Last month we talked about how to use Google Maps, a powerful tool for creating online maps. Here's an excellent article from Tech Soup that provides more information, including some additional suggestions for how to use maps:
- A basic map of locations and directions. If your organization is the kind of place people turn to for services, maps easily direct them to your centers. The Emergency Food Shelf Network in Minneapolis is one example of this type of map.
- A map of services and resources. The dynamic NOLA Food Map, for example, helps New Orleans residents locate nearby grocery stores, restaurants, and food banks.
- A map that illustrates events over time. A good example is the Kenya Electoral Violence Map, which displays incidents of violence that occurred in that country during late 2007 and early 2008.
- A map that provides information during a crisis. The 2007 San Diego Fires Map, for instance, depicts fire locations, evacuation zones, and freeway closures using graphic icons.
- A map that illustrates relationships. iLoveMountains.org uses maps to show Americans how they are personally connected to mountaintop removals in the Appalachian Mountains.
- A map that shows areas of density and concentration. This "heat map," for example, shows solar power installations in California over time.
- Maps that aggregate and display statistics. Thematic Mapping Engine , for example, charts a variety of quality of life indicators from the United Nations.
Take a look at some of the examples to see how you might apply these in a workforce development context.
Also check out Aardvark Map, a "free, easy-to-use mapping facility that works with Google Maps to allow you to add maps to websites, emails or forum posts. It requires no programming knowledge or expertise, and it will take you just a few minutes to create a map." (Via Workforce Developments)
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