GIS Cartography of Mexico

This is a map showing the distribution of population in Mexico that was created in my GIS class using ArcGIS (ArcMap). A color ramp was used to denote the different population sizes in Mexico. It also contains map elements such as: the north arrow, map title, scale bar, scale text, legend, date and author of the map. The process in which this map was created is after opening the ArcMap program and Arc-catalog program the data sets were drag from catalog into Arcmap to insert the data sets. Before that, the map document title was changed to "Mexico" in the map document properties. Next, since we were focusing on Mexico, I zoomed to the 'mex_boundaries' layer which focused the map on the country of Mexico. Then, all Mexico states needed to be selected, so this was done using the selecting by attributes method; whereby a query was created to do this. Next, a new layer was created call, mex_states, from the 'america_admin' layer which was then turned off after the new layer was created. Next, all the world Countries were labeled with their country name by going to the 'world_countries' layer properties and enabling labels. Then, a new fill color and outline size 2 was chosen for the World Countries. After that, the symbology and color ramp was done for Mexico to show the distribution of the population. Next, the basic map elements were added, such as the North arrow, map scale, scale text; then the map title, map author and date was added as a dynamic text. Then a legend was added as well to specific modifications. Lastly, final modifications were done to the map and then exported as an image.

This map is map focused on central Mexico, showing roads, rivers, railroads and major towns and cities. This map was created from the previous map by adding the layers, mex_rails, mex_rivers, mex_roads, and mex_urban and the mex_states layer was turned off. Next, in the rivers layer symbology properties it was changed so that only major and primary rivers are shown on the map and not all the others like streams, creeks, etc, so as not let the map look as clustered. The same thing was done with the roads layer, so as to show only federal roads under the 'authority' field in the attribute table for this layer. Next, the mex_rails layer was displayed using the predefined railroad symbol style; and then an appropriate fill color was chosen for Urban areas and the line around the polygon as removed by putting no color as the outline color. Next , advance labeling was done with the urban areas by going into label properties and doing a query that showed all urban areas with more than a million people. Then, the map scale was changed to zoom in and show central mexico only. Next, labels where converted to annotations to be able to manipulate and modify each label individually. Then, the "Distrito Federal" label was modified and changed to "Mexico City", and the other three labels on the map in central Mexico was also given a different modification. Next, the labels for the world countries were also changed to annotations and the "Mexico" label size was increased. Next, an inset map was created showing all of central america and then highlighting Mexico to show where on the map it is located. This was done by inserting a new data frame and adding the world countries data and then zooming in to show all of the Central American region and then the properties for this new data frame was accessed to be able to show the "layers" data frame in this new data frame, which highlights Mexico. Lastly, elements were rearranged to fit properly on the map and final modifications were made before saving and exporting to an image file.

This next map shows the elevation of Mexico using raster data, symbology and color ramp. It was created from the previous map above by first, removing all of the data from the "layers" data frame was removed except the world countries data. Next, the 'mex_elev' raster was added to the layers data frame and its symbology properties was observed. Then, a strectched symbology was chosen along with an appropriate color ramp that best displayed the elevation of Mexico. Finally, all map elements that are already there from previous maps was updated and final modifications were done before saving and exporting the map an image file.