Abstract

Automating map production for the Virginia Broadband Mapping Initiative
Track: Cartography and Map Production
Authors: Matt Layman, Peter Sforza

The Center for Geospatial Information Technology at Virginia Tech automated the production of county map books that display availability and analysis of wireless and wireline broadband technologies in Virginia. These map books are contributing to Virginia's Broadband Mapping Initiative and the National Broadband Map. ESRI's Data Driven Pages feature was used to routinely produce the map books in a consistent and repeatable fashion. Dynamic text was also used to update various statistics based on which county is displayed on the page of the map book. Only one MXD was needed per technology type, rather than an MXD per county. Data Driven Pages drastically reduced the time needed to produce and update each map book and also helped eliminate inconsistencies within the product. This type of workflow highlights the utility and flexibility for producing many maps of any level of geography or for a large geographic area.