Green Map Analysis – Lab 13

In class we revisited the green map.  We analyzed the updated map based on four categories: icons, sites, comparisons with other maps, and overall usefulness / accuracy.

Looking at the Icons that we tagged on the map, the most common were Bike Parking, Bus Stop, and Recycling.  As for the least common, many icons we not used at all.  Of the icons used, the least frequent were WiFi, Traffic Hazard, and specific areas such as Tennis Courts.  The most important icons for our project are the bike path, bike parking, public transportation, and public space / recreation area icons.  These are the most useful icons for students as their primary concern is traversing campus in a limited amount of time.  Also, finding a grassy area to relax, play frisbee, or nap (weather permitting) is useful between classes.

Several sites on campus have much more mapping than others.  Heavily mapped areas include the Main Quad, the Engineering Quad and north campus, Krannert Center, and the South Quad.  Students were assigned to map specific sections of campus which led to ‘icon clumping’.  However, the assigned mapping areas are boarded by apartments, frats, and sororities and so mapping all of campus would not yield many additional icons.  In the areas that were mapped, many icons were missed due to time constraints.  For instance, the green map only shows one Place of Worship where, in fact, there are several throughout campus.

Comparison of the Champaign-Urbana Green Map and other maps revealed very different patterns.  The green map of Stevens Point had icons that mostly marked businesses or restaurants, where ours had mostly transportation related icons.  The least used icons at Stevens Point marked local Parks.  It is also interesting that the majority of the icons were off the nearby campus and focused near the Wisconsin River Flowage.

The green map of Berlin, Germany is similar to Stevens Point in that the majority of its icons mark out businesses such as stores and bars.  Also, the occasional park and theater are indicated on the map.  This is very different from the Champaign-Urbana map although this may be because the Berlin map deals with a city, not a campus.

The final map we compared to Champaign-Urbana focused on Syracuse, New York.  This map is also very similar to Stephens Point in that although Syracuse University is nearby, the majority of icons are set to the West of campus.  The majority of these icons indicate businesses and restaurants around the interstate.  As it is similar to Stephens Point, it differs with the Champaign-Urbana map in the same way.

The last way in which we analyze the maps is based on their usefulness and accuracy.  The Champaign-Urbana map is useful for students that wish to plan routes to class and to find places to relax outside between classes.  However the map is not useful outside central campus because not much data is recorded there.  As for the usefulness of the other maps, due to their icons pertaining to businesses, they seem to be made for a tourist.  Also, as in the case of the Champaign-Urbana map, only a limited area is mapped and not all businesses are included.  The usefulness of these maps will be increased as more icons are added in diversity and number.  For now, its a start.