How can you communicate your GIS message with clarity?

1 Know your audience

The first step to communicate your GIS message with clarity is to know your audience. Who are you creating your map or dashboard for? What are their needs, expectations, and preferences? How familiar are they with GIS concepts and terminology? By answering these questions, you can tailor your GIS output to suit your audience's level of understanding, interest, and purpose. For example, if you are presenting your GIS findings to a general public, you might want to use simple and intuitive symbols, colors, and labels, and avoid jargon and technical details. On the other hand, if you are communicating with GIS experts, you might want to use more advanced and specific features, such as projections, coordinate systems, and metadata.

3 Choose your format

The third step to communicate your GIS message with clarity is to choose your format. How are you going to display your GIS output? What type of map or dashboard are you going to use? What software or platform are you going to use? By choosing your format, you can select the best option that matches your message, audience, and data. For example, if you are showing the change of land use over time in an area, you might want to use a dynamic or interactive map that allows your audience to explore the data and see the trends. On the other hand, if you are showing the location of points of interest in a city, you might want to use a static or printed map that provides a clear and concise overview.

4 Design your layout

The fourth step to communicate your GIS message with clarity is to design your layout. How are you going to arrange the elements of your GIS output? What size, shape, and position are you going to use for your map or dashboard? What fonts, colors, and styles are you going to use for your text, symbols, and legends? By designing your layout, you can create a balanced and attractive visual that enhances your message and guides your audience's attention. For example, if you are creating a dashboard that shows multiple indicators of a phenomenon, you might want to use a grid or a dashboard layout that organizes the data in a logical and consistent way. On the other hand, if you are creating a map that shows a single variable of a phenomenon, you might want to use a full-screen or a map layout that maximizes the space and visibility of the data.

5 Apply your principles

The fifth step to communicate your GIS message with clarity is to apply your principles. By doing so, you can improve the credibility, readability, and usability of your GIS output. To ensure accuracy and ethics, there are some best practices and guidelines that should be followed. These include using appropriate and consistent scales, projections, and coordinate systems for your data and map; using appropriate and consistent symbols, colors, and classifications for your data and map; using clear and concise labels, titles, and legends for your data and map; using proper and reliable sources, citations, and metadata for your data and map; as well as using ethical and respectful representations, interpretations, and analyses for your data and map.

6 Test your output

The sixth and final step to communicate your GIS message with clarity is to test your output. Evaluating the quality and effectiveness of your GIS output, getting feedback and suggestions from your audience or peers, and revising and improving your GIS output based on the feedback and suggestions are all important. You can identify and fix any errors, issues, or gaps in your GIS output, as well as enhance your GIS communication skills. To test your output, you can check the data and map for accuracy, completeness, and validity; check the layout and design for balance, contrast, and harmony; check the message and purpose for relevance, clarity, and impact; or ask your audience or peers for feedback. Implementing the feedback and suggestions on your GIS output is also recommended.