing them that not all map contractors out there
are going to do C-/D+ work and ask for architect's prices in return!
Groups like NACIS and CartoTalk are really working hard to raise the bar
in the work that is being done out there though, and the post-9/11
recession helped drive 5-6 of those sub-par firms out of business.
Still, for every one "hack shop" that has gone under, there are another
5-10 ready and waiting to fill that void....particularly a few folks in
Southeast Asia charging $8-$10 who will say they can do ANYTHING just to
get a few more dollars into their firm.

I'll never forget the first words of my graphic design instructor in my
first college design class back in the 1980s.  The classroom settled
into their chairs around the studio, and then he simply said "90% of the
design work you see in the world around you is garbage."  I'll never
forget that, and it has been a passion and obligation of mine for the
past 17+ years to do my darnedest to try and be in that precious
"10%".......  :-)

Derek Tonn

mapformation
220 South Burns Avenue
Springfield, MN 56087

Phone: 507-723-6662
Fax: 206-203-0411
[log in to unmask]
www.mapformation.com


Nat Case wrote:
>> Generalizing about street map publishers is problematic; there are "hack
>> shops" and there are also people out there who really do care about
>> spatial accuracy. Even within a company, you will find a considerable
>> range of accuracy, due to three major factors:
>>
>> 1. Economics. If a map is not a big seller, a publisher may say, well we
>> can justify doing a hasty update, or we can can it. Seems a shame just
>> to let the title die on the vine...
>>
>> 2. Geography. If the place is just down the road, it's not a big deal to
>> send someone out to drive questionable areas. For us in Minneapolis,
>> sending someone to the Bay Area to do field work, is, by comparison, a
>> considerable investment
>>
>> 3. Quality of source material:
>> Surly/uncooperative government employees.
>> Zero-budget cities which haven't updated their official maps in 30 years.
>> As Dennis says, cities who do not distinguish right-of-way and driveable
>> streets.
>> "Sure, you can have the data file for $5000, or you can have this
>> out-of-date printout for $10..."
>>
>> Nat Case
>> Hedberg Maps, Inc