The ArcGIS Book, Chapter 3: Tell Your Story Using a Map

Welcome to my summary and key takeaways from the Chapter 3 of The ArcGIS Book! Read about this blog series in my previous post. See my breakdown of Chapter 1 here, and Chapter 2 here.

Stories and maps used to commonly be side-by-side items but, with Esri Story Maps, stories can be presented through geography. The storyteller can combine text, photos, video, and audio with interactive maps to share information about where things happen. These can be used for general and specialized audiences through enriching content in an intuitive app.

Telling stories is part of our human experience and existence. Stories affect who we are and the decisions we make. We are a part of stories as either the narrator, the listener, or even part of the story itself. Nearly all stories feature some sort of place that can be found on a map of our world. Fictional stories can also rely on maps, and some the most widely known and popular stories are supported by maps that are intrinsic to sharing history and advance plots (i.e., The Lord of the Rings, etc.).

Maps organize information by where it is located, and this helps humans to visually understand patterns and relationships. Because maps can be both informational and beautiful, they have the ability to engage and stimulate both the left and right sides of the brain.