making maps for campus collaborations
DESCRIPTION
This presentation, given at the QQML 2014 conference in Istanbul, describes a collaborative Google mapping project between the University of Arkansas Libraries and the University's Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS). Using data on the current number of international students by country of origin provided by the OISS, we created a graduated color world map visualizing this information with Google Fusion Tables. The resulting map has been embedded in a web page on the OISS website and displayed on a large touch-screen panel in the student union during International Education Week. This presentation gives step-by-step instructions for easily creating such maps - a service which libraries might offer as a basis for campus outreach and collaborative projects.TRANSCRIPT
Making Maps for Campus Collaborations2014 International QQML Conference, Istanbul
Kate Dougherty, University of Arkansas
International Students Map
• Map of University of Arkansas international students by country
• Library’s Diversity Committee outreach to the Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS)
• Embedded in OISS website; large panel in Union
• Semester basis – 3 maps to date
Google Fusion Tables
• Extension to Google Drive; Beta
• Upload a table of your own data
– Visualize as a chart, graph or map
– Or, merge or “fuse” your data with a public dataset on Google Drive
Prepared Excel Spreadsheet
• Entered zeroes in blank spaces
• Made sure numbers are formatted as numbers
• Added a column for the 3-letter ISO country codes
Create Table: Preview Columns
Create Table: Enter Metadata
Create Table: Preview
• Auto-detected location/geographic info is highlighted
• A new tab for a map view is automatically added
Geocode Locations
Default Map View • Points in center of each
country
• We wanted: countries colored in, with intensity reflecting no. of students
• Additional step: merge our table with a public dataset having country outlines
Find a Public Table to Merge With
View Suggested Tables
• By default, Google suggests public tables matching on the leftmost column.
• ISO code in our case
Choosing a Public Table
• Needed 100% matching rows across both tables(all countries in orig. spreadsheet)
• Previewed with "view table" link
• Looked for geographic keywords: “KML”, “geometry”, lat/long etc.
Preview Public Table: No Map Info
• This table just has country names and codes
• No lat/long or geographic keywords
• Moving on…
Searching for Public Tables
• Keyword search: – “borders" – "boundaries" – "international”
• Looked for geographic keywords in results
• Preview table
Preview Public Table
Preview: Zoomed Far Out
Preview: Zoomed in to Larger Scale
Select Table to Merge With
Merge Tables
• Merged tables based on 3-letter country code field
Choose Columns to Merge
• Deselected unwanted columns from the public table
View Merged Table
Visualize Merged Table as a Map
Style Features
Color by Student Total
Gradient – Option 1
Buckets – Option 2: More Control
Countries with No Students Transparent
Style the Info Window
Remove Columns from Display
HTML Editor for Custom Styles
New Info Window-Map Finished!
Sharing the Map
Set Permissions: Public Status
Publish Map
Other Potential Collaborative Projects
• Campus sustainability projects and green buildings
• Study abroad• Language programs• Rare book exhibits• Teaching faculty’s field work
locations, intl. fellowships or conference presentations
• Offer to embed interactive maps in course/topic LibGuides
– Greek & German sites for Intro to Philosophy
– History– Archaeology– Important geologic sites
THANK YOU!
Kate DoughertyGeosciences and Maps Librarian
University of [email protected]
@kate_dougherty