WWI Story Map Journal

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Why we love it

Maps, photos, and digital artifacts tell the story of one man’s experience serving in the Australian Imperial Forces during World War I. The story map journal follows his route from Australia to Egypt, Greece, and the Dardanelles. We love the use of a linear narrative and strong visual style to evoke a sense of tragedy from the conflict that claimed the lives of more than 28,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers.    

Why it works

The Story Map Journal template is ideal for maps that trace linear events over a period of time. It allows us to work through the story at our own pace, in an ordered manner. As the story builds, the map updates as each page forms part of the overall narrative. An important detail of this map is the basemap, modified to show the geography of international boundaries and place names as it was in 1914.    

Important steps

  • Label where and connect the dots

    Add locations to an Excel spreadsheet that can be converted to a dataset of points and symbolised. The lines between points are digitised on-screen, for display rather than to indicate an actual route. Points and lines are shared to ArcGIS Online as features.

  • Customise your world map

    Build a custom basemap from a dataset of world outlines (without administrative boundaries) and 1914 administrative boundaries added as linear features. For a little extra impact, add the ArcGIS Online hillshade to give texture to a dark basemap.

  • Set to correct scale

    Country and place names can be added to help describe the geography of the time. Cache layers and share to ArcGIS online as a tiled map service at a range of scales that support the map.

  • Tell the story

    Assemble content into its final form using the Map Journal template from Story Maps.
    Build a Map Journal here
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Requirements

  • Data and software

    You can effectively organise content by using a template built specifically to support maps that allow people to move through events in a sequential way. Software used: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, Story Map Journal.
    How to map temporal components

  • Analysis

    The story map template provides the framework for telling the story one step at a time. Points, routes, boundaries and place names are evaluated for their contribution to the story.

  • Time

    This map is all about collating the digital content so map time is a function of that process. The features and tiles were built in a day.
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Tips and tricks

  • Use graphics

    Strong visual elements support the emotions you’re trying to evoke in your map.

  • Set the mood with colour and style

    Colour and style can reflect the mood of your subject matter. Think about the mood you want to imbue and design your map to support it.

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Resources

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Map Author

Ken Field

Professional cartonerd, amateur drummer and snowboarder. Lifetime encourager of cartographic quality not quantity. Map with the times while building on the past.

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