making a network map

[monsento]

does anyone know what software was used to make something like this map?

http://www.reading-buses.co.uk/files/maps/7 July 14/Reading network map.pdf

im trying to make my own for personal interest, ive done one in paint but would want the result to look a little more like this one

 

[bakerstreet]

Almost certainly Adobe Illustrator. Not cheap but there are a think a few cheap equivalents. What you're looking for is a free vector design programme like Inkscape (https://inkscape.org) or illustrator which is the industry standard, if you can afford it.

 

[monsento]

cheers ill take a look, after i saw that guy in Glasgow made a real go of it for Glasgow, i fancy a go.

 

[crehld]

The street alignments in the background will be produced using a Geographical Information System (GIS), probably using OS data as its base. The GIS will also probably contain the bus routes. This will then be exported in vector format and, as suggested above, be put through a piece of publishing software to make it look pretty.

 

[Haydn1971]

I've created these in the past as part of my work as a traffic engineer - for road closure diversions, pedestrian routes to venues, bus routes, parking maps etc - I've always used AutoCAD, which is about £4k and ordnance survey mapping to base things on - sometimes I've had to simplify things so had to trace over the mapping to create my own map, but under licence for publication/distribution - most local authorities, engineering firms have licence to reproduce OS mapping. AutoCAD isn't easy to learn, I've been using it since 1989, so it's second nature, but there are various freeware versions out there - perhaps someone else can suggest. Personally I'd not use illustrator or other graphics application as they are difficult to scale correctly unlike AutoCAD (or similar).

 

[crehld]

I've created these in the past as part of my work as a traffic engineer - for road closure diversions, pedestrian routes to venues, bus routes, parking maps etc - I've always used AutoCAD, which is about £4k and ordnance survey mapping to base things on - sometimes I've had to simplify things so had to trace over the mapping to create my own map

Yes, AutoCAD would go the job too, although GIS software is designed specifically for handling geographical data, and should avoid the need to trace over things.

but under licence for publication/distribution - most local authorities, engineering firms have licence to reproduce OS mapping.

Most OS data is now open data, meaning anyone can download it and use it to their heart's content. All you have to do is include a short acknowledgement. It's what I do for my route coverage map.

AutoCAD isn't easy to learn, I've been using it since 1989, so it's second nature, but there are various freeware versions out there - perhaps someone else can suggest.

Neither is the GIS stuff to be fair. Anything to do with vector graphics can be quite tricky to master. I don;t know about free CAD software, but QGIS is the best open source GIS software about. You can get the OS maps themselves for free from the OS website.

Personally I'd not use illustrator or other graphics application as they are difficult to scale correctly unlike AutoCAD (or similar).

I think so long as you save in vector format everything should be OK.

 

[TheEdge]

Most OS data is now open data, meaning anyone can download it and use it to their heart's content. All you have to do is include a short acknowledgement. It's what I do for my route coverage map.

How do you do that? I'd be very interested in copying.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

There are several open source GIS systems available. QGIS is one that's used by some people I know (and is available on most platforms).

An alternative to Adobe Illustrator for vector graphics in layered images which you might want to consider is CorelDraw.

 

[crehld]

How do you do that? I'd be very interested in copying.

The 'simple' answer is I downloaded the Strategi dataset from the Ordinance Survey. This is open source and available for anyone to download and use, all you have to do is indicate the data is crown copyright.

Without going into too much detail, I imported the data into a GIS package (I use QGIS). While this software graphically represents it as a map (you can also download the pre-set OS 'style' which saves a lot of time) there is also a data table underlying this. So for each section of railway (usually between stations, but even this can be split into many sections) there is a dataset which lists a unique id code for each section, its co-ordinates, tells you what sort of railway it is (e.g. heavy rail, light rail, tunnel), etc. Think of it as a spreadsheet which includes co-ordinates to allow GIS software to map the data. I added a column to this table which allows me to mark a section of railway with an "X" once I have covered it. T I then tell the GIS software to colour all railway lines labelled with this "X" to blue, and all those without the "X" to light grey.

To produce the output on my coverage map, I disable all but three layers (coast line, railways (obviously) and urban areas), as everything else incuded in the data such as roads, rivers, town names, etc. are irrelevant and if I included the map would become rather busy!

Sounds simple eh? The reality is it is much harder than that. I taught myself to use the data and the software, and have quite a bit of experience in using it for a range of different interests. I also had a bit of a head start as I occasionally had to use GIS for a previous job, and was given some basic training to get me started. But don't let that stop you! Once you get the basic principles of how it works it's actually not that difficult to master. The point is all it costs you is time.

 

[TheEdge]

The 'simple' answer is I downloaded the Strategi dataset from the Ordinance Survey. This is open source and available for anyone to download and use, all you have to do is indicate the data is crown copyright....

Hmm, I might have to go have a look. I've got decent bit of experience with GIS, my university dissertation from a GIS heavy university on hazard mapping gave me many an hour in ArcGIS!

 

[crehld]

Hmm, I might have to go have a look. I've got decent bit of experience with GIS, my university dissertation from a GIS heavy university on hazard mapping gave me many an hour in ArcGIS!

In which case I think you'll have no problems at all

 

[Haydn1971]

Basic road centreline data is open source, the stuff I use isn't

 

[monsento]

just got in from work ive decided im going to try and use this kind of setup, as all the things you just mentioned are beyond my grasp, although very interesting though.

id rather buy a round the world ticket than spend my overtime money drawing a map of a fictional transport system

going to find out they made this instead or worse yet get some colouring pens lol

http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php

 

[cjmillsnun]

Most OS data is now open data, meaning anyone can download it and use it to their heart's content. All you have to do is include a short acknowledgement. It's what I do for my route coverage map.

Most OS data? As a GIS user of many years I'd have to disagree. 1:50k is still not free, neither are any of the MasterMap products and many others.

That said vectormap district would probably do the job and is open data.

Neither is the GIS stuff to be fair. Anything to do with vector graphics can be quite tricky to master. I don;t know about free CAD software, but QGIS is the best open source GIS software about. You can get the OS maps themselves for free from the OS website.

Agree QGIS (based on GRASS) is reasonably good and will take data in most of the common formats.

I have about 11 years experience of ArcGIS and found when I moved roles that they were just introducing GIS into there too, which gave me a head start.

 

[LexyBoy]

If you're interested in doing schematic maps, Inkscape is pretty capable although I'm sure Illustrator is more streamlined (not used it myself). There's various tutorials on the Transit Maps blog. One day I'll get round to finishing my Thames Valley one (as in my avatar).

Interesting stuff about OS data, I'll have to look into that at some point.