Geography & Public Safety: Creating Base Maps and Layer Files for Cartographic Consistency

Crime analysts create maps that focus on a specific problem. An analyst’s goal in creating a map should be to show how the data that matter to the audience are significant. He or she accomplishes this by establishing cartographic standards that officers can follow to understand the geographic elements of the problem in question.

As time passes, data will change. Consequently, a geographic representation of the problem will change. The way the problem is represented should be consistent. This article will discuss how to create consistent standards when making a map. It includes instructions for creating layer files,
describes base map production, and provides useful tips for making maps.
More here...