Navigating Aurora University: Understanding and Utilizing Campus Maps
Campus maps are essential tools for students, faculty, staff, and visitors alike. They provide guidance and orientation within the university grounds, aiding in wayfinding and enhancing the overall campus experience. Effective campus maps go beyond simple directional assistance; they become integral components of a university's branding and identity.
The Importance of Functional and Branded Campus Maps
A well-designed campus map is not merely a navigational aid; it's a visual representation of the university itself. It should be functional for various applications, including print, signage, and web-based platforms. Consistency in imagery across these platforms is crucial to avoid confusion and reinforce the university's brand. A cohesive visual identity helps individuals easily navigate and connect with the institution. Our firm prides itself on delivering artwork that will immediately be functional for use in print, signage and web-based projects. This is very important to us, as we view the maps that we develop as needing to support the overall branding and identity efforts of our clients. We also firmly believe that having consistent imagery across print, signage and web-based presentations will reduce confusion experienced by individuals as they attempt to navigate their way to a destination.
Key Elements in Creating a 3D Perspective Campus Map
Creating an accurate and visually appealing 3D perspective campus map requires specific information and resources. The most critical element is high-resolution, current oblique aerial photographs.
Aerial Photography
Oblique aerial photographs are essential for capturing the three-dimensional aspects of buildings and landscapes. These photographs should depict at least 85-90% of the property from the desired viewing angle. If a client does not have access to these photographs, they can be acquired through aerial photography services. The cost for such services can vary, typically ranging from $750 to $1,000 in the United States, depending on location and urgency. The key piece of information needed from our clients to effectively complete a 3D perspective campus mapping project are good, high-resolution (and reasonably current) oblique aerial photographs depicting at least 85-90+ percent of the property to be mapped from the same elevation and direction that our clients wish to see depicted in their finished campus maps. If our clients do not have access to reasonably-current oblique aerial photographs of their property, we can also arrange for these services with our aerial photography partners on their behalf. Costs will depend upon location and the amount of urgency required in completing a photo shoot. However, we have generally seen photography fees of between $750 and $1,000 US for a majority of the aerial photography work we have had done in the United States.
Site Plans and Existing Maps
In addition to aerial photography, site plans and existing campus maps are valuable resources. Site plans, typically available from the institution's Physical Plant, Facilities Department, or Campus Architect, provide accurate layouts of buildings and grounds. Existing maps offer insights into previous designs and can help ensure accuracy in the new map. In addition to oblique aerial photography, we also generally like to receive copies of a property's site plan, along with any previous examples of campus maps for the property that we can obtain, as that provides us access to a very efficient method of ensuring a very accurate finished-product. Site plans are usually available from an institution's Physical Plant, Facilities Department or Campus Architect.
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File Formats and Software Compatibility
Finished campus maps are typically delivered in various file formats to ensure compatibility with different software and applications. These formats include:
- SketchUp (.skp): This editable 3D format allows clients to modify the map in three dimensions, provided they have SketchUp software.
- 2D Formats (.jpg, .tif, .eps, .pdf, .bmp, .png, .dxf, .dwg): These static formats can be imported into raster software programs like Adobe Photoshop or Corel PhotoPaint for overlaying information or creating 360-degree views. Our firm will typically deliver finished artwork in SketchUp (.skp) format, as well as a variety of "2D" output formats that clients might desire, including .jpg, .tif, .eps, .pdf, .bmp, .png, .dxf and .dwg. The editable .skp file format would require that our clients have a copy of SketchUp in order to edit the map in three-dimensional form. Clients could, however, overlay information on top of any "static" views that are generated in 360-degrees by importing .tif, .bmp, .jpg or .png graphics into any raster software program, such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel PhotoPaint.
Maintaining and Updating Campus Maps
Campus maps require regular maintenance and updates to reflect changes in buildings, landscaping, and other campus features. Institutions have several options for maintaining their campus maps:
- In-house Maintenance: The institution can maintain the images themselves.
- Outsourced Maintenance: Hiring the original map developer or a third party to handle updates.
- Long-Term Relationships: Establishing a long-term relationship with the map developer for ongoing maintenance and updates.
Roughly half of our clients choose to have us maintain all aspects of the imagery we have developed, while 80-85 percent of our clients will have us perform at least "major" updates as changes occur. That decision that is completely up to our clients. They can maintain the images themselves. They can hire mapformation to maintain the imagery for them. They can even hire a third party to maintain the maps for them if they so choose (though we hope that is not the case)! Our firm is obviously hoping that we will be able to develop long-term, fruitful relationships with all of our clients, and we enjoy having the opportunity to maintain the maps we have created in perpetuity! However, this is a decision that is completely up to our clients.
Data Usage and Privacy
In the digital age, data usage and privacy are important considerations. Many websites and services use cookies and data for various purposes, including:
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Users typically have the option to accept or reject the use of cookies for these additional purposes. Non-personalized content and ads are influenced by factors such as the content being viewed, activity in the current search session, and location. Personalized content and ads may include more relevant results, recommendations, and tailored ads based on past activity. We use cookies and data toDeliver and maintain Google servicesTrack outages and protect against spam, fraud, and abuseMeasure audience engagement and site statistics to understand how our services are used and enhance the quality of those servicesIf you choose to “Accept all,” we will also use cookies and data toDevelop and improve new servicesDeliver and measure the effectiveness of adsShow personalized content, depending on your settingsShow personalized ads, depending on your settingsIf you choose to “Reject all,” we will not use cookies for these additional purposes.Non-personalized content is influenced by things like the content you’re currently viewing, activity in your active Search session, and your location. Non-personalized ads are influenced by the content you’re currently viewing and your general location. Personalized content and ads can also include more relevant results, recommendations, and tailored ads based on past activity from this browser, like previous Google searches. We also use cookies and data to tailor the experience to be age-appropriate, if relevant.Select “More options” to see additional information, including details about managing your privacy settings.
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