NPMap5, the next generation of web maps in the National Park Service
Published on: Thu Aug 24 2023
On Aug. 24, 2023, the team behind NPMap and Park Tiles gave a presentation to the DOI Open Source Geospatial working group in three parts.
Abstract
The National Park Service strives to deliver cutting edge web mapping tools to park visitors. We’ll introduce NPMap5 and its plugin architecture. We’ll discuss our open-source MapLibre plugins that support features like SVG icons, accessibility, and interactivity.
Description
The National Park Service has a well-established tradition of print cartography, and we have used open-source tools to bring this tradition to multiscale web cartography. Since the first version of NPMap was released, web mapping tools have evolved significantly. We will go into more detail about our migration to MapLibre and how we are using plugins that support features like SVG icons, accessibility, and interactivity.
Presenters and materials
pt 1: Park Tiles
Jake Coolidge is a cartographer with the team that produces web maps for NPS.gov and the basemap for the National Park Service mobile app. He determines the visual design of basemaps; compiles, digitizes, and processes data from a variety of sources; coordinates the development and improvement of enterprise data used in web maps; and uses his design, user experience, and data expertise to help NPS staff from a variety of parks and programs turn their map ideas into reality. He integrates his fine art background into his digital cartographic practice to make harmonious, informative maps that carry the rich NPS cartographic tradition onto the web.
pt 2: NPMap5
Jim McAndrew is a Web Map and Database Developer that has worked as a Colorado State University Research partner to the National Park Service for the last 10 years. He enjoys bringing spatial data to users and creating tools to allow the users to explore on their own.
pt 3: NPMap5 Plugins and Documentation
Rob Chohan is a Maps for Web architect focusing on Open Source map rendering engines, image & data processing, and open source tools. Rob has a B.S. in Mathematics and a M.S. in Statistics, both from Oregon State University. He has two patents related to calibration of imaging devices. Rob was that kid in the back of car studying the map while on road trips.
