It is well known that maps are great for visualizing complex data sets. A simple map visualization can convey complex information better than any other medium. UMapper publisher The Sacremento Bee has utilized the power of maps to show which areas of California carry the highest tax burden. Check out the map below or see it in California taxes: Who’s paying the most? article on The Sacramento Bee.

A year ago we wrote about innovative mapping techniques employed by The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead to map the Red River floods. This year the floods are back and INFORUM continues to innovate. In addition to Red River flood map wiki that allows users to contribute flood locations, they’ve added live flood cams, and a very cool neighborhood flood beat project. Here is how flood beat works:

To give our readers the most local and comprehensive information in this spring’s flood fight, we’ve created neighborhood flood beats this year. Using the vast newsgathering force of our newspaper, each reporter is assigned to neighborhoods or specific rural areas in which flooding is most likely to occur. People living within the area are also encouraged to contribute to the reporting or photography (go to our Flood Bloggers page for more information). Think of it as having your very own neighborhood Web site. That’s the concept.

Here is the map of flood beats areas:

INFORUM is not the only media company who is using UMapper to map the Red River flood. KCRG and GazetteOnline are among many others who use the power of maps to share important information.

Ty Smith is an active member of UMapper community who always finds new ways to use our technology. We are excited to share Ty’s testimonials and showcase various cool maps he has created. This is what Ty has to say:

Fred R. Barnard (Printers’ Ink) in 1921 created an ad entitled, “One look is Worth A Thousand Words.” I feel that UMapper is similarly providing a platform for each one of us to show visually the places, people, events which are changing our world. I am astounded by the number of people who are putting cursor to screen to develop informative maps for all of us to enjoy.

My 9 year old son has just completed his first UMap and with automatic ease he studied his homework as he created the map. I feel confident with continual input from its users the UMapper platform will become thoroughly intertwined in our daily digital culture.

I have just completed two maps for Whitewater Ski Resort here in the interior mountains of British Columbia. The maps were custom uploads of their Trail maps. Horizontal tiling was still in effect at the time of building these maps.

The custom map integrates the icons of the ski run difficulty with colored markers as well as icons for the ski patrol, parking, chalet, and photos of the ski run. As with all my current map built I incorporate the customers other online portals including Youtube, Facebook and Twitter.

In continuing with the custom mapping feature I have also been experimenting with product pictures as in the “map” Dirty Dog Eyewear:

There is really unlimited mapping applications for the UMapper platform. As more functions become available I am enjoying finding new ways to expose the viewer to interact with the information as is the case with my personal map:

If you desire any more information about my maps or would like help building a map please contact me nannasmith2010@hotmail.com.

Ty Smith

Do you have a UMapper story you’d like to share? Send us few sentences on how you are using UMapper and what problem it solves for you, and we will post your story on our blog. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Back in March we wrote about the amazing Red River Map Flood Wiki created by The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead (Inforum.com). Today we would like to share the email we received from Ryan Babb who was behind that and many other great maps produced by Inforum. In Ryan’s own words:

I utilize UMapper ALL THE TIME for our Inforum.com property. From simple “locator” maps, to full fledged community guides, to community-driven mashups. UMapper makes online storytelling a breeze and lets us engage readers with dynamic content that we simply can’t deliver in the printed paper. This past spring the Fargo-Moorhead area was the site of major flooding and our UMapper wiki was an amazing asset to the community, allowing the public to update and maintain the “status” of their individual neighborhoods in addition to allowing our newsroom staff make updates, corrections and clean out the spam.

Thanks for the amazing software, It makes online mapping one of the better “tasks” I’m assigned throughout the workday.

Ryan Babb
Multimedia Producer
www.inforum.com

In addition to mapping floods and events, Inforum is using UMapper maps to track criminals. Here is their latest map:

Fargo police searching for suspect after man stabbed twice

Do you have a UMapper story you’d like to share? Send us few sentences on how you are using UMapper and what problem it solves for you, and we will post your story on our blog. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

We are excited to kick off the Custom Focus series with feedback from Jeff Rotherham, a technology teacher from Liberty Elementary. Jeff uses UMapper to create interactive quizzes and make learning fun. In Jeff’s own words:

I would like to share with you how I am using umapper in the classroom. By uploading custom graphics I have been able to produce (quickly), online interactive quizzes for students in my elementary technology class for keyboarding (grades 3-6). So much easier to be green online than going the ‘paper route’ and kids LOVE it!

My wife is also an educator, high school french, and I have created a couple of interactive lesson additions using umapper’s custom graphic upload. By using free sites like wordle.net and umapper.com, education is becoming fun again for students and teachers! Keep up the great work!

Jeff “Mr. Clean” Rotherham
Technology
Liberty Elementary

Here is one of Jeff’s interactive quizzes, and more examples can be found here.

If you would like to see your website featured on our blog send us few sentences on how you are using UMapper and what problem it solves for you. We are looking forward to hearing from you.