Esri Releases New Book on Designing 3D Maps That Are Creative, Clear, and Informative

Esri, the global provider of mapping and location intelligence, announced the publication of Mapping with Altitude: Designing 3D Maps.

The world is 3D, and so likewise, there should be maps that can depict the world as it is. Representing and reviewing data on maps in 3D enables complex spatial relationships to be explored in new ways. These realistic and more complex maps can also help us identify patterns and potential problems more effectively. But creating digital 3D maps that are accurate, intuitive, engaging, and easily navigable can be a daunting task, even for experienced cartographers.

Mapping with Altitude: Designing 3D Maps details how to create clear and compelling cartographic representations in 3D that are eye-catching and informative. Authored by Esri senior product engineer and frequent Esri User Conference workshop presenter Nathan C Shephard, it’s written in a fun, enthusiastic style while exploring the concepts, challenges, and opportunities that 3D cartography presents. With easy-to-understand workflows, the book does the following:

• Shows why some spatial content is best communicated in 3D.
• Explains 3D mapping concepts, such as surfaces, base heights, texturing, and lighting models.
• Introduces new twists on well-defined 2D cartographic principles, such as size, color, and text.
• Demonstrates how the z-dimension can convey time.
• Covers the best delivery mechanisms for 3D content.